Pakistan vs India 2007/08 (Part One)

Mar 11, 2022

Pakistan vs India 2007/08 (Part One) Image

Having met twice in 2006, India and Pakistan resumed hostilities the following year when it was Pakistan’s turn to tour their neighbour.

After winning a one-day warm-up match against Delhi, the Pakistan side travelled to Guwahati for the first ODI. 

Pakistan won the toss, chose to bat, and got a reasonable start when Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt put on 44 for the first wicket until Akmal was leg before to Irfan Pathan. Butt then combined with Younis Khan before falling for 50, having struck 8 fours.

Younis was out for 25, but Mohammad Yousuf assumed responsibility with an unbeaten 82. In the process, going past the 1,000-run mark against India.Yousuf put in 59 for the fourth wicket with Shahid Afridi (31) and 68 for the sixth with Misbah-ul-Haq (29). He was there at the end of the innings that closed on 239/7. Sachin Tendulkar (2-32) had the best figures among the Indian bowlers.

He disappointed with the bat, though, out for just 4, leaving Sourav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir to provide India with a platform with a partnership of 82 for the second wicket.

After Ganguly fell for 39, M.S. Dhoni came to the crease. After losing Gambhir for 44, he found the perfect foil in the shape of Yuvraj Singh. They put on 105 for the fourth wicket that put India into a winning position.

Yuvraj struck a six and six fours before falling for 58. Dhoni, too, was out before the end, caught when he had reached 63, with eight fours to his name. Robin Uthappa (11*) and Irfan (5*) then guided India home with three overs to spare.

India had won by five wickets. Dhoni was named Player of the Match.