Pakistan vs India 2004/05 (Part Five)

Mar 05, 2022

Pakistan vs India 2004/05 (Part Five) Image

With India already leading the ODI series, the teams met for a second time in Vishakhapatnam, three days later.

It was the day that M.S. Dhoni really announced himself to the world.

India won the toss and again decided to bat.

Sachin Tendulkar fell early, but Virender Sehwag, the hero of the first match, and Dhoni then came together. They put on 96 for the second wicket, at almost 10 an over.

Sehwag went for 74, scored off just 40 balls, with two sixes and 12 fours. Dhoni then found company in Rahul Dravid, and pair added 149 together, until Dhoni was finally out for 148, scored off 128 balls. It was his first century for India in any form of cricket, and included four sixes and 15 fours.

In the next over, Dravid was out for 52. The tail, in a series of cameos, added 56, and India were able to reach 356/9 from their 50 overs.

Naved-ul-Hasan was the most successful Pakistan bowler with 3-54, but all of them proved to be relatively expensive.

After losing Shahid Afridi in the second over for a duck, Pakistan looked to Salman Butt and Abdul Razzaq to build the platform for them.

Butt fell for 36, and Pakistan lost their captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to a run out after a mix up for only 16, but Mohammad Yousuf came to the crease to provide support for Razzaq.

The loss of Razzaq, who scored 88 with a six and 13 fours, was a major blow. Although Kamran Akmal provided a late sense of momentum, it was too late by then.

Yousuf, who struck four sixes, was out for 71. Akmal, with one six to his name, was last out, as Pakistan were bowled out for 298, with more than five of the innings still to be bowled.

India won by 58 runs opt take a two nil lead in the series.

Ashish Nehra took 4-72 with the ball, but Dhoni, who also took two catches behind the stumps, was Player of the Match.