Riding on wonderfully refined efforts from Shoiab Malik and Mohammd Yusuf, Pakistan reached an imposing 302 for nine in a Group `A' match of the ICC Champions Trophy here on Saturday.
Malik notched up 128 (126 b, 16x4) and Mohammad Yousuf made 87 (88b, 7x4). India was set a daunting target at a packed SuperSport Park. The partnership between Malik and Yousuf – 206 in 193 balls – was Pakistan's highest fourth wicket association in ODIs.
The two batted intelligently, splitting the field with rapier-like strokes. The emphasis was on harnessing the pace and the deviation on the ball by opening the face of the blade. And the placements were precise.
Astonishingly, there was not a single six in the innings. Younus Khan's men seemed heading for an even bigger total with Pakistan taking its batting Power Play in the last five overs. However, left-armer Aashish Nehra, the pick, stuck to his task and Ishant Sharma recovered well to send down a useful last over. Pakistan made 41 runs its last five overs, losing five wickets in the process.
It was a much different scenario earlier in the afternoon. Pakistan was 65 for three at the end of the 15th over. Two overs later, Dhoni introduced Virat Kohli's friendly medium pace. The pressure on the batsmen was released.
To make matters worse, Dhoni had Yousuf Pathan operating from the other end. The two part-time bowlers bowling at a critical stage of the game allowed the batsmen to grow in confidence and subsequently build a partnership.
India was a specialist bowler short, but could have still taken a chance and attempted to drive home the early advantage. Dhoni failed to seize the moment.
Harbhajan, on a surface to his liking, was introduced only in the 26th over. By this time, Malik and Yousuf had adjusted to the pitch and got their feet moving.
Both, Malik and Yousuf batted with soft hands and sure touch against Harbhajan and Yusuf Pathan. Yousuf used the depth of the crease exceptionally well for some old-fashioned shots between point and
third man. Malik was not far behind as he too conjured some delightful strokes of timing and balance; he was caressing the ball through the gaps.
The cut and the late cut proved extremely effective and Harbhajan was not allowed to settle down. When the off-spinner went round the wicket to cut down on the angle for the stroke, the confident Malik still created room by moving away on the leg-side.
Both Malik and Yousuf are wristy batsmen and they were picking deliveries from the off-stump and whipping them into the vast areas on the leg-side.
India, gradually, ran out of answers. The bowlers began to err in length and direction. Ishant Sharma disappointed pitching short and wide and Malik pounded him for three boundaries in the 36th over.
When the erratic R.P. Singh gave him the length, Malik did little more than direct the ball to the point fence. The two batsmen ran brilliantly between the wickets. Malik changed gears too for a few expansive strokes.
Yousuf was eventually done in by a slower one from Nehra. Malik, who completed his seventh ODI hundred, was held at long on off an off-colour Harbhajan.
India sorely missed a fifth bowler or a bowling all-rounder. Younus Khan's decision to bat was on expected lines. The spinners were likely to get more purchase in the second half of the match.
The intrepid Imran Nazir began like a runaway train. R. P. Singh – struggling with his length - was smashed to the cover fence. Soon, Nazir punched the paceman down the ground. R.P. Singh was either over-pitching or banging it in short on a slowish wicket.
Nehra, the steadier of the two left-arm pacemen, sent back Nazir when the aggressive right-hander attempted to pull a short-of-a-length delivery angling across him. Nazir's cameo (17-ball 20) had set the tempo for Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Kamran Akmal, another batsman with exemplary hand-eye coordination, swung Nehra past the ropes. Nehra struck back soon, angling one across the right-hander. Attempting a drive with little
footwork, Akmal played on. Pakistan was 52 for two after the ninth over. The Indians were full of beans. Skipper Younus, batting through pain, collected easy runs off Ishant when the bowler strayed on either side of the wicket. R.P. Singh ended Younus' tenure with a smart ploy; the left-armer went round the wicket and straightened the delivery to find the edge.
At the end of the 15th over, Pakistan was 65 for three. Then came the turn-around.
Scoreboard
Pakistan: I. Nazir c Harbhajan b Nehra 20 (17b, 4x4), K. Akmal b Nehra 19 (22b, 3x4), Younus c Dhoni b R.P. Singh 20 (33b, 3x4), S. Malik c Yusuf b Harbhajan 128 (126b, 16x4), M. Yousuf b Nehra 87 (88b, 7x4), S. Afridi c Dhoni b Yusuf 4 (2b, 1x4), U. Akmal c Dhoni b Nehra 0 (1b), Rana Naved (not out) 11 (8b, 1x4), U. Gul c Raina b Ishant 0 (2b), M. Aamer c Kohli b Ishant 0 (1b), S. Ajmal (not out) 0 (0b), Extras (lb-1, w-12) 13; Total (for nine wkts. in 50 overs) 302.
Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Nazir), 2-53 (Akmal), 3-65 (Younus), 4-271 (Yousuf), 5-278 (Afridi), 6-289 (Umar), 7-300 (Malik), 8-301 (Gul), 9-302 (Aamer).
India bowling: Nehra 10-0-55-4, R.P. Singh 9-1-59-1, Ishant 8-2-39-2, Kohli 3-0-21-0, Yusuf 10-0-56-1, Harbhajan 10-0-71-1.
