E-Paper
Afridi's 45-ball ton sinks India
Afridi smashed the 2nd-fastest century as Pak cruised to a 5-wicket win. Score | Replay | Awesome Afridi | Player | Photos
Shahid Afridi smashed the second-fastest one-day century off 45 deliveries as Pakistan trounced India by five wickets on Friday to take an unassailable 3-2 lead in the six-match series.
The swashbuckling opener hit 10 boundaries and nine sixes in a brilliant 102 off 46 balls to help Pakistan overtake India's challenging 249/6 with 47 deliveries to spare at the Green Park stadium.
India must now win the final one-dayer in New Delhi on Sunday in front of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to draw the series.
Afridi, who holds the world record for the fastest one-day hundred off 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996, equalled the second-best effort of 45 deliveries by West Indian Brian Lara against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 1999.
The 25-year-old fell next ball after reaching his fourth hundred when he was bowled by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh playing a rare defensive shot to the great relief of the awe-struck Indian fielders.
Fellow opener Salman Butt, enjoying a ringside view of Afridi's fireworks, contributed just 21 in a first-wicket stand of 131 which came off 14.2 overs.
Pakistan strolled comfortably after Afridi's dismissal, taking another 28 overs to get the remaining 119 runs for victory with Shoaib Malik making 41.
Pakistan raced to 55 in the first five overs, 43 off those runs coming off Afridi's blade in 15 deliveries with two sixes off Lakshmipathy Balaji and three in one over off Anil Kumble.
Afridi, who had in the past twice scored half-centuries off 18 deliveries, needed 20 this time to reach his individual 50. When Pakistan posted 100 on the board, Afridi's own score was 75.
Fortune too appeared to favour the brave as Afridi was caught off a Dinesh Mongia no-ball when he reached 79.
Afridi's breathtaking strokeplay prompted an Indian spectator to display a signboard which read: "Afridi, please spare us, for friendship's sake."
Afridi missed breaking his own world record of 11 sixes in a one-day innings he shares with Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka.
