Younis guides Pakistan Past India

[OMEN]

Younis Khan: unbeaten 71
First One Day International
Abu Dhabi
India 197 (Y V Rao 61 no) v Pakistan 201-4 (Younis Khan 71 no)
Pakistan beat India by 6 wkts

Younis Khan struck a patient 71 to guide Pakistan to a six-wicket victory over rivals India in Abu Dhabi.

The match was played in the newly constructed Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the UAE capital, but it was an unhappy experience for India who totalled just 197 after winning the toss and opting to bat.

It was never likely to be enough, and so it proved as Younis co-ordinated the chase with a 96-ball innings that included four fours and one six.

The 28-year-old was ably assisted by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq during an 86-run third-wicket partnership that ended India's hopes.

And although Inzamam holed out off Ramesh Powar's off-spin for 40, a quick 24 from wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal finished off the game.

Ajit Agarkar was the most successful Indian bowler, finishing with 2-33 from his 10 overs.

Earlier, India had managed just 197 from their 50-over allocation, thanks mainly to a maiden one-day international fifty from Venugopal Rao.

The top order never came to terms with the slow nature of the wicket and were badly hampered by the run outs of opener Rahul Dravid (20) and number three Irfan Pathan (26).

Pathan's exit reduced India to 72-4, before a 64-run fifth-wicket partnership between Suresh Raina and Rao aided a partial recovery.

But Raina (40) fell to Shahid Afridi's leg-spin in the 39th and was soon followed back to the pavilion by the dangerous Mahendra Singh Dhoni (3).

That ended any hopes of a score in excess of 200, but sensible batting from Rao saw him finish unbeaten on 61 from 93 balls as India totalled 197.

The teams meet again tomorrow at the same venue for the second game of the two-match series.

SkySports

[Mr Mando]

thanks for the news lol