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Indian batting crumbles, Pakistan clinches series 4-2

Pakistan avenged its home series loss last year by dominating the sixth limited-overs international Sunday and claiming a 4-2 series over India in a cricket match disrupted briefly by disappointed fans.

Pakistan won the final one-dayer by 159 runs, bundling India out for 144 in 37 overs after Shoaib Malik (72) and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq (68) anchored an imposing score of 303 for eight in 50 overs.
This was India's biggest defeat in terms of runs at home, and the biggest in any one-dayer against Pakistan. Pakistan's 143-run victory at Jaipur in 1989-90 was its previous best against India, and also India's worst loss at home against any nation.

India was held to a 1-1 draw by Pakistan in the three-test series that preceded the limited-overs contests. The Indians won last year's limited-overs series in Pakistan 3-2 and dominated the test series 2-1.

The hosts starting their chase on a jittery note by losing openers Virender Sehwag (21) and Sachin Tendulkar (9) cheaply.

India never recovered as Pakistan's bowlers tore through the middle order after skipper Rahul Dravid (19) and Yuvraj Singh (13) were run out.

Rookie Mahendra Dhoni's 24 was the top score for India, whose slide to 94 for six angered the fans.

Spectators in the northwestern gallery of the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium began throwing water balls into the ground and play was suspended as the two umpires - South African Rudi Koertzen and India's A. V. Jayaprakash - summoned Pakistan's fielders into the middle and police reinforcements moved into the troubled stands to restore calm.

Pakistan's fielders and the Indian batsmen went into the pavilion as play remained suspended for 16 minutes.

On resumption, Arshad Khan completed a haul of three for 33 as India crashed to an embarrassing defeat.

Pakistan captain Inzamam said the one-day series win was a result of his players' belief in their ability, winning four successive games after trail 0-2 at the start.

"We did not give up even when we slipped behind 0-2, I'm proud of this young team," said Inzamam.

He said the toss played a key part in Sunday's encounter, where it would have been "difficult chasing a target around 240."

Indian captain Dravid, leading the team in the absence of banned skipper Sourav Ganguly, said it was shattering to lose four games in a row.

"We haven't done well in one-dayers for some time now," said Dravid.

"Congratulations to Inzamam and his boys, they played some outstanding cricket ... They're great ambassadors of their country," he said.

A capacity crowd of 28,000 packed the stadium more than two hours before the toss and cheered as Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met the players before the start of play.

Malik made India pay dearly for his dropped catch - on 19 - by midwicket Dinesh Mongia off Zaheer Khan, who a short while ago had been warned by umpire Koertzen for running on to the pitch.

Malik made six boundaries off 72 balls and shared an 85-run partnership from 100 deliveries for the third wicket with Yousuf Youhana, who hit a rapid 59-ball half century.

Youhana was run out by Tendulkar's direct hit from short third-man.

Malik was bowled by pace bowler Ajit Agarkar, but Inzamam maintained the momentum by putting on 91 runs for the fifth wicket with vice captain Younis Khan, who contributed run-a-ball 40.

Playing a captain's knock, Inzamam repeatedly pierced the field with his firm drives, hitting seven boundaries from 69 deliveries before getting out to a dubious decision in the last over.

Inzamam was adjudged out caught behind by Dhoni off Ajit Agarkar (3-58) with four deliveries remaining, but TV replays indicated the ball did not touch Inzamam's bat.