The Hindu : India clinches first-ever ODI series in Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004

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India clinches first-ever ODI series in Pakistan

— Photo: S. Subramanium

LORDING IT OVER AT LAHORE: V.V.S. Laxman, who stroked his way to a majestic hundred in the fifth and deciding match of the Samsung ODI series between India and Pakistan on Wednesday, despatches a ball to the fence. Right: Delighted Indian team members celebrate the fall of Inzamam-ul-Haq, out to a brilliant catch by Sachin Tendulkar off Murali Kartik. India went on to win the match by 40 runs to clinch the series 3-2.

LAHORE, MARCH 24. India recorded its first one-day series triumph in Pakistan on Wednesday with a 40-run win in the fifth and deciding one-day international to clinch the series 3-2.

After Vangipurappu Laxman scored his first hundred against Pakistan to help the team post a competitive 293 for seven, left-arm seamer, Irfan Pathan (3-29) cleaned up the Pakistan top order with three quick wickets before the hosts were dismissed for 253 in 47.5 overs.

It was India's first one-day series win in Pakistan in six attempts since the two countries first played a limited overs match on Pakistan soil in the 1978-79 season.

``Over the last year this Indian team has worked very hard. It's fantastic to win in Pakistan, it's a phenomenal effort,'' Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly said.

Moin Khan's effort of 72 runs was not enough to see his side through after Pakistan was reduced to 96 for six in 24 overs. Khan added 99 runs with Shoaib Malik (65) and added 53 runs with number 10 batsman Mohammed Sami (23) before he was bowled by Laxmipathy Balaji (3-62) in the 48th over.

But the Indian team received a setback when Ganguly was carried off the field on a stretcher after injuring his back in the 10th over with Pakistan struggling at 40 for three.

Fielding at mid-off, Ganguly dived to stop Pakistan captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq's drive off seamer, Laxmipathy Balaji, but he stayed down writhing in pain.

The Indian skipper may have aggravated the back injury that kept him out of some one-dayers against the West Indies in 2002. The Indian players surrounded their captain when he fell and physiotherapist Andrew Leipus rushed on to the field to attend to him.

Inzamam made 38 before Sachin Tendulkar grabbed a spectacular running catch, his 100th in his 333rd one-day international, inches inside the ropes at long off to dismiss the Pakistani skipper and reduce the home team to 87 for five.

``The target was not tall, but we lost quick wickets at the start which made the difference,'' Inzamam said. ``But I must admit the Indian bowlers bowled very well,'' he added.

Earlier, man of the match Laxman scored his sixth limited-overs century and the first against Pakistan. Laxman, dropped on 52, made 107 off 104 balls before he top-edged and was caught by Sami in the 46th over after hitting 11 attractive boundaries on both sides of the wicket.

Balaji hit speedster Shoaib Akhtar for the only six of the Indian innings. But Akhtar bowled an impressive 10 overs in three spells. He didn't bowl a single wide or no-ball and conceded 47 runs for the wicket of Ganguly.

Virender Sehwag hit four boundaries in his short burst of 20 runs off 22 balls, while Tendulkar was shaping up well as he hit seven fours in his 37 runs. But both edged to wicketkeeper, Moin Khan in an attempt to play extravagant strokes.

Ganguly (45) and Laxman put on 92 runs off 111 deliveries and consolidated midway through the innings as Pakistan bowlers kept a good line and length. — AP

'They played together'

New Delhi March 24. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, tonight congratulated the Indian cricket team for their splendid win in the ODI series in Lahore. Mr. Vajpayee said: ``When 11 players play together victory is certain. There is no reason for victory to elude us when 100-crore people take a pledge.'' — PTI, UNI

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