With the outcome of the Wills Challenge Series in the balance, the two sides headed to Lahore for the decider.
Many expected it to be another thrilling contest but, it proved to be almost a one-man show. Fortunately, there were no sign of the crowd problems that had marred the second ODI, as the security surrounding the Indian team had been stepped-up.
Pakistan won the toss, chose to field, and soon had India in trouble, reducing them to 77/5.
Ajay Jadeja and Saba Karim then stabilised the innings. After Karim fell for 20, Jadeja put on a further 76. He struck six fours. Unfortunately, after his dismissal, the tail caved in, and India were all out for 216 with four balls to spare.
Azhar Mahmood was the best of the Pakistan bowlers with 3-34.
That seemed a reasonably tough target to chase, but not for Pakistan opener Ijaz Ahmed, who, in the words of a commentator at the time, played as if he had a train to catch.
He tore into the India bowling from the start, putting on 80 for the first wicket with Shahid Afridi, who was no slouch himself, scoring 47 off 23 balls, including three sixes.
When he fell, Mohammad Wasim came to the crease, and was largely content to play second fiddle to Ijaz, who, by this time, was peppering the boundary.
In the end, Pakistan reached their total with more than 23 overs to spare, recording a nine-wicket victory.
Wasim was 27 not out at the end, but all the plaudits went to Ijaz, who made an unbeaten 139 off just 84 balls, striking nine sixes and 10 fours.
When asked after the match what would have been a good total to defend, Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar quipped “a thousand”.
Pakistan had won the series by two matches to one. However, if the Friendship Cup was taken into account, the net score read India five wins, Pakistan three.