Sahara Cup, Match 2, India v Pakistan in Toronto

CricInfo Match Report.

13 September 1998

The toss was rather reminiscent of yesterday game, with Azhar winning the toss and putting Pakistan into bat. The skies were overcast, with a threat of untimely showers. The Pakistan team was the same as in the opening match, whereas India had decided upon one change, that of replacing the injured Ganguly with the newcomer Sanjay Raul.

Today's openers, Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi, were on a roll, and one saw quite a different scene from yesterday. The first 19 minutes saw 25 runs being scored in a very aggressive manner. Anwar did the bulk of the scoring for the opening partnership, making 21 runs, including two fours and a lofty six, hit off Prasad.

Then, in the fourth over, Anwar edged a ball from Srinath straight to Azhar at 2nd slip. He left with 21 runs to his name, and Pakistan's total on 25. Afridi was then joined by Sohail, and they proceeded to build a solid partnership of 55 runs with the 50 partnership coming in 46 balls in just 34 minutes. Just as they were beginning to look settled, Sohail was at the receiving end of a dubious decision by umpire Peter Manuel, who send Sohail packing with figures of 25 runs of 32 balls, including 3 fours and 1 six. He was out lbw to Agarkar, and Pakistan were at 80.

Inzmam, who replaced Sohail, and Afridi put on 37 runs when Afridi was caught by Paranjpe off Kanitkar for 56 from 49 balls including 4 fours and 2 sixes, of the first ball of Kantikar's over, attempting a square cut to long off.

Malik entered and with Inzamam put on a brief 10, when Malik was caught by wicketkeeper Mongia off Kanitkar. He swept the ball, and got a leading edge straight into Mongia's hands. Malik had 4 runs from 9 balls, Pakistan was on 127.

Ijaz fell shortly afterwards for 3 runs from four balls, edging a sharply turning ball to the keeper.

Inzi and Moin Khan put on 43, playing sensibly, and Inzi looking threatening. Raul in his first over in internationals, tempted him to hit a catch to Prasad, out for 35 in 49 balls including 5 fours.

Moin Khan and Azhar Mahmood, who came in next, batted together for over 30 minutes, to take Pakistan from 173/6 to 203. Azhar then hit Srinath to cover, where Dravid was waiting to pounce. Dravid made no mistake with the catch, and Azhar was sent back to the pavilion for 10 runs off 31 balls with no fours or sixes.

Then came Abdur Razzak. However, the crowds didn't get to see much of him, as he stayed for only 7 minutes making one run, getting out to Prasad. Enter Zahid. Unfortunately, exit Zahid followed far too soon, in 18 minutes, and all he managed was 7 runs. Pakistan was 229/9 as Zahid exited. Zahid's partnership with Moin, however, was fruitful enough, with the pair adding 22 runs to the Pakistani total.

Last man in was Aquib Javed, who managed to hang on till the end, and gave considerable support to Moin. Moin himself played a solid innings towards the end, hitting the last two balls of the innings (off Srinath) to the boundary for 4 runs. He top scored for Pakistan with 69 runs, hitting eight fours, and Aquib Javed ended with 1*.

Indian innings

Azhar came in but never looked as fluent as yesterday. He played one or two trademark flicks off his toes, before getting into a rut against Mehmood, getting beaten more than a few times outside off. Almost predictably, one caught the edge for Moin to take comfortably. Pakistan were bowling steadily and India weren't looking positive enough. Afridi had come into the attack by now. Mongia opened up his shoulders to hit Afridi through the covers once before holing out to Inzamam at long off trying to do too much too quickly. But in some ways he'd no choice, he'd gone into his shell a bit too much. 41 off 58 balls from Mongia and India were 107/3.

Mongia's partnership with Dravid brought India 11 runs in 11 balls. Following Mongia's departure was the entry of Kanitkar. He stayed with Dravid for 33 minutes and put on 31 runs for the 4th wicket. Dravid hit a ball from Razzak straight back into the bowlers hands. Dravid departed from the ground with 18 runs of 30 balls, his innings of 41 minutes included only one four and no sixes.

Paranjpe stayed at the crease for only 6 minutes. He made 3 runs before hitting Malik to the sub Yousef Youhana. India's total was now 143/5 in the 3rd ball of the 36th over. This brought debutant Sanjay Raul to the crease.

Kanitkar was next man out when he hit Razzak to Captain Aamir Sohail, after making 24 runs in 33 balls, with 2 fours. Agarkar came to the crease. He produced one good shot, a four, a long hop smashed away to cover fence. Agarkar then gave his wicket away to Malik who was helped by Afridi taking a good catch. Agarkar made five.

Raul and Joshi didnt last for long together either, with Raul getting out almost immediately to Razzaq (who ended with figures if 3/48) for 8. With not much hope left for India at this point, Srinath, the ocaasional pinch hitter came out to the crease. Joshi and Srintath added 13 runs to the total, when Joshi got out in the same way as Paranjpe, hitting Malik to sub Yousef youhana, ending any hopes India might have been entertaining of a victory. Joshi had made 9 runs in 11 balls.

This brought out last man Prasad to the crease. He lasted for precisely 9 minutes making 1 run, after which he was given out lbw to Malik, ending the rather sorrowful Indian Innings.

Pakistan won by 51 runs, with Moin Khan collecting the man-of-the-match award.