Wisden
Second One-Day International

India v Pakistan 2007-08

Anand Vasu

At Mohali, November 8, 2007 (day/night). Pakistan won by four wickets. Toss: India.

The nervousness of the first match was replaced by panache in the second, as India batted first and steamed past 300. Tendulkar was back to his best and unfurled a seemingly unstoppable array of strokes. There were the usual flicks and cuts, but it was the back-foot punch through cover that was the most ominous indicator of his intentions and form. Yet again he contrived to get himself out for 99, for the third time in one-day internationals in 2007, edging to the keeper. Gambhir contributed a half-century, and Harbhajan Singh provided some late momentum to lift India to 321. It was only an innings of innovation and boldness from Younis Khan that brought the series back alive. Employing both conventional and reverse sweeps to smart effect, he clattered a century that brought victory with one ball to spare, put Tendulkar in the shade, and levelled the series. It was the highest total Pakistan had ever made batting second to win a one-day international, although they did score 344 for eight against India at Karachi in 2003-04 and still lost. Both sides were fined afterwards for slow over-rates: the captains lost 10% of their match fee and the rest of the players 5%.

Man of the Match: Younis Khan.

© John Wisden & Co.