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Afridi star's in Pakistan's big win

Opener Shahid Afridi's blazing 45-ball century lifted Pakistan to a five-wicket victory Friday in its fifth limited-overs international against India.

Chasing India's modest total of 249 for six in 50 overs, Pakistan coasted to 252 for five from 42.1 overs to take a 3-2 lead in the six-match series.
Afridi smashed nine sixes and 10 boundaries - running just eight of his 102 runs - in posting his fourth century from 204 one-dayers and equaling West Indian Brian Lara's second-fastest century in limited-overs internationals.

Afridi's century fell eight balls short of his own world record in one-dayers, set with a limited-overs century in 37 balls against Sri Lanka at Nairobi in 1996.

"This is one of my most memorable innings. The rivals never have a chance when things are going right for me," said Afridi, the man of the match.

"That's the way I play ... my game's got a big risk factor, but the result is extreme," Afridi said.

Starting with a soaring pull over the square-leg fence off seam bowler Laxmipathy Balaji in the third over, Afridi pressed the accelerator in the fifth over pounding three onside sixes and a miscued boundary to mid-off from six balls delivered by leg-spinner Anil Kumble.

Stand-in skipper Rahul Dravid, leading in the absence of banned captain Sourav Ganguly, immediately took Kumble off the attack and was made to juggle his bowlers as Afridi lashed out at everything bowled to him.

Beside the three sixes from Kumble, Afridi struck two each off Balaji, paceman Zaheer Khan and part-time left-arm spinner Dinesh Mongia to come close to the world record of 11 sixes that he shares with Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuirya.

Afridi was caught by Yuvraj Singh off Mongia when on 86, but was relieved to see the umpire signal a no-ball. He completed the century with a boundary off spinner Harbhajan Singh, but was bowled next ball - ending a rousing 131-run opening stand with Salman Butt.

Indian captain Dravid complimented Afridi for his match-winning knock.

"It was one the best one-day knocks I've ever seen," said Dravid. "We tried various things, but nothing seemed to work today."

Butt fell four runs later for 35, lbw to Kumble (2-54) who recovered from the Afridi onslaught to dismiss Yousuf Youhana for 24.

Shoaib Malik made a 60-ball 41 and Younis Khan (24) kept Pakistan on course before skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq (24 not out) made his the winning stroke.

Batting first on winning the toss, India was reduced to 26 for three by an incisive burst from paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan before being revived by half-centuries from Dravid and Mohammad Kaif.

Dravid posted a composed 86 and Kaif hit 78 to share a 135-run partnership that is India's highest fifth-wicket stand versus Pakistan, surpassing their own 118-run stand in Karachi last year.

Dravid struck seven boundaries off 113 deliveries, while Kaif hit nine fours from 90 balls to repair the Indian innings after Naved-ul-Hasan (3-35) ripped through the top order.

India lost openers Sachin Tendulkar (1) and Virender Sehwag (5) cheaply. Tendulkar edged a swinging ball from Naved-ul-Hasan to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Sehwag had his off-stump dislodged as India slipped to 11 for two.

Mahendra Dhoni made just 11 before edging Naved-ul-Hasan into the hands of Younis Khan at second slip.

Yuvraj Singh was dismissed by seam bowler Abdul Razzaq 18, edging a wide ball on to his stumps, while Kaif was caught by substitute fielder Mohammed Hafeez at midwicket off Razzaq.

Dravid was run out on the second last delivery.