Malik strikes ton as Pakistan beat India

CENTURION - India were at last beaten by Pakistan in an International Cricket Council (ICC) event as they lost their Group A match by 54 runs in the Champions Trophy here Saturday.

Riding on Shoaib Maliks robust century Pakistan posted a challenging 302 for nine after skipper Younis Khan decided to bat. With the second consecutive win from their two matches, Pakistan stayed in contention for a semi-final berth.

Chasing a huge target of 303, India were all out for 248 runs in 44.5 overs after half centuries from Gautam Gambhir (57) and Rahul Dravid (76).

But, India must be ruing their indifferent bowling, barring Ashish Nehra (4-55), and loss of wickets at crucial juncture in a the match which they could have won.

It was always going to be tough chase for the Indians under light, and Sachin Tendulkar (8) departed early after he edged teenaged fast bowler Mohammed Aamer to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

But Gambhir and Dravid, making a comeback after two years, added 67 runs for the second wicket to consolidate the run chase. Gambhir looked in fine touch but a direct hit from Younis ended his 46-ball stay in 13.5 overs.

Virat Kholi (16) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (3) departed in quick successions, forcing Dravid to anchor the innings. The former India captain played a typical innings and held fort at one end during his 103-ball stay.

While Dravid relied on singles at one end, Suresh Raina (46) played some exciting shots to keep up with the run rate.

Rainas explosive knock was studded with five fours and two sixes and during his innings kept alive Indias hopes of getting full points from the match. But after his departure it was then a matter of time for the Indian innings to collapse as Dravid was also found short of his crease in the 43nd over.

The Indian tail-enders vanished without putting up a strong resistance.

Earlier in the day, Malik made his seventh hundred in one-dayers as Pakistan recovered from poor start to set a tough target for India in the day-night match.

Malik received valuable support from veteran Mohammad Yousuf, who made a brisk 88-ball 87 and together the duo added 206 runs for the second wicket, which was Pakistan’s best fourth wicket stand against India in one-dayers.

Both Malik and Yousuf dominated the Indian bowlers with their attacking shots and Malik brought up his century in the 43rd over by cutting off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for a four.

Pakistan started aggressively with Imran Nazir and Kamran as they raced to get 50 runs in less than nine overs.

Malik and Yousuf applied themselves cleverly and put their team in a comfortable position. Pakistan were 217 for three in 40 overs. But Indian bowlers did well to pull back things in their favour as Pakistan managed 85 runs in the last 10 overs losing six wickets.