India beat Pakistan by 51 runs, share DLF Cup

Abu Dhabi, Apr 19 (UNI) A revived top order and a spirited bowling attack helped India avenge their yesterday's defeat as Rahul Dravid's men beat Pakistan by 51 runs to tie the two-match series and share the DLF Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here tonight.

Both the teams had arrived here with a mission of raising maximum money for last year's earthquake victims and the 1-1 verdict was a fair result as the teams returned with honours even.

Team India captain Rahul Dravid was adjudged Man of the Match while his Pakistan counterpart Inzamam-ul Haq got the Man of the Series award.

Chasing a victory target of 270, Pakistan was unlucky to lose Imran Farhat (8) to a dubious decision as Irfan Pathan trapped the batsmen for his 100th ODI wicket. The left-arm seamer dealt a quick blow unleashing an indipper that went through Shahid Afridi's (0) gate and Pakistan were 23 for two.

Younis Khan (5) has a particular penchant for big scores against India but he fell to the law of average and perished caught behind off Ajit Agarkar.

Immensely talented Shoaib Malik (46) and redoubtable Inzamam-ul Haq (79) steadied the ship but Yuvraj Singh took a blinder off Ramesh Powar to return Malik and that triggered a batting collapse, which Pakistan could not survive. And once again, Inzamam returned run out at a crucial stage to leave Pakistan in rut.

Powar then claimed seasoned Mohammad Yousuf (5) and Harbhajan Singh removed Kamran Akmal (18) to expose the tail and once Pathan removed gritty Naved-ul Hasan (27), it was just a matter of time and India and Pakistan collapsed foe 218 in 45.2 overs.

For India. both Pathan and Powar claimed three wickets each.

Earlier, Virender Sehwag (73) got his mojo back and Rahul Dravid (92) led from the front as the top order finally struck form and India scored 269 for five.

Sehwag and Dravid gave India a brilliant start on a slow track and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (59) chipped in with a well-paced knock and towards the end, it was a dazzling 10-ball 24 by Yuvraj Singh that uppped the ante and India went past the 250-run mark.

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