Run Out Of Steam?

ABU DHABI

India were dismounted from the high horse of success by a determined Pakistanwho cantered to a thumping six-wicket win and took a 1-0 lead in the two matchone-day cricket series here today.

The comprehensive defeat, which came barely three days after they capped a5-1 drubbing of England, left India looking mediocre and also exposed theirvulnerability in both batting and bowling.

After scampering to 197 all out in 50 overs, Rahul Dravid's men watchedhelplessly as their archrivals surpassed the modest target in 48.3 overs ridingon a splendid 71 not out by Younis Khan.

As Kamran Akmal (24 not out) hit the winning runs, a four off S Sreesanth,the large number of Pakistani supporters at the Zayed Stadium erupted in joy,waiting as they have been since the last six years to see their team tame Indiain the desert kingdom.

A Pakistan victory was never in doubt once Inzamam-ul Haq (40) and Younis,the captain and his deputy, got together to string an 86-run partnership,studded with breathtaking shots which had more to do with their abilities thanthe bowlers' inefficiencies.

Inzamam struck 4 fours in his 73-ball knock while Younis, the perennialIndian nemesis, slammed four fours and a six off 96 balls to assert once againPakistan's superiority over India at neutral venues.

That India came into the match on the back of 17 wins and just 5 defeats countedfor little as Pakistan showed what mattered was the performance on the day, andnot past glory. With the next match slated for tomorrow, India would hardly haveany time to recoup and ensure they do not sign off what has otherwise been aremarkable season on a losing note.

Chasing the modest target, Pakistan were off to a steady start with openersShoaib Malik and Imran Farhat milking runs at will against a wayward Indian newball attack. Farhat picked Pathan for special treatment, slamming theleft-hander for three fours in an over to throw him completely out of gear.

But Sreesanth worked up a good pace and was rewarded when he had Malik caughtby Dravid in the slips for 12 to give India their first breakthrough and reducePakistan to 42 for one. Ajit Agarkar (2/33) then removed Farhat with a perfectyorker that shattered the stumps of the batsman. Farhat made 30 off 41 ballswith the help of five fours.

India squandered a golden opportunity to dismiss Younis Khan when an off-colourPathan failed to flick the ball on to the stumps after receiving an accuratethrow from Yuvraj Singh from point, the batsman being yards away from thecrease.

Thriving on the chance, Younis took the Pakistani score to 146 before Inzamamwas dismissed, caught by Venugopala Rao off Ramesh Powar in the 37th over. Butby then Pakistan were already heading towards win, needing just 52 runs forvictory in 13 overs. Pakistan lost Mohammad Yousuf just three runs later butIndia's fate was already sealed.

Earlier, India appeared a pale shadow of its recent regal self, unable tocome to terms with either the conditions or the opposition. There were no signsof their recent inspired performances as they were bowled out below the 200-runmark in exactly 50 overs. Had it not been for Rao and Raina, who rescued theteam from a pathetic 72 for 4, the Indians would have cut even a more sorryfigure. The duo shared a crucial 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket afterIndian captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat.

There was an ominous ring to the way the Indians gifted away their wickets ona track which had no devils in it. As many as four batsmen were run out whileanother four were caught while attempting ambitious shots.

Shoaib Malik was the most impressive among the bowlers, taking 3 for 40including the prized scalp of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (3). India were off to asedate start as the Pakistani new ball bowlers maintained a tight line andlength. The perseverance of the bowlers paid off when Robin Uthappa, hero ofIndia's last one-dayer at Indore, was out to a soft dismissal.

The Bangalore opener tried to loft a Rana Naved ul Hasan delivery but ended uphitting it straight to Mohammad Yousuf at mid-on. Irfan Pathan was once againpromoted up the order and the left-hander tried to build up a partnership withhis skipper with some intelligent batting.

But their stand came to an early end after a misunderstanding saw Dravidbeing run out for 20 which came off 29 balls and included 3 fours. Yuvraj Singhfailed to sustain his imperious form, edging behind to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmaloff Ifthikar Rao for a mere 7 India got another jolt soon when Pathan was alsorun out, for 26, which included three sweetly struck fours and came off 49balls. Pathan played down to mid-on and called for a run but Naved-ul-Hasanmoved in quickly and his direct throw hit the bowler's end, Pathan out of thecrease by miles.

With India reduced to a precarious 72 for 4, it was left to youngsters Raoand Suresh Raina to resurrect the innings. Raina and Rao brought some order intothe proceedings and stitched a partnership of 64 runs for the fifth wicket totake India beyond the 100-run mark.

Raina (40) looked confident during his stay at the wicket, hitting threefours which included an exquisitely straight driven four, before holing out RaoIftikhar Anjum in the deep off Shahid Afridi.

In many ways, since the absence of stalwarts like Ganguly, Sachin, Sehwag andeven Kaif, in the recent past it had always been the heroics of Yuvraj, Dhoniand Pathan, apart from the steady hand of Dravid which had ensured Indianbatting managed to score. Because these four failed to come good together, which was perhaps inevitable, thesteadying efforts of Rao and Raina, in the end, did not prove to be enough. Indiawould know that a batting failure like this was perhaps inevitable given the laws of avergaes, and would hope that at least a couple of these four come good in the next matchtomorrow if they are to square the series.

Be that as it may, the match did serve its purpose more than well, with Dhiram 10 million (Rs. 12.28 cr) donated to the victims of Kashmir earthquake last year.