IndiaPost.com - Dhoni leads from front in India's 5 wicket win

GUWAHATI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh struck half-centuries to complement the disciplined show by the bowlers as India cantered to a comprehensive five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the first of the five-match one day cricket series here. Opting to bat, Pakistan got off to a good start but fumbled in the middle overs before managing 239 for seven in 50 overs.

Mohammad Yousuf (83), Salman Butt (50) and Shahid Afridi (31) scored bulk of the runs but found going really tough against the Indian spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik. It was, however, Sachin Tendulkar (2/33) who was the most successful among the Indian bowlers.

Chasing the total, India lost Tendulkar (4) early but Sourav Ganguly (39) and Gautam Gambhir (44) steadied the boat before Dhoni and Yuvraj came up with half centuries to take the game away from Pakistan. Dhoni was adjudged Man of the Match for his 77-ball 63, which included eight hits to the fence. Yuvraj's 58 came off 74 balls and included six fours apart from a six.

Earlier, Yousuf struck a timely half century to help Pakistan bounce back from a sluggish middle over display and notch up a competitive total on a two-paced wicket. Yousuf remained unconquered on 83 off 88 balls and was involved in two 50-plus stands with Shahid Afridi (31 off 32 balls) and Misbah-ul Haq (27 off 26 balls) for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively.

Pakistan began well as openers Salman Butt (50) and Kamran Akmal (12) put on 44-run partnership. Butt, who has always relished playing against India, was on song from the start during his 57-ball knock, executing several delightful wristy strokes.

Zaheer Khan, who strayed in line and length initially, was at the receiving end in the opening over as the Pakistani left-hander hit two boundaries. The first wicket fell in the 11th over after the openers had put on 44, as Akmal (12) became the victim of a questionable lbw decision by umpire Ian Gould to an Irfan Pathan delivery.

The run rate slowed down as the Indian pacers bowled intelligently not allowing the batsmen to play of the front foot. The visitors found the going tougher with Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik operated as they slowed down the run-rate considerably. Butt (56b, 8x4) departed after a terrible mix-up with vice-captain Younis Khan.

Yuvraj Singh displayed silver-quick reflexes by picking up the ball in a flash and threw it to Dhoni who did the rest. Kartik started getting sharp turns and used the spin-friendly conditions well. Only 33 runs came between the 11th and 20th over and the batsmen were made to work hard for runs. Misbah-ul Haq played a cameo to add some respectability to the score.

Dhoni singled out Yuvraj Singh for praise after sharing a 105-run partnership with the left hander who struck 58. "Yuvi is a tremendous player. We needed a left-right combination in middle and that's why I promoted myself up.

"The pitch was doing a bit for spinners. We ran well and knew that once we settle there, we can score as many runs as we want. We knew that even if we don't get runs for even five overs, we will get those later on," Dhoni said. His Pakistani counterpart Shoaib Malik rued the dropped chances and insisted that 239 was a defendable score.

"It was a defendable score on this surface but we dropped too many catches. Also, they got a good start and that made all the difference today," he said.