WATCHING SIXES and fours from the willow of Virender Sehwag has always been a thrilling experience for cricket lovers. The ’Nawab of Najafgarh’ has done this innumerable times in the past and in the recent one-day internationals as well. In fact, whenever Sehwag played a big innings India has won most of the matches. On Thursday, June 26, once again Sehwag entertained the crowd at the National Stadium in Karachi and cricket lovers across the world with his fantastic innings of 119 in just 95 balls with 12 boundaries and five sixes. Sehwag struck his ninth ODI hundred, first since the 2007, World Cup match against Bermuda and guided India to victory in company of Suresh Raina. Man of the match Suresh Raina also played a superb innings of 84 in 69 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.

India passed the Pakistan’s total of 299 in just 42.1 overs, thanks to 198 (148 b) run second wicket partnership between Sehwag and Suresh Raina. Initially, the target of 300 was looking little tough for India, and early fall of Gautam Gambhir scoring 9 (12b, 4x2) made it more imposing.

But, opener Sehwag, who is in brilliant form got fine support from Raina at the other end and the duo never allowed Pakistan to come back into the game. Both these batsmen were scoring freely and punishing the Pakistani bowlers on loose deliveries.

Raina returned to pavilion after he played a loose shot against Rao Iftikhar and was caught at cover by Fawad Alam. Raina’s wicket didn’t bring good news for Pakistan because it was too late and India were needing just 90 runs in more than 20 overs with eight wickets in hand. As vice captain Yuvraj Singh joined Sehwag, the latter was caught at long on by Younis Khan off Shahid Afridi in the 31st over. Sehwag’s dismissal didn’t stop the run flow of India, as Yuvraj and captain MS Dhoni were also in punishing mood.

The left hander struck a quick 48 off 47 balls with one four and three sixes while Dhoni scored 26 off 30 balls with one six. These two put on 63 runs. Yuvraj was dismissed in the 42nd over by Sohail Tanvir, at the team’s score of 294. Dhoni fulfilled the victory formality by smashing a massive six against Younis Khan in the first ball of 43rd over. For Pakistan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum took two wickets for 61 runs, while Sohail Tanvir and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each by giving away 55 and 64 runs respectively.

Earlier, Pakistani captain Shoaib Malik decided to bat first after winning the toss on the easy track. Pakistan opener Salman Butt and Shoaib Malik gave a cautious start and compiled 90 runs for first wicket in 21.4 overs. Butt was dismissed by spinner Chawla at his individual score of 35 in 64 balls with four boundaries. Younis Khan gave good support to his captain and the duo put on 133 runs in 122 runs.

Younis after scoring 59 runs in 60 balls with five boundaries returned to pavilion in 41st over when the team’s total was 223. Pakistan could not take advantage of early work of the batsmen and scored 80 runs in the final 10 overs losing three wickets. Shoaib Malik played a captain’s innings of 125 off 119 balls, with 16 fours and one six, before being retired hurt.

After Malik retired hurt, Mohammed Yousuf (30, 20b, 4x5) and Misbah-ul-Haq (31, 26b, 4x3) took the charge and helped Pakistan to score 299 for 4 in 50 overs. RP Singh was top of the Indian bowlers, returning with impressive figure of one for 44 in 10 overs. Piyush Chawla and Yusuf Pathan claimed one wicket each.

With this win, India finished at the top of Group B and will now play against Bangladesh in the first match of the super four stage on June 28. Seeing the current form of Indian team we can expect an easy for India against Bangladesh and a berth in final of Asia Cup as well.