Rookie wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni slammed a belligerent century to authorIndia's comprehensive 58-run victory over Pakistan in the high-scoring second one-day international today.
The 26-year old from Jharkhand struck 148 from 123 balls for his maiden one-day hundred that propelled India to its third-ever highest total of 356 for nine at the ACA-VDCA stadium.
Pakistan's chase of the biggest ever target their arch-rivals had set them relied on a counter attackinginnings by all-rounder Abdul Razzaq who, promoted to number three, plundered 13 fours and a six for his 93-ball 88.
But the visitors never managed a truly big partnership and although Yousuf Youhana sustained their hopes with astylish but aggressive 71 from 56 balls, the Indian target was never under threat as the tourists were all out for 298 in44.1 overs.
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Dhoni's knock, the highest by an Indian wicketkeeper, was studded with 15 fours and four sixes. His innings put into shade yet another blitzkrieg of aknock by Virender Sehwag who made 74 off 40 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.
The two batsmen added 96 runs for the second wicket in 10.2 overs and even better was the fourth wicket stand between Dhoni and Rahul Dravid who fetched 149 runs from just 22 overs. The Indian vice-captain pitched in with a 59-ball 52.
India, with the 87-run win in the first one-dayer at Kochi, now lead the six-match series 2-0.
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Young Dhoni celebrated his promotion to the number three spot with anaudacious display of strokeplay that left the rival bowling in tatters andenabled India recover from the early loss of Sachin Tendulkar (2) who gotneedlessly run out attempting a cheeky single.
Coming to the crease at 26-1, Dhoni first added 96 runs for the second wicketin the company of Sehwag, with the latter continuing to dominate the Pakistanbowlers with another blazing knock of 74 consuming only 40 balls.
Skipper Saurav Ganguly disappointed yet again, managing only nine during a26-minute tentative stay in the middle.
Sehwag made his aggressive intentions clear by picking up two boundaries asthe first over by Mohammad Sami produced nine runs.
More punishment was in store for the pacer in his next over as Sehwag went onthe front foot and hoisted him over extra cover for the first six of the match,and then guided the next ball to the third man boundary.
But India suffered a big blow in the fourth over as Tendulkar got run out inattempting a cheeky single. The little master played Rana Naved-ul-Hasan to midon and Yousuf Youhana's direct throw hit at the non-striker's end found thebatsman short of the crease.
Dhoni began with a straight driven boundary of Sami before Sehwag brought upthe 50 of the innings in 5.1 overs with a lucky boundary as his edge of a Ranadelivery flew over the slips.
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Dhoni then launched into Shahid Afridi straightaway with a four through midwicket and then send him over the ropes in the same region for a six in the verynext ball as the 50 of the partnership was posted in only 24 minutes.
Sehwag, who seemed unstoppable, then executed a short arm pull of Rana toreach his 50 of only 26 balls.
Looking in complete control of the situation, the Najafgarh man then pickedup Afridi for some special treatment hitting each of the first four balls of hissecond over for boundaries, two square cuts, a flick and a cover drive.
As many as 18 came from the over, which also saw India reaching 100 of 10.3overs.
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Sehwag finally departed as he attempted to further push up the scoring rate.The right hander went for a big hit and only succeeded in scooping the ball tomid wicket and Salman Butt accepted the high catch calmly.
Sehwag struck two sixes and 12 fours during his 66 minute stay.
Ganguly in between played across the line to an overpitched ball from Samiand saw his stumps shattered.
Dhoni reached his half-century in the same over with a single, taking 78minutes and 49 balls for the effort.
Rahul Dravid looked his composed self, playing copybook cricket but neverhesitated to punish the loose balls.
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Playing only his fifth one-dayer, Dhoni reached the three-figure mark of only88 balls as he pushed Afridi to extra cover for a single in the 32nd over of theinnings.
On a high after the feat, Dhoni decided to increase the tempo even further andthe 40th over saw Afridi conceding 18 runs, that included two sixes and one fourstruck by the wicket-keeper batsman.
Dhoni's only blemish came when he was on 126. He tried to pull MohammadHafeez but Afridi failed to latch on to the sharp chance at deep mid wicket.
Dhoni was finally dismissed in the 42nd over after a 153-minute stay at thecrease. He went for a slog of Hafeez and the ball ballooned up to mid-wicket andShoaib Malik came running in from the deep to take the catch.
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Pakistan's bane was their opening combination.
After the experiment with Kamran Akmal backfired in Kochi, Shahid Afridireturned to the top but he was back in the pavilion after facing only two ballswithout making a run.
Razzaq and Salman Butt (36) added 84 runs for the second wicket which was theonly worthwhile partnership Pakistan managed before the latter top edged AshishNehra for a high catch to Sehwag.
Inzamam-ul Haq announced his arrival with a six but was soon cursing his wayback to the dressing room when Razzaq failed to respond to his call and was runout for 16.
Razzaq however carried on with his cavalier batting and put on 47 runs forthe fourth wicket with Yousuf Youhana.
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The breakthrough came from part-time bowler Yuvraj Singh and as the righthander tried to run down a leg side delivery, Dhoni picked up the faint edgewith a low take.
Youhana went for a cross batted shot against Nehra and Mohammad Kaif held onto the top edge at cover region. And there ended all hopes of Pakistan's.
PTI
