Two centuries by Pakistani openers are no match for Virat Kohli's batting heroics as India chase down a relatively high total of 329 in Dhaka - Read our match report

Teams:

Pakistan 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Nasir Jamshed, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Umar Akmal (wk), 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Hammad Azam, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Aizaz Cheema


India1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Praveen Kumar, 11 AB Dinda



Pakistan Innings

The toss in the big game was won by Pakistan, and Misbah had no hesitation in deciding to bat first.

Pakistan got off to an aggressive start, punishing some loose deliveries from the Indian bowlers. Nasir Jamshed hit Praveen Kumar out of the attack by striking three quality boundaries in the fourth over. The introduction of Dinda, as well as some excellent fielding, pulled the run rate back somewhat, but after 10 overs Pakistan were well placed at 51-0. The onus was now on one, or both opening batsmen to go on and make a big score.

Dhoni brought on his part-time bowlers, allowing the two batsmen to pick up easy singles, and with the odd boundary in between, Pakistan continued to race along. An eventful 18th over brought up the 100 partnership, and half centuries for both Hafeez and Jamshed. 40 runs were taken from the bowling powerplay, and at 121-0 after 20 overs, MS Dhoni and India were well and truly on the back foot.

The Indian bowling had no answers to Hafeez and Jamshed, as the pair continued to pick off easy runs from the lacklustre attack. Hafeez brought up his fourth ODI century in the 33rd over, shortly before the 200 partnership was raised. Jamshed was not to be left behind, as he reached his maiden ODI century off just 98 balls, and a fantastic platform had been set for a trademark Pakistani onslaught as the batting powerplay approached.

Signs of aggressive intent were now apparent as Nasir charged down to Praveen and launched over square leg for his first six. In the next over however, he was the first wicket to fall as he could only top edge a slog sweep off Ashwin, and Irfan Pathan just about held on at short third man. Hafeez also fell looking to attack Dinda, but the slower ball fooled him and he was struck on his pad plumb in front.

Younis and Umar Akmal were the two new batsmen, and both continued to attack. 14 were taken off Dinda's next over as Pakistan reached 256-2 with 10 overs to go. Younis was particularly adept at piercing the gaps and picking up valuable boundaries. Umar Akmal was next to fall for an aggressive 28, paddle sweeping the ball straight to short fine leg.

'Boom Boom' was next to the crease, but his fans were left disappointed as he struggled to 9 off 14 balls before holing out to deep mid wicket off Irfan Pathan. Meanwhile, Younis brought up an uncharacteristically aggressive half century, off just 33 balls, but was dismissed next ball thanks to an incredible catch from Suresh Raina. Hammad Azam also came and went as Pakistan finished on 329-6 off their 50 overs. Having bolstered their already excellent bowling attack with the inclusion of Wahab Riaz, Pakistan would have been confident they had enough runs on the board.


Fall of Wickets

1-224 (Jamshed, 35.5 ov)
2-225 (Hafeez, 36.2 ov)
3-273 (Akmal, 42.5 ov)
4-313 (Afridi, 47.4 ov)
5-323 (Younis, 48.5 ov)
6-326 (Hammad, 49.3 ov)

India Innings

The Indian openers, Tendulkar and Gambhir strode out to the middle knowing that a good start was vital in a chase of 330. As he has often done in the past, Misbah handed the ball to Mohammad Hafeez, and 'The Professor' did not disappoint, trapping Gambhir lbw with his second delivery. The Hafeez experiment only lasted one over, as Misbah then turned to Gul and Cheema. The new batsmen Kohli, and Tendulkar clearly enjoyed the pace on the ball, as the boundaries started to flow. Tendulkar even unfurled a glide for 6 over the slips, bringing back memories of his onslaught at the 2003 World Cup.

Both batsmen looked untroubled at they worked the spinners around confidently, and only Ajmal managed to cause a few moments of alarm. Afridi was taken for 17 from his first 2 overs, before Hafeez was slog-swept over mid-wicket by Tendulkar. Wahab Riaz's introduction provided no respite, as an 11 run over took India to an ominous 98 for 1 after 15.

Virat Kohli continued his impressive form from the Australia tour, playing some sublime shots on his way to a half century off 52 balls. Tendulkar followed suit, and the pair had raised a rapid 100 partnership. The decision to play Wahab Riaz looked to have backfired as he was taken for 37 off his first 3 overs, before Ajmal finally provided the breakthrough, a perfect doosra taking Tendulkar's outside edge.

Pakistan sensed an opening, but a sensible century partnership between India's rising stars, Kohli and Rohit Sharma, ensured that India remained in the game. Kohli brought up a magnificent 100 off 97 balls in the 30th over, and Sharma reached an excellent 50 shortly afterwards. With 10 overs to go, India needed 83 to win, and with Kohli at the crease, and Raina and Dhoni to come, their prospects looked bright.

Kohli took 16 from Gul's next over, including a sublime drive over extra cover for 6, as the asking rate dropped from over 8 to 7.5. Three consecutive boundaries off Wahab's next over took Kohli past 150 and put India in the ascendancy. Wahab had now bowled 4 overs for 50 and his comeback to the side had proved a disaster. Kohli continued to punish some mediocre Pakistan bowling, but with the finishing line in sight, Sharma fell looking to smash Gul for 6. Kohli also fell looking to seal the game, top edging a tired pull off Gul. Raina and Dhoni ensured there would be no further setbacks, and they knocked off the required runs with 13 balls to spare.


Fall of Wickets

1-0 (Gambhir, 0.2 ov)
2-133 (Tendulkar, 19.3 ov)
3-305 (Sharma, 45.5 ov)
4-318 (Kohli, 47.1 ov)

Summary

Kohli's knock proved the difference between the two sides, and Pakistan had no answer to his imperious batting. Pakistan fans will be very disappointed that their top order finally clicked, yet they were still unable to win the game. Wahab's selection over Sarfraz, forcing Umar Akmal to keep, backfired spectacularly with the fast bowler going for 50 off 4 overs, and Akmal looking untidy behind the stumps. The management will need to think long and hard about the strategy for the final in four days time.

A fantastic performance by Kohli and India. Pakistan will be looking to gain revenge in a possible rematch in the final on Thursday.