From having held a two-match lead, India would have been disappointed going into the sixth ODI, in Delhi, knowing that they needed to win the game just to level the series.
In the event it was not to be, and they suffered a heavy defeat.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Although they lost opener Salman Butt early, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik added 40. Then Afridi, in typically belligerent form, made 44 in 23 balls, with a six and six fours.
Malik and Mohammad Yousuf then added 85 for the third wicket before Yousuf fell for exactly 50. His innings contained a six and 3 fours.
There was no respite for India, though. Malik now added 38 with captain Inzamam ul-Haq before Malik’s innings, which featured eight fours, came to an end at 72. Any hopes of the home side making further quick inroads were ended when Inzamam and Younis Khan put on 91 for the fifth wicket.
There was a late flurry of wickets as Pakistan went for quick runs at the end of their innings. Younis was out for 40 and Inzamam 68, but Pakistan were still able to reach 303/8. Ashish Nehra and Ajit Agarkar took three wickets each, but were expensive.
India needed a good start in response. Instead, wickets fell with depressing regularity as none of the batsmen able to establish themselves. The fact that M.S. Dhoni was their top-scorer with 24 tells its own sorry story.
India were eventually bowled out for 144 in the 37th over, slumping to a 159-run defeat. Arshad Khan was the best of the Pakistan bowlers, with 3-33, but Malik’s innings earned him the Player of the Match award.
It meant that Pakistan had come from behind to win the ODI series by four matches to two.