With both of the openers back in the pavilion, Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq walked out to the middle with the aim to mount the mammoth total of 349 put forward by the Indians.
The arch-rivals were locking horns after six years in a bilateral series following the Kargil War which had put cricketing-ties between the two on hold.
Inzamam, after a brief period of calmness, announced his arrival on the third delivery of the 16th over as he pulled the Indian left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan for four in front of square. From that point on, there was no looking back.
Karachi’s jam-packed National Stadium roared for the next 30 overs as Inzi smoked the Indian bowlers all around the dial.
For most of his stay at crease, the highest ODI-run getter for Pakistan kept spectators on the edge of their seats ─ and Karachiites lost their calm when the bulky captain danced down the wicket to loft Yuvraj Singh over the long-on boundary for a massive six on the first ball of the 33rd over.
Learning from his mistake, Yuvraj pitched the second ball short but Inzamam spanked it to the square-leg boundary for four. The fourth-ball was again dispatched for four in the similar manner as Inzi extracted 14 off just four.
Inzamam kept the scoreboard ticking for Pakistan and entered the triple digits with a gentle push towards the cover boundary that garnered him a double at the start of the 44th over.
The right-hand giant, however, could not win the game for Pakistan and got his off-stump knocked off by Lakshmipathy Balaji in the 47th over with still 86 to win.
On his way back, the legend received a warm standing-ovation from the 33,000 cricket frenzies seated around the field.
Pakistan managed 344, five runs less of what was required, but the score remains their highest second inning total to date in the ODI format.
0 Comments: