Working to a plan

If Sachin Tendulkar's 99 was spectacular, Younis Khan's century was supremely efficient and formed the lynchpin of a perfectly planned chase. One stroke of brilliance from India could have ended Pakistan's challenge but Younis stood firm. He added 102 in 12.4 overs with Misbah-ul-Haq, who has one of the coolest heads in run-chases, and the partnership drastically reduced India's victory hopes.

The plan was for Pakistan's middle-order to keep the game alive until the final overs, when Shahid Afridi, batting at No 7, could finish the contest. The rationale behind this was to give Afridi a situation in which he could bat single-mindedly.

"If we [Misbah and I] had got out in the 35th over or so, Shahid would have been confused. So our focus was to take the game to 42nd or 43rd over and leave it to him," said Younis, who was named Man of the Match for scoring 117 off 110 balls.

Once they had gauged the wicket, which was true, the Pakistan batsmen didn't worry about the widening gap between runs required and balls remaining. The plan was evident from the way they approached the second and third Powerplays, scoring only 37 between the 11th and 20th over.

The impact of Twenty20 cricket has changed how teams approach a large run-chase. If there are wickets in hand, teams can score significantly in the final 20 overs, as Pakistan displayed today. They needed more than eight an over when Younis and Misbah came together in the 33rd, but remained unflustered.

"We have reached a stage where even 200 can be scored in the last 20 overs," Younis said. "There are so many new shots, so many techniques. New coaches have come and introduced newer ways of hitting."

They needed 167 off 120 balls with six wickets in hand, which was comparable to their target of 158 in the World Twenty20 final. Misbah's failed scoop over short fine leg cost Pakistan the Twenty20 title but today, Younis milked the region effectively for 37 runs, including three fours and a six. His dismissal - playing around a slower delivery from Zaheer as he tried to work the ball to fine leg - brought India back into the game.

"I can't clear the ground at will like Misbah," Younis joked later. "I have to get cheeky and steal runs." Misbah, however, gave everyone a sense of déjà vu when he paddled one onto his stumps instead of over short fine leg.

Younis played a busy, workman-like innings rather than going for broke when faced with a steep target. He negotiated Irfan Pathan's testing spell, one in which he swung the ball into the right-hander's pads, and survived a close lbw shout. He scored only 17 from his first 33 balls, but then raised the tempo against Harbhajan Singh, stealing ones and twos and scoring the occasional four. He stealthily got Pakistan up to speed while Mahendra Singh Dhoni used part-timers to finish the fifth bowler's quota.

India played the extra batsman - Virender Sehwag replaced Murali Kartik - because the pitch wasn't expected to aid spin, and although Sourav Ganguly went for only 55 off nine overs, as compared to Zaheer Khan who conceded 70 off ten, the Pakistan batsmen were not put under any sort of pressure by his gentle medium-pace.

Younis took full advantage of the weakened attack and before anyone realized, he had motored towards a century. He dedicated the match-winning innings to a man who always said that Younis didn't finish things off - Bob Woolmer would have been proud of his effort tonight.