The IPL storm has not even calmed down and here the triangular series involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is 2 ODIs old too. On the other hand, there was Pakistan going strong ODI by ODI. Before coming into this 3 nation tourney, Pak had won 11 matches on the trot and made it a dozen a couple of days ago by beating Bangladesh and looking strong enough to make it baker's dozen.
But Malik, the Paki captain knew that there was a mountain called India to climb. Because he was well aware that India has this uncanny habit of stopping a winning streak of their opponants. India has done this not once but twice, which was no fluck, and that too against the formidable Aussies. Then what are Pakistan's chances? His fears came true as India won hands down a one-sided match.
Sehwag was still in his IPL destructive mood and his IPL parnter Gambhir, still thought that this was a T2o match as they scored yet another scientilating half centuries. But it was Sehwag who fired early on scoring more than run a ball. The platform set by these two was more than just too good and India crossed well over 300 with ease. The ultimate target for Pakistan was 331. Rather far too good, and pretty much out of their reach.
Sehwag scored a brilliant 89 studded with 13 fours and a six. He was on the verge of a well-deserving century when Akmal-Riaz combination got him 11 runs short. Yuvraj too joined the openers in their run hunt as the first wicket fell at 155. But before that Riaz had got the better of both the openers. Here Yuvraj looked in a great touch and scored at a run a ball hitting 3 fours and 3 sixes in his individual score of 55.
Dhoni, Raina and Irfan Pathan all played some useful knocks to propel India past 300.
The Pakistani reply started and disappered as quickly. Apart from Shoib Malik's 53 and Akmal's 38 there was no other notable performance. Praveen Kuma, who bowled so well in the VB Series Down Under, once again picked up his 4 wicket haul. And in the process haulted Pakistani chase. One over short of his quota, he conceeded 53 runs. So good and accurate the Indian bowling was that at one stage the scoreboard read 26/3 and then 94/5, with most of the famed batsmen cooling themselves.
190 all out told a sorry tale of the Pakistani batting. India got the better of them by 140 runs with 14.2 overs to spare.
India was yet again responsible for a team's victory run being haulted. Having stopped the mighty Aussies twice in Tests and now it was the turn of their arch rivals pakistan in ODIs.