Dhoni shines as India claim victory

14 April 2012

Mahendra Dhoni struck a brilliant century to lead run-happy India to a convincing victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the second one-day international in Vishakhapatnam.

Wicketkeeper Dhoni, promoted up the order to number three, contributed a stunning 148 as India posted a massive total of 356 for nine - their third highest one-day total of all time - before the host nation bowled Pakistan out for 298 to record a 58-run win.

India opener Virender Sehwag also shone with the bat, recording a typically dazzling innings of 74 to help his side take a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.

Requiring a formidable run-rate of 7.14 per over, the Pakistani reply started in the worst possible fashion when attacking opener Shahid Afridi was bowled for a duck by Ashish Nehra.

Salman Butt and Abdul Razzaq responded well, with the latter's 88 off 93 balls giving the tourists hope.

But after the dismissal of Butt for 36 and the run-out of influential skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq for only 16, the tourists found themselves firmly on the back foot, compounded by Razzaq's edge to Dhoni off Yuvraj Singh.

Yousuf Youhana picked up the mantle, notching 71 off only 56 balls before becoming one of the impressive Nehra's four wickets as the Pakistan innings began to falter.

Kamran Akmal did hammer an exciting 41 off 27 balls, but was then trapped lbw by Zaheer Khan as Pakistan were dismissed with almost six overs unused.
Earlier in the day, Dhoni had been the inspiration behind an remarkable Indian innings.

Coming in following the early run-out of the talismanic Sachin Tendulkar, the young wicketkeeper, who scored just three in the first game of the series on Saturday, hammered a magical century with a dazzling array of shots off the front and back foot.

He faced 123 balls for his runs and struck 15 fours and four sixes before his innings came to an end when he was caught by Shoaib Malik off the bowling of Mohammad Hafeez in the 42nd over.

Sehwag was also in belligerent form, adding 74 off only 40 balls, with a more restrained 52 from Rahul Dravid providing the basis for a total that broke India's previous highest one-day score of 349 against Pakistan.

India won the opening match of the series by 87 runs in Kochi and will now be firm favourites to make it three wins from three when they face Pakistan in Jamshedpur on Saturday

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