Dazzling Ijaz wins cricket for Pakistan over India
Dazzling Ijaz wins cricket for Pakistan over India
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuter): Makeshift opener Ijaz Ahmed blasted a 68-ball century as Pakistan thrashed arch rivals India by nine wickets at the Qaddafi Stadium in the decisive third one-day international Thursday to take the series 2-1.
After bowling out the visitors for a modest 216 in 49.2 overs, the Pakistanis romped home in a mere 26.2 overs.
Ijaz, later named man of the match, and his hard-hitting partner Shahid Afridi gave the home side a rousing start of 80 in 49 balls to lay the platform for an easy victory.
Pakistan's success was sweet revenge for an embarrassing 4-1 loss in the Sahara Cup played in Canada last month.
The two teams, competing on Pakistani soil for the first time in eight years, entered the contest level at 1-1. Pakistan had won the first match at Hyderabad by five wickets before India came through Tuesday's match in Karachi, which was marred by crowd trouble, to win by four wickets.
There was no trouble Thursday, however, as Ijaz thrilled his home crowd with a dazzling display of strokeplay.
He completed an impressive victory with his ninth six, a huge hit over long-on off Saurav Ganguly to finish unbeaten on 139, his highest one-day score. He also struck 10 fours and faced 84 balls.
"Ijaz wanted to bat freely so it was decided to promote him to open the innings," said Pakistani captain Saeed Anwar.
Mohammad Wasim made 27 and the two added 139 runs from 110 balls for the unbeaten second wicket.
Afridi, the world's fastest one-day century-maker, batted in his typical flamboyant style to crack a sizzling 47 off 23 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes, twice lifting paceman Debashish Mohanty over the ropes.
Attempting another big hit, he misdrove left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni and was caught by Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar at midwicket.
Ijaz then took over with some magnificent hitting to all parts of the ground. His sixth century in 143 one-day internationals came with a thundering six off Ganguly, his sixth, and also included seven fours.
Earlier, the Pakistani bowlers made good use of Anwar's decision to bat first, reducing the Indians to 77 for five before a battling 76 from vice-captain Ajay Jadeja gave their total some respectability.
Paceman Azhar Mahmood, who claimed important wickets of Robin Singh, Mohammad Azharuddin and Vinod Kambli, was the most successful bowler with three for 34.
Tendulkar was philosophical about defeat and the batting of Ijaz. "I think the Pakistanis outplayed us in all the departments," he said.