India v Pakistan

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.