India hit back with five-wicket win

LAHORE, March 23: India kept their hopes alive in the tri-nation Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah with a 5-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second match of the tournament Thursday.

Chasing a modest victory target of 147, the Indians scrambled home without much scare. After losing Ganguly and Tendulkar with only 41 runs on the board, they were well served by Muhammad Azharuddin and Rahul Dravid who put on 70 for the third wicket. Azharuddin, in particular, played some glorious cover drives during his 58th fifty in one-dayers. Azhar broke Desmond Haynes' record of 57 fiftes during the process. India lost two wickets towards the end of the match but by then the result was a foregone conclusion.

Pakistan made the worst possible start to the tournament when they lost two wickets with only five runs on the board. First Shahid Afridi, once again playing away from his body, fell for a first-ball duck and then Abdur Razzaq, promoted to No. 3, was deceived by a slower ball from Agarkar only to be caught in the covers. Imran Nazir and Inzamam-ul-Haq then stabilised the innings with a 57-run third wicket stand. Imran Nazir's eye-pleasing knock of 43 won him a lot of praise from the experts like Ian Chappell and Tony Greig.

The Pakistanis were going well at 108 for three when tragedy struck in the shape of Yousuf youhana's run out. From then onwards, it was a procession of batsmen from pavilion to the middle as Pakistan lost last eight wickets for 38 to be bowled out for 146. No one really tried to apply himself. Inzamam and Youhana put on 46 for the fourth wicket but they allowed the bowlers to settle down with their cautious approach.

Inzamam, who consumed 77 deliveries for his 41, should have stayed till the end but instead he attempted to cut a Robin Singh delivery only to be caught by Saba Karim. Younis Khan again showed some flaws in his technique while playing back to a fastish delivery from Kumble which disturbed his stumps.

Pakistan went into the match with the best available eleven on the tour but they were lacking in planning. Since bowling was Pakistan's plus point, Moin Khan should have put the opposition in after winning the toss. By doing so the Pakistan skipper also let the opportunity down to keep the Indian batsmen under pressure who failed miserably in the first game against South Africa. But credit must also be given to the Indians the way they fought back after being mauled at the hands of South Africa in the first game.

Pakistan now face the formidable South Africans Friday against whom they have never won for years now.

Teams: India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh, Sunil Joshi, Saba Karim, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad. Pakistan: Moin Khan (capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Abdur Razzaq, Imran Nazir, Arshad Khan. Umpires: Peter Manual (Sri Lanka) and John Hampshire