Pakistan tipped to double lead

The dreaded Duckworth and Lewis spoiled an exciting end to the opening match of the one-day series between Pakistan and India, but Pakistan were the beneficiaries and they are now 4/7 (1.57) favourites to win the second match, in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

In truth, India should never have let Pakistan get anywhere near close enough to benefit from the bad light after they smashed 328 from their 50 overs. That total should have been even more, after they collapsed from 285-3 with more than eight overs, losing six wickets for 23 runs.

But Pakistan are at an all-time high of confidence at the moment, after Test series victories over England and India and their batsmen did the job, before the light failed.

India, who will be kicking themselves after Sachin Tendulkar's 39th one-day century set them up so well, are 5/4 (2.25) to bounce back with victory in Rawalpindi. That, however, will not be an easy talk on a ground where Pakistan have enjoyed plenty of one-day success.

Of their 16 matches there, Pakistan have won 12, won their last five, and they also beat India in their only previous meeting there, when they made 329-6 and kept India just short at 317 all out.

On the other hand, the toss would not appear to be too crucial there as of the 20 matches to have been played there in all, 10 of them have been won by the side batting first and 10 by the chasing side.