By ICF Staff
April 5 2005

India goes up 2-0 in the six-ODI series against Pakistan on the back of a destructive one-day innings by wicketkeeper Dhoni to put up India's third-highest total in limited overs cricket. 23-year old wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lived up to the hype surrounding his potential by slamming a devastating 148 off 123 balls to take the game away from Pakistan. His scintillating effort helped India to a mammoth 356/9, surpassing India's previous highest against Pakistan of 349-7 in Karachi last year, and their 3rd-highest ODI total ever.

At the other end, Virender Sehwag confirmed his reputation as Pakistan's arch nemesis as he smashed his way to a belligerent 74 off only 40 deliveries, including four consecutive boundaries off leg spinner Shahid Afridi, whose abusive volley after the first 4 rapidly fizzled out to slumped shoulders by the end of the over after the opener's savage assault.

If Sehwag looked pleased as punch with the aggressive intent from Dhoni, who had scored a total of 22 runs in his previous 4 outings, it was understandable. After all, Tendulkar has seemed unable to support him of late, and indeed fell yet again in the second over of this game to a suicidal runout.

Ganguly, who had promoted the wicketkeeper to number three on a belter of a pitch in Visakhapatnam, was to say later, "We knew it would be good for batting and decided to promote Dhoni up the order because he can hit the ball. I haven't been in great touch and I would have taken a longer time to settle in. He played a fantastic innings."

It was a prophetic move by the out-of-touch Indian skipper. The powerfully built youngster put together a partnership of 96 for the second wicket with Sehwag and 149 for the fourth with Dravid, who provided support to Dhoni with a typically sensible 52. By the time Veeru was caught by Salman Butt at midwicket, India had already run away with proceedings amassing 122 in just over 13 overs.

However, Ganguly perished cheaply again, bowled for the second time in as many games, this time losing his middle stump to a scorching yorker from Sami after scratching around for 22 balls for his 9 runs and slowing down the run rate considerably.

Dhoni's huge 148, consisting of 16 fours and 4 sixes, ended with a tired shot under the blazing summer sun and India quickly slipped from 289-3 to 301-6 with both Yuvraj and Kaif caught LBW, giving rise to renewed concern of being unable to capitalize on a huge start during the final 10 overs.

However, tailenders Balaji and Zaheer rose to the occasion, using the long handle beautifully to hit up a quickfire 17 runs each that took India past the 350-run landmark so seldom breached in international cricket.

Pakistan started on a dismal note, with opener Afridi getting his stumps rearranged by Nehra on his second ball faced.

However Razzaq, batting at number three, struck several big blows in his aggressive 88, never letting the required run rate run away, although Salman Butt (36), Inzamam-ul-Haq (16), Shoaib Malik (12) and Hafeez (7) did not last long.

After Razzaq was dismissed to reduce Pakistan to 176/4, Yousuf Youhana took over the proceedings, hitting 4 massive sixes in an intelligent and urgent knock of 71 off 56. But with Nehra and part-time spinner Yuvraj steadily picking up wickets, Pakistan finally succumbed to the pressure of the tall asking rate.

Both Razzaq and Youhana had controversially asked for, and got, runners after tiring under the relentless heat, but it served neither of them when they each got out shortly after their runners came in.

It was all over for Pakistan when Youhana became the seventh wicket to fall, with 94 runs still needed off 12 overs.

Kamran Akmal hung in there for a while, compiling a gritty innings, but Pakistan were bowled out in the 45th over for 298, well short of the target.

Man of the Match Dhoni said that it was a good track for batting, and acknowledged his seniors Sehwag and Dravid for guiding him well during the knock.

The third match will be played in Jamshedpur on Saturday, with all-rounder Ajit Agarkar replacing Balaji who sprained his ribs during today's game.