Karachi, Mar 13: India won the first Samsung Cup one-day international against Pakistan by 5 runs at the National Stadium in Karachi today. Chasing a mammoth 350 for victory, Pakistan scored 344 at the end of 50 overs with the loss of 8 wickets. Skipper Inzamam-ul Haq with a brilliant innings (122 from 109 balls) which included 12 fours and two sixes, spearheaded the fight back. But he was caught by Dravid off a Murali Kartik delivery. Kartik struck once again, bundling out Younis Khan for 46.

Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana put up a third wicket partnership of 135 runs rekindling hopes of a Pak win on home turf. Youhana scored 73 runs from 68 balls in a swashbuckling innings that included four sixes and six fours.


But Virender Sehwag, introduced into the bowling attack, did the required damage, taking Youhana's wicket, caught by Pathan.

India claimed their first wicket in the 7th over – Yasser Hameed losing his off stump to a brilliant Balaji delivery.

Then in the very next over, the in-form Imran Farhat (24) nicked Zaheer Khan to be caught neatly by Dravid behind the stumps.

Earlier, a brilliant 99 by Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag's 79 powered India to 349/7 against Pakistan.

India suffered their first setback when Sachin Tendulkar was out to a Shoaib Akhtar delivery in the ninth over.
Tendulkar, who incidentally made his debut in 1989 on this very ground, scored 28 off 30 balls with four boundaries and a six, before being caught by Rana Naveed-ul Hasan.

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But it was Virender Sehwag who stole the show in the first half of the Indian innings, scoring a brilliant 79 from 57 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and a six before he was bowled by a slow delivery from Naved.
Sehwag and Ganguly added 73 runs off just 34 balls for the second wicket with the former doing most of the scoring.
After adding 72 runs for the third wicket off 12 overs with Dravid, Ganguly departed, caught and bowled by Hasan while trying to hoist him over the ropes for a well made 45 off just 47 balls.

The new man at the crease, Yuvraj Singh, also did not last long, caught by Hameed off another Naved delivery for 3. But Dravid took charge of the match, scoring 99 from 104 balls hitting seven boundaries.

Dravid with Mohammad Kaif at the other end added some valuable runs, before he nicked his inside edge to a Shoaib Akhtar delivery.

Mohammad Kaif was ruled leg before to a delivery from Mohammad Sami. Sami struck again, bowling Zaheer Khan for a duck.

Eventually, Hemang Badani added 7 runs, with one boundary to his credit.

Bureau Report