India crush Pakistan by 140 runs
DHAKA, June 10 (Agencies): India snapped Pakistan’s winning streak by inflicting on them a crushing 140-run defeat in the second match of the one-day tri-series at Sher-e-Bangla stadium here today.An all-round performance ensured an Indian victory as their batsmen and bowlers fired in unison to stop Pakistan’s march towards 13th consecutive win.Indians, having elected to bat, piled up massive 330 for eight, thanks to a stupendous batting by the top-order.Openers Virender Sehwag (89) and Gautam Gambhir (62) hit sparkling half-centuries and shared an amazing 155-run partnership to lay a strong foundation for the big total.Riaz dismissed both openers in a space of a couple of overs but went on to have a forgettable day. It was the first time he was up against top-class opposition and the wheels began to come off once Yuvraj went after him. He even let slip two beamers – the second was probably because of the slippery ball – and wasn’t allowed to complete his final over. It meant he earned the dubious distinction of bowling the most expensive spell against India, conceding one more than what Ata-ur-Rahman did in Sharjah back in 1996.Incidentally it was in that game where India passed 300 for the first time in an ODI. Here, more than 12 years later, even 400 appeared a possibility when Yuvraj was striking them clean. He gauged the slow nature of the track and ensured he played late. A couple of half-trackers were swatted away over midwicket and his neat clips towards square leg suggested a batsman preparing to explode.With a little over eight overs left, and India looking for someone to provide the final flourish, he missed a straight one from Umar Gul. Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan chipped in with cameos.Pakistan, in reply, were bundled out for 190 in just 35.4 overs, giving India its biggest win against them.Skipper Shoaib Malik waged a lone battle with his 53-run knock and did not find any able ally at the other end.Praveen Kumar (4/53) spoiled Pakistan run-chase as he rocked Pakistan battling line-up by claiming three quick wickets, including two on consecutive balls.SCORECARDIndia: Gambhir c Akmal b Wahab Riaz 62, Sehwag c Akmal b Wahab Riaz 89, Yuvraj b Umar Gul 55, YK Pathan c Iftikhar Anjum b Afridi 3, Rohit Sharma b Afridi 9, Dhoni lbw b Sohail Tanvir 24, Raina c Misbah-ul-Haq b Umar Gul 26, Irfan Pathan c Shoaib Malik b Umar Gul 18, Praveen Kumar not out 6, P Chawla not out 0; Extras (b5, lb4, w20, nb 9): 38; Total (8 wkts, 50 overs): 330; Fall of wickets: 1-155, 2-174, 3-199, 4-231, 5-269, 6-271, 7-322, 8-324; Bowling: Umar Gul 10-0-61-3, Sohail Tanvir 9.4-0-57-1, Wahab Riaz 9.2-0-86-2, Iftikhar Anjum 10 -0-63-0, Shahid Afridi 10-0-52 -2, Younis Khan 1-0-2-0. (Message incomplete)
