The Hindu : Sport : Pakistan well placed to take 1-0 lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006

Sport

Sport

Pakistan well placed to take 1-0 lead

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan, pursuing 198 for victory, was 149 for four after 40 overs in the first ODI of the DLF Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Tuesday.

India struck two crucial blows as the contest reached the climactic phase. Inzamam-ul-Haq (40) fell to the impressive Ramesh Powar, caught at long-on by Venugopala Rao. Then, Mohammad Yousuf nicked an outswinger from Ajit Agarkar to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Younis Khan was unbeaten with 49.

Earlier, openers Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat added 42 before Malik (12) edged an away going delivery from paceman S. Sreesanth to Rahul Dravid at slip. Sreesanth bowled with zest on a slow pitch, swinging the ball and using the crease well.

Irfan Pathan disappointed at the other end, erring in both length and direction. He was punished by the left-handed Farhat, who was quick to latch on to any width outside the off-stump.

Superb yorker

Farhat (30) promised more when he was bamboozled by a superb swinging yorker from Ajit Agarkar, who had replaced Pathan. Pakistan was 60 for two when skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq joined his deputy Younis Khan.

Dravid held back his spinners, but there was sufficient turn for off-spinners Ramesh Powar and Harbhajan Singh when they came on to bowl. Powar, in particular, bowled a good off-stump line, daring the batsmen with his flight. Harbhajan's line suffered on occasions.

Inzamam and Younis, fine players of spin, displayed an ideal blend of caution and aggression. Inzamam's footwork, whether moving forward to drive or making room to pierce the off-side field, was exemplary. Younis collected his runs by working the ball around cleverly.

India lost a gilt-edged opportunity to separate the partnership early on when Pathan, with Younis yards away, missed the stumps from close range at the bowler's end after Yuvraj Singh had fielded brilliantly at point.

Poor show

Earlier, India put up a listless batting display to be bowled out for 197. Venugopala Rao, who struck his maiden one-day half-century, remained unbeaten on 61 to take India to this modest total after it was reduced to 72 for four by the disciplined Pakistan bowling.

Venugopala shared a crucial 64-run partnership with Suresh Raina, the only other notable performer with 40, after Indian captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat at the Zayed Stadium, which was hosting its first-ever international.

India, fresh from a 5-1 triumph against England at home, found runs hard to come by on a pitch where stroke-making was difficult. Even Venugopala was not allowed to bat freely and hit just three fours in his 93-ball knock while making his highest score in 14 ODIs.

As many as four Indian batsmen were run out, while four others were caught when attempting ambitious shots.

Shoaib Malik was the most impressive among the Pakistan bowlers, taking three for 40, including the prize scalp of Mahendra Singh Dhoni for just three.

Rahul Dravid was run out while going for a second run and Irfan Pathan ran himself out, going for a non-existent single after hitting straight to mid-on.

Yuvraj Singh nicked Rao Iftikhar Anjum to Kamran Akmal, before Raina and Venugopala steadied the ship. The Indian innings also ended in a pair of run-outs, the victims being Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth. — Agencies

SCOREBOARD

India: R. Uthappa c Yousuf b Rana 12, R. Dravid (run out) 20, I. Pathan (run out) 26, Yuvraj Singh c Akmal b Iftikhar 7, S. Raina c Iftikhar b Afridi 40, Venugopala Rao (not out) 61, M.S. Dhoni b Malik 3, A. Agarkar c Iftikhar b Malik 12, R. Powar c Iftikhar b Malik 5, Harbhajan Singh (run out) 3, S. Sreesanth (run out) 0; Extras: (lb-3, w-5): 8; Total (in 50 overs) 197.

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-47, 3-65, 4-72, 5-136, 6-149, 7-171, 8-180, 9-196.

Pakistan bowling: Asif 8-1-24-0, Rana 9-0-51-1, Iftikhar 7-1-24-1, Razzaq 6-1-13-0, Afridi 10-0-42-1, Malik 10-0-40-3.

Pakistan: S. Malik c Dravid b Sreesanth 12, I. Farhat b Agarkar 30, Younis Khan (batting) 49, Inzamam c Venugopala b Powar 40, Mohd. Yousuf c Dhoni b Agarkar 1, K. Akmal (batting) 0; Extras (lb-10, w-6, nb-1): 17; Total (for four wkts. in 40 overs): 149.

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-60, 3-146, 4-149.

India bowling: Pathan 7-1-36-0, Sreesanth 9-2-30-1, Agarkar 8-1-24-2, Powar 10-1-27-1, Harbhajan 6-1-22-0.

(Scoreboard incomplete)

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