Albiet India came from a position of no return in the dying moments of the game, Pakistan eked out a victory in unusual fashion, winning by 7 runs through Duckworth/Lewis method in the first of the five-match ODI series at Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar.
Needing 18 runs from 18 balls with Younis Khan and Naved-ul-Rana at the crease, murky conditions stopped play with match evenly poised for a nail-biting finish.
Man-of-the match Salman Butt (100 runs of 112 balls; 15 fours) smashed a rollicking century and put on 150-run stand with Shoaib Malik (90 runs off 67 balls; 9 fours, 3 sixes) to seize the momentum early.
The duo provided a solid platform for the run-chase from where the other middle-order capiltalised. Salman Butt's winning effort upstaged Sachin Tendulkar's endeavour earlier in the day - who hit his record 39th century to surpass a whopping 14,000 runs in ODI cricket.
He along with Pathan (65 runs off 65 balls; 12 fours, 1 six) and Dhoni (68 runs off 53 balls; 11 fours 1 six) destroyed the bowling attack to set a mammoth 329-run target.
But Pakistan batsmen hit back even harder, replying fire with fire.
{{/usCountry}}But Pakistan batsmen hit back even harder, replying fire with fire.
{{/usCountry}}Pakistan hunt down impossible target
At the start, Pakistan openers began confidently with the two openers - Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal - scoring runs at will. They piled on pressure taking at least one four every over off the Indian pacers. The duo put on 50 runs in 47 balls.
Gautam Gambhir pulled off a blinder at short cover to pack the dangerous opener Kamran Akmal for 25 runs off Sreesanth's bowling.
Sureh Raina was subbed in, replacing Sachin Tendulkar. Pakistan managed 62 runs off the first 10 overs, with a loss of one wicket.
Butt reached his fourth fifty of ODI career, in just 53 balls. After Akmal's departure, he along with Shoaib Malik put on a defiant 50-run stand as Pakistan surpassed the 100-run mark in the 18th over.
The overs between 20 and 30 proved to be a breeze for Pakistan as the duo continued piling up runs with ease. Introduction of Murali and Agarkar further added fuel to the already raging fire. After 29 overs, Pakistan were sitting pretty at 174-1.
Salman Butt smashed a rollicking century in just 111 balls and along with Shoaib Malik put on a 150-run stand for the 2nd wicket.
He, however, departed soon after chipping it straight at Mohammed Kaif at cover. He walked back for 101 runs, replete with 15 hits to the fence.
Malik hit his fifty two overs earlier. He blackened Ajit Agarkar's figures with 3 blistering fours in one over.
Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik resumed carnage after Butt's dismissal, clobbering anything that came their way.
The momentum quickly shifted towards the Pakistan camp. However double strikes by the Indian bowlers, soon negated that effect. Afridi (17 off 15 balls) and Malik (90 off 67 balls) walked back one after another.
Inzamam and Younis Khan took over and looked to guide Pakistan to victory. Needing 99 runs from 94 balls the duo played intelligently to reduce the runs to be scored to 48 from 45 balls.
But Inzy (16 off 19 balls) was dismissed at a critical stage, in unique fashion. He was declared out for 'obstructing the field', blocking Suresh Raina's throw with his bat.
With 20 runs to win off 25 balls, Younis Khan and Naved-ul-Rana stroked singles into the gaps.
India pulverise Pak attack
Sachin Tendulkar's 39th century along with Pathan and Dhoni's blazing cameos put India in commanding position.
Put into bat first after Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss, the visitors set a mammoth target of 329 runs for the hosts.
India were all out in 49.4 overs.
The Little Master silenced his critics with a belligerent hundred in just 113 balls. However, he departed thereafter, but not before he had done his job for his team. He smashed 10 fours and 1 huge six in his innings.
Tendulkar also reached the milestone of 14,000 runs in his 359th ODI when he reached 91.
India had an awful start with 'Multan marauder' walking back to the pavilion for 5 runs in just the second over.
Mohammed Asif scalped Virender Sehwag with an off-cutter that took the edge of his bat. Jubliant Akmal pouched the catch gleefully, behind the wicket.
The new man in, Irfan Pathan turned on the heat onto the opposition camp smashing his way to 4th ODI fifty in just 49 balls.
He dented their confidence with cracking boundaries on the off-side, through the covers. One mighty swipe landed straight into the stands over the third-man fielder's head.
At the end of the first power play, he along with Sachin Tendulkar had piled-up 47 runs for the Ist wicket in just 67 balls.
Thereafter, it rained fours from his broad blade. One miserable over from wayward Umar Gul accounted for 22 runs. The over summary read: 0 4 4 4 4 (nb) 4 1.
However, he departed after a blazing run-a-ball cameo. Looking to hook it away, the ball lobbed up off the shoulder of the bat, straight into Imran Farhat's hands at short fine leg.
The wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar resumed the carnage after Irfan Pathan's departure.
Spinner Arshad Khan was subbed in, replacing Umar Gul who had gone for 35 runs in 3 overs. However, Khan too went for 20 runs in his two overs.
In the 20th over, India had piled-up 126 runs for the loss of two wickets - Sehwag (5) and Pathan (65).
The two batsmen smashed their respective fifties on the way to a 126-run partnership for the third wicket.
Tendulkar got to his 72nd half-ton while Dhoni piled up 4th of his career. In the 35th over the scoreboard read 233/2, at an incredible 6.40 runs per over!
Shoaib Malik's stunning catch at backward point got rid of well-set MS Dhoni for 68 runs after the power player had torn the Pakistan bowling attack into shreds. Mohammed Asif got the vital breakthrough.
At the other end, wickets fell in a hurry, with Yuvraj and skipper Dravid departing for 38 and 18 respectively. Agarkar was run-out for 3 with India 315/7 at the end of 47th over.
Team Pakistan:
Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq (c), Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul.
Super-sub: Arshad Khan.
Team India:
V Sehwag, S Tendulkar, I Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, M Kaif, MS Dhoni (wk), R Dravid (c), AB Agarkar, S Sreesanth, M Kartik, Z Khan.
Super-sub: SK Raina.