Pakistan Wins by 77 runs, Leads India 2-1 in Sahara Series

Pakistan defeated India on Wednesday by 77 runs before a sparse crowd that included Sir Clyde Walcott at the Armour Heights ground in Toronto to go up 2-1 in this year's Sahara Cup.

For the third time in this series Mohammed Azharuddin won the toss and put Pakistan into bat. The Indian team included Ganguly who had strained his hamstring in the first game.

The Indians struck early on the cold, sunny morning as Agarkar trapped Afridi in front of the wicket for no score. However, the hapless Indians lost Jatin Paranjpe in the first over as he twisted his ankle spilling an easy catch in the process. He did not field for the rest of the innings.

Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar and captain Aamir Sohail carried the score to 42 on a slow track before Srinath trapped Sohail leg before for 12. Inzimamul Haq and Anwar batted solidly to hoist the Pakistani hundred before Ganguly bowled the opener for a well-crafted 58 made off 81 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Inzimam and Saleem Malik carried the score to 203 when Agarkar sneaked one past Inzimam's defence. The burly Pakistani had played an anchor role contributing 81 off 112 balls, hitting a six and nine fours during his crucial innings which won him the man of the match award.

Malik departed 11 runs later when he was bowled by Prasad for 37. Ijaz Ahmed launched a blitzkrieg as he thrashed the Indian attack to rack up 43 runs in only 16 minutes for the sixth wicket with Moin Khan contributing 4 not out at the close of the innings. Ijaz finished with an unbeaten 43 (22 balls, seven fours) as Pakistan closed at 257-5 off 50 overs. Agarkar was the most successful Indian bowler with two for 59 as the last four Indian overs yielded over 40 runs to Ijaz's onslaught.

India began confidently with Ganguly showing his mastery of the conditions with some pedigree offdrives and flicks to fine leg. However, a mix-up with Sidhu left Ganguly stranded on 23 as Saqlain threw down the stumps with the score at 43. The loss of Ganguly's wicket led to an Indian batting collapse that was only redeemed by some excellent hitting by Srinath in the later order.

Sidhu, Azharuddin, Dravid, Kanitakar, and the injured Paranjpe all followed in haste. Aaqib got Azharuddin lbw for 1 while Dravid who looked uncomfortable against Zahid lost his wicket to the paceman for 9 when he played over a yorker. Kanitkar hit a skier to Ijaz as he tried to force the pace and Paranjpe batting with a runner edged Saqlain to Saleem Malik at first slip.

The Indians batted without resolve or aggression until Srinath came in at number ten. By that time, Agarkar had been run out for 14 as Ijaz's direct throw hammered in another nail in the Indian coffin. Joshi had promised some runs as he hit a four but he was caught soon after by Malik off Zahid's bowling. Only Mongia, promoted to number three, had stuck around for a doughty 38.

Srinath blasted three sixes as he took only an half hour for his 43, a counteroffensive that was unsupported by the top order. Without his onslaught, India might well have folded at 120. He was last out with the Indian total at 180 as he slapped a short ball from Aamir Sohail straight into the hands of Saqlain at cover in the 47th over.

Aaqib, Zahid and Saqlain bowled outstandingly although Zahid could not complete his last over as he left the field with an injury. Malik completed the over. Saqlain, in particular, bowled with variety, guile and a self-belief that was missing from the Indian trundlers. Saqlain, originally named in the party of 14, had only recently joined his compatriots after his release from Surrey in the English county championships.

Still recovering from his injury, Ganguly did not earn the same success that won him five man of the match awards in the seven matches that he has played in Toronto. Indian captain Azharuddin later said he was disappointed with the team's performance. He admitted that "we did not bowl or bat very well" and that the running between the wickets had been poor. Although India has lost all the matches in Toronto where Pakistan has scored over 250, Azhar also said he did not feel that Indian batsmen had a mental block against chasing scores over 250.

The five one-day internationals series resumes on Saturday. The final game is on Sunday the 20th.