India too good for rivals
Pakistan outplayed in all departments
Last updated: 10th June 2008
Gambhir and Sehwag celebrate
India hammered arch rivals Pakistan by 140 runs in the second game of the tri-nations series in Mirpur.
Gary Kirsten's team made 330-8 in their 50 overs and their opponents never had a whiff of victory after losing three early wickets, eventually being bowled out for 190 in 35.4 overs.
Pakistan had defeated host nation Bangladesh in the opening match at the weekend but came up again much stronger opposition on this occasion, with Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh setting the tone with half centuries.
Sehwag and Gambhir thrashed 155 from the first 21 overs before the latter was caught behind off Wahab Riaz having made a run-a-ball 62.
A further 19 runs were added before Sehwag went in similar fashion 11 short of a century having faced just 76 deliveries, hitting 13 fours and a six.
Despite wickets falling at the other end Yuvraj kept up the momentum with three fours and three sixes in his innings of 55 from 54 balls, Umar Gul (3-61) uprooting his stumps before claiming the scalps of Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan following brief cameos.
Pakistan needed to get off to a good start but it wasn't forthcoming, a fine opening spell from Praveen Kumar (4-53) seeing Salman Butt and Yousuf Khan falling in successive balls in the third over of the reply.
Two overs later Kumar trapped Mohammad Yousuf lbw and Pakistan were already looking unlikely winners despite Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq righting the ship.
The pair added 55 for the fourth wicket but Kumar claimed his fourth wicket when Akmal smashed it straight to Yusuf Pathan at mid-off for a sprightly 38, which included two maximums.
Misbah followed soon after as Pakistan tried to keep up with the run rate but the Indian spinners more than played their part, teenage leggie Piyush Chawla the chief beneficiary of some loose shotmaking with 4 for 40.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik made 53 but it was never likely to be anything other than a losing cause as the Indians took five points.
