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Azhar leads India home |
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March 25, 2000
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Mar 24: Former Indian captain Mohammas Azharuddin hit 54 to guide his team to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Sharjah Cup here on Thursday, report AFP.
The Indians made heavy weather of the modest target of 147, taking 43.3 overs to win against the Pakistani pace attack of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Abdur Razzaq.
The slipped to 41 for two before Rahul Dravid (26) and Azharuddin retrieved the situation by adding 70 for the third wicket.
Azharuddin who has played more one-dayers (329) and scored more runs (9,283) than any player in the world, hit seven boundaries in his 58th half-century.
The 37-year-old fell just 15 short of victory, but his steller display helped India overcome the 10-wickt defeat against South Africa in Wednesday's opening match in the three-nation tournament.
Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar put on 39 for the first wicket, before both fell in the space of two runs.
Skipper Ganguly scored a typically elegant 25 with four boundaries when he was caught behind chasing a wide ball from Akram.
Tendulkar made a dour 11 in 54 minutes when he was declared leg-before off Shoaib by Sri Lankan umpire Peter Manual. Replays indicated the ball may have hit the bat first.
Dravid and Azhar brought up India's 100 in only the 30th over as the run-rate slumped after the double blow.
Earlier, Pakistan crumbled under sustained pressure from the Indian bowlers to be bowled out for 146 in the 46th over.
Leg-spinner Anil Kumble claimed 2-26 and Venkatesh Prasad and Sunil Joshi chipped in with 2-29 each to negate Pakistan's advantage of taking first strike in good batting conditions.
Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs after opener Imran Nazir (43) and Inzamamul Haq (41) had lifted them from 5 for two to a promising 108 for three in the 29th over.
The innings was marked by the bizarre dismissal of Yousuf Youhana, who was declared run out at the non-striker's and even as the Indians attempted to run Inzamam out at the other end.
Youhana charged down for a single after patting Robin Singh to off-side, only to see Inzamam turn back as wicket-keeper Saba Karim threw down the stumps at the bowlers' end.
Both batsmen were stranded at one end, but as the ball deflected towards mid-on, Inzamam completed the run before Ajay Jadeja's throw could reach Karim.
Ganguly's late appeal at the bowler's end was proved right as television replays found both batsmen short of their crease when Karim had initially broken the stumps.
The Umpires signaled Youhana out, and Inzamam too was back off next ball, caught behind by Karim off Robin Singh.
Source: The Daily Star |