Ahmedabad: Yuvraj Singh was in his imperious best as he led India to a series levelling against arch-rivals Pakistan in the second T20 international played here at the Motera Stadium.
Yuvraj was in his imperious best and blasted four boundaries and seven sixes in his 36-ball 72 to help India post a mammoth 192-5.The visitors put up a brave fight in reply but could manage only 182, falling short by 12 runs.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a perfect fiddle to Yuvraj and scored 33 off 23 balls including four boundaries.
Pakistani started off well in their chase with opener Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad scoring runs at a brisk rate. They put up 48 in the first five overs and were looking good before Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jamshed in the ninth over for 41 off 32 balls laced with four boundaries and a six.
Shehzad too fell soon after Yuvraj removed him in the 11th over.
It was then Umar Akmal and skipper Mohammad Hafeez who joined hands and made sure that they stay in the hunt. Akmal however was removed by Ashoke Dinda, but Hafeez stayed on. He played beautifully and hit Indian bowlers all over the park, but his wicket casted a doom on Pakistan’s hopes of win the series. Hafeez scored 55 off 26 balls including six fours and three sixes.
Ashoke Dinda was the pick of the bowlers for India with his spell of 3-36.
Earlier India got off a good start with the opening combo of Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane getting off to a fluent start. They put up 44 for the first wicket before Gambhir was dismissed in the fifth over. Rahane was out in the seventh over. Kohli was unlucky to get run-out in the 12th. After that it was Yuvraj and Dhoni show. Yuvraj was particularly harsh on Saeed Ajmal and hoisted him for three sixes in the 19th over.
Umar Gul who dismissed Yuvraj in the first ball of the last over was the best bowler for Pakistan and took four wickets by giving away 37 runs.
Brief scores:
India 192 for 5 (Yuvraj 72, Dhoni 33*, Gul 4-37) beat Pakistan 181 for 7 (Hafeez 55, Jamshed 41, Dinda 3-36) by 11 runs
By Indian Sports News Network