It’s tempting to think that from a graveyard of bowlers emerged India’s solution in the quest for a wicket-keeper who could be counted as a batsman as well. But that’s looking too much into the future. It’s better to bask in the present, which saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni make it almost impossible for Pakistan, to chase 356.
A successful chase by the visitors would have bettered the world record by a distance and they finally succumbed following the dismissal of Yousuf Youhana in the 39th over after nobody had given them a chance to keep the match alive for as long as they did. Maybe, for a second, the Indians were reminded of the Karachi ODI last year where Pakistan fought till the last ball after conceding 349. But then, there is little doubt over what they would like to remember of this match.
There was disbelief at the beautiful ACA Stadium embedded in the lap of the Eastern Ghats when the 23-year-old from Jharkhand walked in after Tendulkar fell in the fourth over, run out. Sehwag meanwhile, went on to launch a violent assault on an attack left toothless by the easy bounce in the pitch and Dhoni wasted no time in joining in the act. It was carnage from both ends and an awestruck Inzamam tried everything, including using four bowlers inside the first nine overs, only to see the run rate shoot up with each shot.
Fifty came in the sixth over, 100 in the 11th and by the time Sehwag left for a 40-ball 74 (2x6, 12x4) India were 122 in 14. Although Dhoni’s eventual score was the double of Sehwag’s, the brutality and disdain with which the latter treated the attack was breathtaking. Dravid played a characteristically quiet and effective role after yet another unsuccessful visit to the middle by Sourav Ganguly. The captain was middling the ball despite being kept quiet before playing across the line to Mohammad Sami. His deputy knew the importance of a partnership at this stage and let Dhoni enjoy a major share of the strike. Their third-wicket association was worth 149 off 134 balls and that Dravid faced 57 of them was an indicator of how well he rotated strike.
Scorecard
Fifty came in the sixth over, 100 in the 11th and by the time Sehwag left for a 40-ball 74 (2x6, 12x4) India were 122 in 14. Although Dhoni’s eventual score was the double of Sehwag’s, the brutality and disdain with which the latter treated the attack was breathtaking. Dravid played a characteristically quiet and effective role after yet another unsuccessful visit to the middle by Sourav Ganguly. The captain was middling the ball despite being kept quiet before playing across the line to Mohammad Sami. His deputy knew the importance of a partnership at this stage and let Dhoni enjoy a major share of the strike. Their third-wicket association was worth 149 off 134 balls and that Dravid faced 57 of them was an indicator of how well he rotated strike.
Scorecard