Dhoni, Rohit keep India in the hunt

Thu, Jul 3 02:00 AM

IN A do-or-die match for them, the hosts, typically, put in an improved performance to stay in the hunt for a place in the final. However, despite their improved bowling efforts, India still managed to put up challenging 308 for seven, though with not as much fluency as they had shown in their previous matches.

This effort is a stronger indicator of the Indian batting might than their efforts in the previous gamer were. For, unlike the previous games, it came without big contributions from the in-form batsmen.

Sehwag, Gambhir, Raina and Yuvraj Singh, who have simply demolished all attacks in the tournament, were back in the hut with scoreboard showing just 129, yet the team managed to put up 308 on the board. That was made largely possible by some solid and sensible batting display by Indian skipper Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

The duo soaked in the pressure applied by the rejuvenated Pakistan attack that was sensing blood after picking up the top four batsmen, and stitched together a valuable 112-run partnership for the fifth wicket. While Dhoni appeared as cool and composed as ever, Sharma, who has not been in the best of form, knuckled down and struck a valuable half-century to put the innings back on track.

The Indian innings again looked to go off the track when Rohit (58) and Yousuf Pathan fell in quick succession. But Dhoni didn't look perturbed, and shared another vital partnership with Irfan Pathan for the seventh wicket.

Exhibiting the ability to soak in the pressure and change his game according to the need, the skipper chugged on, running his singles hard and picking up the odd boundary. Eventually, he fell for well-made 76, but by then India were already on the threshold of 300, always a challenging target to chase, regardless of the attack and conditions.

Earlier, Pakistan started on a wrong note as their skipper Shoaib Malik pulled out at the last moment, complaining of weakness and dehydration. To compound their problems, the Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir again gave a rousing start.

Sehwag took time to get his eye in before launching himself into another assault. He began with a superb cut, and then hoisted Tanvir over long-on for a six.

Gambhir, on the other hand, was already into business. The situation looked really grim for Pakistan as the openers put 88 on board in just 10 overs.

But in a sudden burst of inspired bowling, Iftikhar Anjum and Abdur Rauf rattled the Indian camp, picking up three wickets in the space of nine balls and accounting for Gambhir (35), Sehwag (49) and Raina (1). Then they made Yuvraj (37) and Dhoni huff and puff, and Rauf actually went on to pick Yuvraj (37) to leave India in trouble at 129 for 4.

But that was before Dhoni and Sharma joined hands to script India's revival.

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