India decimate Pakistan by 9 wkts at The Oval
Zeecric.com
London, Jun 03: A blistering opening wicket stand between Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir astoundingly brought Indias campaign in World Cup on track with a 9 wicket victory over Pakistan.
Chasing a total of 159 runs for victory against arch rivals Pakistan, Team India openers Gambhir (52) and Sharma (80) decimated Pakistani bowling to all park of The Oval ground in a 140 run opening wicket stand and set the tone for a morale boosting win before the real action begins in couple of days.
Rohit Sharma was only Indian wicket to fall, who was brilliantly holed in deep by Ahmed Shehzad after top edging a Mohammad Aamer delivery. Dhoni and Gambhir then ensured that there were no further hiccups as went past the required target with three overs remaining.
Earlier, Pakistan got off to a flier but India`s disciplined bowling unit staged a remarkable comeback to restrict them to 158 for six in the ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match here on Wednesday.
Despite losing an early wicket, Pakistan cruised to 45 in just over four overs before losing three wickets without a single run added to the score. However, cameos from Ahmed Shehzad (25), Younis Khan (32), Misbah-ul Haq (37 not out) and Yasir Arafat (25 not out) ensured they crossed the 150-mark.
After winning toss, Pakistan captain Younis Khan sent out teen twins Shahzaib Hasan (0) and Ahmed Shehzad to open the innings but Hasan was back in the hut soon after Praveen Kumar`s fifth legitimate delivery pegged back his off-stump.
Shehzad`s too could have been a brief stay but Harbhajan Singh grassed a sitter at mid-wicket off RP Singh when the batsman was on five and India were made to pay for the clan.
Shehzad shed all inhibitions and went after the Indian bowlers and suddenly it was raining boundaries at The Oval.
RP Singh copped two in the same over and Praveen didn`t escape unscathed either as Shehzad pulled and drove with elan.
Shehzad`s aggression proved contagious as Kamran Akmal (19) too started freeing his arms to good effect.
It was probably too good to last and Pakistan lost three wickets over five *** with Suresh Raina in the thick of action.
An airborne Raina first did a Jonty Rhodes to swoop on a ball and hit the stumps to remove Akmal and then placed himself under Shehzad`s miscued skier in the same Ishant Sharma over.
Shahid Afridi`s was a blink-and-miss stay as the swashbuckling right-hander bottom edged Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni took a diving catch to remove him for a golden duck.
Shoaib Malik (14) started well before Pragyan Ojha snared the former captain in his first over and Pakistan were without their top half when the score reached 63.
Younis and Misbah raised 50 runs in 7.3 overs but boundaries had dried up by then. Harbhajan got rid off Younis but Misbah and Arafat threw their bat at everything to push the score past the 150-mark, but to no use.
