Pak clinch series

Associated Press

New Delhi, April 17:

Pakistan avenged its home series loss last year by dominating the sixth limited-overs international and claiming a 4-2 series over India in a match disrupted briefly by disappointed fans. Pakistan won the final one-dayer by 159 runs, bundling India out for 144 in 37 overs after Shoaib Malik (72) and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq (68) anchored an imposing score of 303 for eight in 50 overs. India was held to a 1-1 draw by Pakistan in the three-Test series. The Indians won last year’s limited-overs series in Pakistan 3-2 and dominated the Test series 2-1.

The hosts starting their chase on a jittery note by losing openers Virender Sehwag (21) and Sachin Tendulkar (9) cheaply.

India never recovered as Pakistan’s bowlers tore through the middle order after skipper Rahul Dravid (19) and Yuvraj Singh (13) were run out. Rookie Mahendra Dhoni’s 24 was the top-scorer for India, whose slide to 94/6 angered the fans. Spectators in the northwestern gallery of the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium began throwing water balls into the ground and play was suspended as the umpires summoned Pakistan’s fielders into the middle and police reinforcements moved into the troubled stands to restore calm. Pakistan’s fielders and the Indian batsmen went into the pavilion as play remained suspended for 16 minutes.

On resumption, Arshad Khan completed a haul of 3-33 as India crashed to an embarrassing defeat. A capacity crowd of 28,000 packed the stadium and cheered as Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Indian PM Manmohan Singh met the players before the match.

Pakistan was given a sound foundation by Malik’s 87-ball 72 and Inzamam’s brisk 68 from 69 deliveries. Malik made India pay dearly for his dropped catch — on 19 — by midwicket Dinesh Mongia off Zaheer Khan. Malik also shared an 85-run partnership for the third wicket with Yousuf Youhana, who hit a rapid 59-ball half century.