Opener Yasir Hameed cracked a fluent 98 and all rounder Abdul Razzaq hit an unbeaten half-century as Pakistan beat India by four wickets to take a 2-1 lead in their five-match one-day series yesterday.
Hameed, a 26-year-old local boy, hammered 14 fours in his 116-ball innings as the home side overhauled India's 244 for nine with 16 balls to spare at the Arbab Niaz stadium.
It was Hameed's second consecutive half-century after an 86 at Rawalpindi.
PHOTO: AFP
Pace bowler Irfan Pathan grabbed three top-order wickets on his return to the India team after being left out for the first two matches but Razzaq made sure of victory with a 52-ball unbeaten 53.
Razzaq, who also took two wickets, finished the match with a six and a four off consecutive deliveries to raise his 17th one-day fifty.
The initiative swung each way after an extraordinary opening.
Pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed's first over took 14 balls to complete but it included Sachin Tendulkar's wicket as well as six wides and two no-balls.
Tendulkar, fishing, was caught behind for a duck before Shabbir dismissed opener Virender Sehwag for a breezy 13, caught at gully while trying to steer, and bowled Vangipurappu Laxman (3) through the gate to make it 37 for three.
Captain Saurav Ganguly staged a recovery with a 41-ball 39, including five fours and a pulled six over square-leg off medium-pacer Razzaq.
But Razzaq had him caught behind just as he was starting to look dangerous and Rahul Dravid (33) followed soon after.
Yuvraj Singh, however, gave India a chance with his 14th one-day half-century off 70 balls, including seven fours and a six over fine-leg off Shoaib Akhtar.
Pakistan, who had won the toss, also struggled early on.
Pathan quickly dismissed explosive opener Shahid Afridi, bowled while playing down the wrong line, and then had vice-captain Yousuf Youhana caught at second slip.
Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik also went cheaply to make it 65 for four but Hameed then shared a 91-run fifth-wicket stand with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (28).
Cheered on by a packed house of 16,000, he fell just short of his 100, steering Pathan into Yuvraj's hands at point, but Razzaq and Moin Khan (22 not out) finished the job with an unbroken 74-run stand.
India are in Pakistan for their first full series in more than 14 years.
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