It
was another instance of cricket bringing smiles to sad faces
as India and Pakistan played each other in Abu Dhabi after
their tiring season of competitive cricket. Issue of burnout
might be hot currently but there was no complain about this
relief venture which showed another side of the corporate
boards of India and Pakistan. This desert extravaganza was
organized to provide relief to the Kashmir earthquake victims
alongwith promoting cricket in markets outside India. Sheikh
Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi was the best choice with its state-of-the-art
facilities and beauty depicting the rich Arab culture. There
is no doubt this venue will host many more exciting matches
in future. With both teams coming with a motif, the environment
inside and outside the field was far from similar. Pakistan
was looking to avenge India for its humiliating defeat in
the ODI series in Pakistan while India wanted to end this
good-looking season with another win.
Men-In-Blue
looked a tired bunch in the first game as they failed to adjust
to a slow pitch after their dominating performance against
the Brits. Pakistan, on the other hand, were also on a high
note after a successful tour of Sri Lanka playing on similar
pitches. Pakistan chased down the modest Indian total of 196
as India were never in the game after Pakistan got a good
start with Imran Farhat and experience of Younis Khan and
Inzamam guiding them through. Younis Khan scored a patient
71 while adding 86 for the third wicket with Inzamam. Ajit
Agarkar picked up 2 wickets for 33 runs but Irfan Pathan was
clearly a disappointment as India struggle to win when he
fails to strike in his first spell.
Earlier
after winning the toss Indian top order fell in an attempt
to accelerate against some shrewd captaincy, tight bowling
and good fielding. It was young guns to the rescue with a
valiant 61 not out by Venugopal Rao and by Suresh Raina but
India failed to utilize the end-overs with Dhoni and others
falling rapidly. Shoaib Malik picked up 3 wickets with his
consistent leg stump line from round the wicket. Younis Khan
was awarded the Man of the Match for anchoring his team to
success.
The
next match was business-time for the Indians who looked relatively
white in the first game. Dravid won yet another toss and got
a few eyebrows raised when he again opted to bat on the same
strip. Virender Sehwag, replacing Robin Uthappa, opened the
innings with Dravid. They gave India the perfect start with
a century stand. Sehwag perished for 73 to a peach of delivery
by Afridi. Then MS Dhoni both batted beautifully with some
unorthodox shots, a very own paddle-back drive of his. India
twice in two matches failed to accelerate towards the end
with Dravid losing his wicket before what would have been
a deserving hundred. India ended with 269 runs - a very competitive
total considering the match conditions. In reply, Pakistan
lost early wickets as Pathan seemed to be on song. Sreesanth
supported well and Agarkar accounted for Younis Khan cheaply.
Inzamam and Malik built up a partnership before latter’s
dismissal gave way to a flurry of wickets. Inzamam brought
up yet another half-century and kept Pakistan in the hunt
but when Indian captain ran him out, it turned out to be the
last nail in the coffin and the celebrations that followed
said it all.
India
won by 51 runs and the series ended 1-1. Dravid was awarded
the Man of the Match while Inzamam bagged the Man of the Series
award. Both the teams must be moderately happy with the results
and relatively happier by the revenues generated for the cause.
Their effort to play in between their tight schedule was commendable
as once again the cricketers emerged as the true ambassadors
for their country.
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