Salman Butt and Younus Khan hammered centuries to set up Pakistan’s thrilling 25-run victory over arch-rivals India in the triangular one-day series final in Bangladesh on Saturday.
Left-handed opener Butt retired hurt on 129 and Younus scored a brisk 108 as Pakistan posted 315-3 before restricting India to 290 to avenge their record defeat earlier in the series.
India, under pressure after Pakistan’s fireworks, were in deep trouble when they lost four wickets for 106, including those of in-form openers Virender Sehwag (2) and Gautam Gambhir (40).
PHOTO: AFP
Yuvraj Singh then made a brave 56 and put on 73 for the fifth wicket with Suresh Raina (24) to keep alive his team’s hopes of winning the series also featuring Bangladesh.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (64) and Irfan Pathan (28) made a 60-run stand for the seventh wicket, but it came too late to stop Pakistan, whose fast bowler Umar Gul recorded figures of 4-57.
“It’s one of the biggest wins of my career,” Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik said. “Younus and Butt batted brilliantly. We worked very hard after losing the previous match [against India] in the league.”
The afternoon session belonged to Butt and Younus, who gave a superb exhibition of stroke-making during their record-equaling 205-run stand for the second wicket against India.
Pakistan, thrashed by India by a record 140 runs earlier in the tournament, were indebted to Butt and Younus for setting a stiff target as both the batsmen put the attack to the sword.
Younus, who failed to open his account in the previous two games, made amends in the big match, dominating the Indian attack with bold shots on both sides of the wicket.
He played a key role in stepping up the run-rate after Pakistan managed just 75 in the opening 20 overs. He hoisted part-time spinner Sehwag for the first six and then hit two more sixes off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
Chawla conceded 85 runs in 10 wicket-less overs, the third-most expensive spell by an Indian in one-day internationals.
Younus also hit eight fours in his 99-ball knock, his fourth century in one-day internationals.
Butt was outscored by his senior partner during the partnership. He gave a difficult chance on 19 when Rohit Sharma failed to hold a powerful cut in the covers off Praveen Kumar.
After that let-off, the left-hander gave no hope to the Indian bowlers, striking the ball cleanly before retiring hurt with cramp. He hit three sixes and 12 fours in his 136-ball knock.
It was Butt’s seventh century in one-day internationals and his fifth against India.
Younus was named man of the match and Butt man of the series.
West Indies v Australia
AFP, BRIDGETOWN, Barbados
Fine hundreds from openers Simon Katich and Phil Jaques put Australia in command of the third and final Test against the West Indies on Saturday.
Katich batted through the entire day to remain undefeated on 148 — his fourth Test hundred and highest Test score — and Jaques made 108 — his third Test hundred.
Australia reached 330 for three in their second innings when stumps were drawn on the third day of the Test at the Kensington Oval.
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