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India's
Tour Of Pakistan 2004 |
PAKISTAN Vs INDIA, 5th ODI
at Lahore, 24.3.2004
SCORECARD
I CRICKETFUNDAS.COM HIGHLIGHTS FOR 5th ODI AT
LAHORE
Presented
by B.V.Swagath
It’s
the final clash at Lahore to decide the winners
of the Samsung Cup. India came back strongly in
this series after winning the Do-Or-Die game at
Lahore a couple of nights back. History is
against India, with the tourists never winning
an ODI series against Pakistan in Pakistan. A
high pressure game was just about to begin and
the team that wouldn’t crumble under pressure
is going to take away the Samsung Cup.
THE
FLIP OF THE COIN
Inzamam completed a 5-0 whitewash over his
counterpart Sourav Ganguly in winning the toss.
Inzamam elected to field first as his bowlers
had struggled to cope up with the dew factor in
the 4th ODI. The homeside made a
change dropping Shahid Afridi and bringing in
the left handed opening batsman Taufeeq Umar.
India on the other hand retained the same side.
A placid track was for the offering and a run
feast was expected for sure.
THE
INDIAN INNINGS
Sehwag started the innings in rollicking fashion
playing some full blooded cut shots off Shabbir
and Shoaib. Sachin was more composed and
collective and putting away the occasional bad
ball. One shot too many and Veeru had to pay for
it, making room for himself and attempting a non
existent cut shot and India lost Sehwag(20)
after yet another promising start. After the
exit of Sehwag, none of the two batsmen Sachin
and Laxman seemed to be in a mood to exploit the
first 15 overs. Both the two batsmen started to
ease themselves and play steadily. Just when the
floodgates appeared to have opened with a big
over from Md.Sami, it wasn’t to be as Sami got
the all important wicket of Sachin
Tendulkar(37). Laxman and Ganguly started to put
on a decent partnership, and India were at a
solid 134/2 at halfway stage. A good move from
Inzamam to bring Shoaib Akthar back for his
second spell ended Sourav’s innings as Sourav
Ganguly(45) once again edged the ball behind.
India got a major jolt to its proceedings after
Sami sent back Rahul Dravid’s stumps for a
walk. Yuvraj(18) played a couple of fabulous
shots, but his promising innings came to end
after Shabbir produced a leading edge to end the
44 run partnership. Laxman meanwhile moved onto
his 6th ODI hundred laced with 11
boundaries. The only time Laxman(107) attempted
a lofted shot, he was gone! Kaif didn’t last
long but two spirited young and brave men –
Pathan(20*) and Balaji(10*) played some
important shots to take India to 293/7.
THE PAKISTANI CHASE
India had to take wickets with the new ball or
it would be difficult in the latter part of the
innings with the dew setting in. Balaji with the
confidence of his batting earlier on, gave the
all important breakthrough, uprooting Yasir
Hameed’s stumps. Pathan gave a replay of the
other day’s dismissal of Yousuf Youhana,
though Youhana was hard done by the decision
this time. That brought in skipper Inzamam and a
Herculean task on his shoulders.
But no support came for him from the
other end with Taufeeq Umar shuffling a bit too
much and losing his legstump and Younis Khan
playing a rash drive which was taken by Yuvraj
at point. Pakistan were in dire straits at 58/4
in 12.1 overs. In between, Sourav Ganguly
injured his lower back in an attempted dive to
cut Inzamam’s offdrive and the captaincy
responsibility was now with Rahul Dravid.
Inzamam started to look dangerous and moved onto
38 and stepped out to hit Murali Kartik out of
the ground for a 6. But Sachin Tendulkar
converted that into a stupendous catch leaping
to his left and holding onto the catch just
inches short of the ropes. That was Sachin’s
100th catch in ODIs and that seemed
to have shut the door for the homeside. It was
even more worse for Pakistan after Razzaq hit
Balaji straight into Sehwag’s hands at midoff
to leave Pakistan at a disastrous 96/6. Shoaib
Malik and Moin put on a spirited partnership of
99 runs to keep Pakistan interests alive in the
game. Kaif took an important catch to end a
valiant knock from Shoaib Malik(65) and it was
now Moin Khan left with an impossible task.
Balaji wrapped things off yorking Moin(72) to
win the match for by 40 runs and the Samsung Cup
3-2! The Men In Blue created history as this was
the first time, India beat Pakistan in a one-day
series in Pakistan. V.V.S.Laxman walked away
with the Man of the Match and Inzamam had the
consolation of winning the Man of the Series
award.
That brings us to an end to the Cricketfundas
Highlights for the Samsung Cup and hope to see
you all around on the 28th after the
1st day’s play of the first test at
Multan.
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