KOLKATA: Pakistan recorded second successive victory against India in the three-match One-day International series here at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.
They defeated their arch rivals by 85 runs with two overs remaining in an exciting match at the jam-packed 90-thousand capacity ground of Kolkata.
This was for the first time since 2004 that Pakistan won an ODI series against India in India
Chasing 251 to win, Indian batsmen could not resist against Pakistan bowlers and were bowled out for 165 in 48 overs.
Captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni, was their top scorer with 54 not out while opener Virender Sehwag made 31. No other batsman could make any significant contribution.
For Pakistan, off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal and fast bowler Junaid Khan captured three wickets each while seamer Umar Gul claimed two.
Earlier, a big opening stand of 141 runs was set up in 23.5 overs by Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed but later Pakistan collapsed to 250 in 48.3 overs
Nasir made 106 runs from 124 balls with twelve fours and two massive sixes while his partner Hafeez scored 76 off 74 balls with ten boundaries.
This was Nasir’s second successive century of the series after an unbeaten 101 at Chennai on Sunday and the third ODI hundred of his career — all against India.
Sent into bat by India captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni who won the toss, Pakistan made a sound start with both openers dominated the bowlers for the first 24 overs but as soon Hafeez departed wickets started falling gradually and Pakistan lost the remaining nine wickets for 109 runs within 25 overs.
Only three of the remaining nine batsmen — Younis Khan (10), Shoaib Malik (24) and Umar Gul (17) — could get into the double figures.
For India, seamer Ishant Sharma and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed three wickets each.
The third and final One-day International between the two countries will be played at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi on January 6 (Sunday).
