2nd ODI Match Report (by Dhoni183) - PakPassion

Saj

Except for some good batting and the match result this match had everything what we have seen in some of the recent matches involving Pakistan; there was some bad field, dropped catches and poor bowling on display but they still managed overcome all that thanks to a magnificently paced 99 ball hundred from Younis Khan, Misbah and Afridi chipped in with valuable contributions.

Earlier on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, won the toss and elected to bat first on a bouncy Mohali track which seemed difficult to bat on in the initial overs. The Indian Innings got off to an eventful start when Sourav Ganguly dragged a Shoaib Akhtar delivery on to his stumps after hitting a boundary. Managing to overcome all those "ohs" and "ahs" the two Indian batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir, did well to see off the new ball and after reaching their fifty the Indian Innings really got some momentum as they both started to open up a bit.

Though Gambhir played a very senible knock of 57 but Tendulkar was treat to watch today who really got the crowd on their feet as he cut, pulled, drove and really toyed with Pakistan bowling on his way to 99. He was again extremely unlucky to miss out yet another hundred (fifth in last six months in ODIs) as he fell short by one run, only for the first time has a batsman been out thrice on 99 in cricketing history. Umar Gul was the one to break the stand of 173 in just 25.4 for the third wicket, Gambhir followed soon (also getting out to Gul). After that dream partnership it was left to Yuvraj and Sehwag, who was playing ahead of Murali Kartik, to carry on the momentum going set up by the pair.

After sharing a partnership 53 Sehwag departed failing to read a quick, sliding delivery on the off-stump by Afridi (and got bowled). Seeing the run-rate climbing down Yuvraj Singh to get on with things as he was holed on to Sohail Tanvir delivery at deep mid-wicket. Done in by some good death bowling from Akhtar and Tanvir and failing to get the scoreboard going Uthappa (0) and Dhoni fell in quick succession as India were in danger of being bowled as they were 278 for eight at one stage. Late onslaught Harbhajan Singh, particularly on Rao Iftikhar Anjum, took them to mammoth 321, he made 38 off just 20 balls.

Chasing such a huge total Pakistan need a good start. Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt looked well set, before a slap was well held on to by Yuvraj at point by Akmal. Enter Younis Khan Pakistan had to mix up their initial over in singles and few boundary and Butt-Younis pair was perfect to do that. After getting his eye in Salman Butt decided to take on the charge as he played some gorgeous shots before unfortunately as the ball missed the bat, clipped the flap of the front pad and went on to the stumps, he made 37 and Pakistan were 81 for 2 in 14.5 overs.

Enter Mohammad Yousuf and a slow start to his his Innings was imminent. But it actually turned out to be a real painstaking partnership of 24 between two Ys put breaks to the run-chase. Then came a much better paced and attacking partnership between Younis and Shoaib Malik of 71. Malik was snapped up well by Irfan Pathan at long-on off a Harbhajan Singh delivery.

By the time Misbah-Ul-Haq walked in Younis had already notched up his fifty and was looking in much more aggressive mood. It didn´t take long for the pair to find momentum as Younis Khan decided to take them on. Not the one to be overshadowed by Younis´ Innings Misbah also got into the act as he played all his shots which made him popular during the recently finished Twenty20 World Cup.

During the partnership the situation was getting tensed for the Indian as slowly and slowly Pakistan made their chances better of clinching it through a wonderful, attacking partnership of 102 in 12.4 overs between them. After making his third ODI hundred Younis finally fell for 117 off 110 deliveries as he was bowled around his legs to a Zaheer Khan yorker, Pakistan still needed 47 from 28 ball and a typical Shahid Afridi was required to finish it off.

The pressure of climbed-up required run-rate had again better off Misbah as he once again fell playing that jinxed paddle-sweep, he made valuable 49 off 44 balls. Sohail Tanvir and Shahid Afridi had some work to as 39 were still required off just 20 balls, but not to be effected by the match situation Afridi kept playing his natural game few important boundaries and brutal six over long-off, which seemed to have finished the case, on his way to 29 of just 14 balls.

Tanvir was on strike and six was required of final over of Pathan, a boundary off the first ball and two singles finished it off in style with one ball to spare.

All in all, this thrilling encounter sets up an exciting third match between the arch-rivals on 11th (November) at Kanpur.