The superb knock of 113 runs from 125 balls with seven fours and three huge sixes has gone into vain at the end of the day. The Indian captain MS Dhoni, however, declared Man-of-the-Match, but India lost the opening match of the three ODI series against Pakistan today.
Earlier, Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to field first. His decision soon worked as India lost too many wickets inside the first ten overs of the match.
At one stage, India was struggling at 29 for 5 in 10 overs. At that time, Suresh Raina and captain MS Dhoni came into bat and survived India in the tough situation.
Suresh Raina made well 43 runs from 88 balls and partnership of 73 runs.
Thereafter, R Ashwin came into bat and played superb 31 runs knock and scoring a partnership of 121 runs for the 6th wicket stand.
From Pakistan team, Junai Khan was the pick of the bowlers talking four top order batsman inside the first ten overs. Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and then Rohit Sharma all went to Junaid Khan.
In the 50 overs play, India however, made respectable 227 runs and Pakistan required 228 runs in 50 overs.
The inform batsman Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez started the innings for Pakistan. Playing his first ODI international Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck on the very first ball of the innings, getting bowled Hafeez with the amazing in-swinger.
Later, Azar Ali also caught by Rohit Sharma on Kumar’s bowling. But the damage was done by, Nasir Jamshed, hitting good 101 runs, Younis Khan hitting 58 runs and down the order Shoaib Malik hitting 34 runs, which helped Pakistan to click the 1st ODI played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.
