Butt and Younis help turn the tide

Jun 14, 2008

The pressure was on Pakistan coming into the final, with the players and the coach receiving flak after their 140-run loss to India. Pakistan chose to bat but started cautiously, and Kamran Akmal fell to Irfan Pathan with just 34 on board in the tenth over•AFP

Younis Khan had two successive ducks coming into the match, and was out to prove a point•AFP

They consolidated and built up the momentum before launching an assault on India's spinners. Butt utilised the slog-sweep to good effect•AFP

Ten years ago, India had chased 315 in Dhaka against Pakistan, but today they suffered an early blow as Virender Sehwag fell cheaply. Gautam Gambhir held fort with a 40, but India's hopes began fading with his exit•AFP

... and Suresh Raina ...•AFP

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain, tried to keep afloat a sinking ship •AFP

Pakistan were surely the better team on the day, and will head into the Asia Cup at home in high spirits•AFP

With four centuries against India, Salman Butt was known for his reputation of rising against the arch-rivals•AFP

The duo made it a memorable day for Pakistan, smashing centuries to power their side to 315 for 3•AFP

He reached his hundred off 121 balls, and the opposition watched a not-so-unfamiliar sight: Butt's fifth hundred comes in just his 18th innings against India•AFP

Umar Gul did some early damage, removing Gambhir and Rohit Sharma•AFP

... but Pakistan managed to strike at crucial junctures•AFP

However, he didn't get the necessary support from the rest as the asking-rate climbed•AFP

Younis scored a 99-ball 108 but he and Butt were happy to see off the Powerplay overs•AFP

Younis' hundred came at a quicker pace, and he couldn't contain his delight•AFP

There were contributions from Yusuf Pathan ... •AFP

Yuvraj Singh's fighting fifty kept India in the hunt, before he snicked one off Shahid Afridi•AFP

A few big hits at the end would have boosted India's chances, but Gul played spoilsport. India were finally bowled out in 48.2 overs, 25 short of Pakistan's 315•AFP