Malik and Yousuf lift Pakistan to 306
Monday, 19 November 2007
JAIPUR, Nov 18 (Cricinfo): Sreesanth announced his return to the big time with three top-order wickets and a few patented stares, but Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf stitched together a tremendous 168-run partnership that put Pakistan in the ascendancy as they sought to end the one-day series with a consolation win. Malik returned to form with a smashing 89 from just 82 balls, and Yousuf followed up 99 not out in the previous game with an accomplished 74 as Pakistan rattled along at well over seven runs an over in the second half of the innings.
Malik abandoned the idea of opening the innings, but when he came out after Sreesanth had stemmed the early momentum with quick wickets, he and Yousuf quickly established a run-making rhythm. He picked up singles easily, and was ruthless with anything short of wide, smacking Virender Sehwag and Murali Kartik for sixes.
There were a couple of moments of good fortune, with top-edged pulls off Sreesanth and Praveen Kumar, the debutant, falling safe, but the manner in which he and Yousuf took on India's slow bowlers completely changed the complexion of the innings.
Yousuf was again at his unhurried, classy best. He picked the gaps on the leg side cleverly and cut the ball behind point fluently when the bowlers erred. He was well on track for the century that he had missed both at Guwahati and Gwalior, but was flummoxed when the hitherto expensive Yuvraj Singh spun one past the bat as he lunged forward.
Malik had fallen in similar fashion just minutes earlier, with Kartik deceiving him in the flight. But with Misbah-ul-Haq and Fawad Alam finishing with a flourish, the exit of the two established batsmen didn't really affect the final total.
50 overs Pakistan 306 for 6 (Malik 89, Yousuf 74) v India 118 for 4 wkt at 10:15 pm (Cricinfo).
Malik abandoned the idea of opening the innings, but when he came out after Sreesanth had stemmed the early momentum with quick wickets, he and Yousuf quickly established a run-making rhythm. He picked up singles easily, and was ruthless with anything short of wide, smacking Virender Sehwag and Murali Kartik for sixes.
There were a couple of moments of good fortune, with top-edged pulls off Sreesanth and Praveen Kumar, the debutant, falling safe, but the manner in which he and Yousuf took on India's slow bowlers completely changed the complexion of the innings.
Yousuf was again at his unhurried, classy best. He picked the gaps on the leg side cleverly and cut the ball behind point fluently when the bowlers erred. He was well on track for the century that he had missed both at Guwahati and Gwalior, but was flummoxed when the hitherto expensive Yuvraj Singh spun one past the bat as he lunged forward.
Malik had fallen in similar fashion just minutes earlier, with Kartik deceiving him in the flight. But with Misbah-ul-Haq and Fawad Alam finishing with a flourish, the exit of the two established batsmen didn't really affect the final total.
50 overs Pakistan 306 for 6 (Malik 89, Yousuf 74) v India 118 for 4 wkt at 10:15 pm (Cricinfo).