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India tour Pakistan
- Samsung Cup 2004 |
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Dravid, Kaif guide India to 5-wkt win
 LAHORE:
It looked curtains for India before 'Mr Reliable' Rahul Dravid took
control and played a magnificent knock to steer India to a five
wicket win against Pakistan here on Sunday. The five match series is
now tantalisingly poised at 2-2 with the last match at Lahore on
Wednesday expected to be a humdinger.
Chasing a very competitive 294 to win, India who were tottering at
one stage at 94/4, reached the target in just the 45th over with
five wickets to spare.
Rahul Dravid (76 off 92) and Mohammad Kaif (71 off 76) were the
chief architects of India's tremendous fight back with a record
partnership for the sixth wicket against any opposition. Having said
that, the huge amount of extras (37) liberally doled out by the
Pakistanis made it even easier!
Earlier, in spite of an improved performance by the Indian bowlers,
Pakistan were let off the hook to finish with 293/9 after Inzamam
won the toss for the fourth time in a row and elected to bat.
In reply India cut to the chase almost at once with 34 runs coming
in the first four overs.
But disaster struck when Shoaib Akhtar in an inspired spell of fiery
pace bowling got the ball to jag back at Sachin (7), take the inside
edge and thud into the gloves of Moin Khan. The score now read 34/1
in the fifth over.
VVS Laxman struggling with form was lucky to caught off a no ball.
Inzamam took a brilliant catch but Shabbir's foot was clearly past
the popping crease.
But Laxman came back well to hit three spanking boundaries in a row
to Shabbir. This is the first time that Laxman has got into the
double figures against Pakistan in the one-dayers. But Laxman's
effort was short-lived as Shoaib Akhtar bowled a peach of a delivery
to send Laxman's wicket tumbling. Laxman was first beaten by the
length of the delivery and then the pace.
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