India v Pakistan
India v Pakistan, 2004-05
Osman Samiuddin
15-Apr-2006
At Visakhapatnam, April 5, 2005. India won by 58 runs. Toss: India.
A maiden international century of unyielding brutality by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni
lit up a sleepy seaside town, overshadowed a stellar batting line-up, ensured overnight messianic
status and enabled India to go 2-0 up. Dhoni, sporting red-tinted hair and the strut of rock royalty,
unleashed a bewildering array of orthodox and impudent strokes, including four sixes, in his 148
off 123 balls, an Indian record against Pakistan. He began with a slapped straight drive for four
first ball, then grew irreverent, never more than when he played a ramped shot against Abdul
Razzaq that flew over the keeper's head. With Sehwag hitting a raucous 40-ball 74 and Dravid a
more measured fifty, India amassed 356 for nine, their third-highest one-day total. Pakistan chased
gamely, but never threatened. Razzaq scored a spirited 88, but ran out Inzamam in the 20th over.
That they ended 59 short with nearly six overs still in hand testified to the importance of that
mix-up.
Man of the Match: M. S. Dhoni.
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo