Pakistan’s tour of India in the winter of 2012/13 the first time they had visited their neighbours in five years. As it turned out, it remains the last bilateral series since. Cricket fans the world over will hope for such tours to form part of the regular international schedule again.
The tour consisted of two T20sI and three ODIs. The first T20I, in Bengaluru, saw the debuts of Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India and Mohammad Irfan of Pakistan.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to field. India made a fine start, Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane putting on 77 for the first wicket in less than 11 overs.
However, when Rahane, who struck a six and five fours in his 42, got out, they failed to build on the platform. Wickets falling with regularity after that. The next to go was Gambhir, who top scored for India with 43, which included one six.
After that, only Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina even made it to double figures as wickets were thrown away recklessly. In the end, India could only manage 133/9, a disappointing return given their start.
Umar Gul was the most successful of the Pakistan bowlers with 3-21, whilst Saeed Ajmal had figures of 2-25.
At 12/3, Pakistan were struggling in their reply. But captain Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik came together in a partnership that took the game away from India. They put on 106, setting a new Pakistan record for the fourth wicket, beating the previous best set by Malik and Younis Khan at the 2007 World Cup.
Hafeez fell in the 18th over, having scored 61 off 44 balls, including two sixes and six fours. But Malik was there at the end, finishing unbeaten on 57, as Pakistan reached their target with two balls and five wickets in hand.
Hafeez was named Player of the Match.