INDIA v PAKISTAN

At Sharjah, April 12. Pakistan won by 38 runs. Toss: India.

Azharuddin's decision to send Pakistan in, on an excellent batting pitch in hot weather, was questionable. After Srinath beat Aamir Sohail with his first delivery and started the match with a maiden, the advantage lay almost entirely with Pakistan. Sohail advanced to his fifth century in limited-overs internationals and set India a target of nearly five and a half an over. They made a bad start: Tendulkar drove a wide ball to cover and Saqlain Mushtaq's off-spin and Mushtaq Ahmed's leg-spin reduced India to 95 for five. Mongia, who helped Manjrekar to add 116 for the sixth wicket, scored his maiden fifty at this level before he was last out.

Man of the Match: Aamir Sohail.