With this well-merited win over their traditional rivals, India smartly reached the three-match final scheduled for January 14, 16 and 18. Former world champions Pakistan will play their remaining league match with ICC champions Bangladesh trophy tomorrow (Monday), where a simple win will be enough to play India in the finals.
The day's match between the two sub-continental giants of world cricket also saw a delayed start like the opening match by one hour due to foggy weather. The match was reduced to 37 overs a side contest.
Pakistan's new captain Rashid Latif won the toss and did not hesitate to invite India to bat on the moisture-soaked pitch. But the Indian top order batsmen made a flying start foiling the Pakistani strategy although their reliable opener Sauray Ganguly once again fell cheaply thus giving a glimmer of hope to Pakistani pacers Aaqib javed, debutant Fazle Akbar and Azhar Mahmood.
Ganguly, who scored only 11 runs against Bangladesh on Saturday, also failed with the bat today making only 13 runs off 17 balls with three fours before he was caught by Inzamamul Haq off an Aaqib Javed delivery, leading India on 14 for one in 3 overs.
After the departure of Ganguly, skipper Azharuddin joined former skipper and an accomplished batsman Sachin Tendulkar to entertain the Dhaka crowd with their exhilarating stroke play. This finally enabled India to score a huge 245 runs for 7.
The two world renowned batsmen hammered a polished 122 runs off only 87 balls for the second wicket before Tendulkar was stumped out by wicket-keeper Rashid Latif off a Saqlain Mushtaq delivery in the 16.5 overs.
Tendulkar hit a quickfire 67 runs off 44 balls with 11 hits across the rope. This was his second 50 in the tourney after 54 runs against Bangladesh on Saturday, playing only 30 balls.
Dashing batsman Azharuddin made his fifth century in the one-day cricket, the first in the tri-nation meet here, with just 100 runs with seven fours. He scored a fine 84 runs against Bangladesh on Saturday. Azhar's first ever century against Pakistan came off 109. Later, Azharuddin was adjudged man of the match to receive 1000 US dollars as prize money.
Veteran batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu contributed a patient 36 runs off 43 balls before he was caught and bowled by Azhar Mahmood.
The remaining Indian batsmen lost their wickets very cheaply trying to further increase the run rate. World's best off-spinner of the recent time Saqlain captured four wickets for 41 runs in 8 overs. pacer Aaqib Javed claimed two for 34 runs in six overs.
Another pacer Azhar Mahmood took one wicket for an expensive 65 runs in 7 overs.
Chasing a victory target of 246 runs, with required run rate of above 6.64 per over, Pakistan opened their innings having favourable run rate but that proved their cause of misery as four vital wickets fell very cheaply.
The four top order batsmen, including two world record holders Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar, went back to the pavilion as the score board showed 62 runs in 9.1 overs.
World's fastest century-maker in one day international Afridi made his exit first with only five runs off 6 balls having one boundary as he was caught by Tendulkar off Mohanty's first ball.
Ejaz Ahmed and Aamir Sohail were sent back for 18 and 19 runs respectively with team total at 44 for three in 6.1 overs. Highest run-maker in the one-day cricket, Saeed Anwar added another 13 runs for Pakistan in 12 balls with one four and a huge sixer before he was caught and bowled by Harvinder Singh.
After the dismissal of four top batsmen, well built and reliable batsman Inzamamul haq, pairing with Manzoor Akhter in the 5th wicket stand, kept an outside chance for Pakistan win, scoring a valuable 84 runs off 102 balls.
But the day's most successful Indian performer Sachin Tendulkar, who captured one wicket for 24 runs and took four vital catches, shattered all hope for Pakistan as he caught and bowled set batsman Inzamamul Haq. Inzamamul scored a sparkling 77 runs in 69 balls that featured seven boundaries and three huge sixes. He hit two successive sixes off leg spinner Sairaj Bhautule.
Manzoor Akhter made 39 off 57 balls with one four and was run out by Bahutule further increasing the misery of Pakistan.
Harvinder Singh captured three wickets for 47 runs in 8 overs while pacer Javagal Srinath, who was the man of the match against Bangladesh on Saturday, took two for 40 runs.