Both openers in Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez began with boundaries and looked to take on the pace trio of Zaheer, Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra but it was the experienced head in Zaheer that persisted with his line and forced the error. Yuvraj at point completed the rest, much to the cheer of the Mohali crowd here.
India's Innings
It was a 300-plus wicket. India, however would be satisfied with the 260 runs that it managed in the crucial semi final match at Mohali. This after Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz struck terror in the middle-order to end the innings with five wickets.
Sachin Tendulkar top-scored for the hosts with 85 after Virender Sehwag gave his team an aggressive start. He looked in fine touch but was eventually removed by Riaz who found his legs in front of the stumps. Tendulkar though kept his composure and struck together a decent partnership of 60 with Gautam Gambhir.
Riaz though came back with a vengeance and despite several dropped catches of Tendulkar, he ensured no other batsman settled in to script a twist in the bowling dominated tale.
Though the average score batting first in a day and night match here is 254, Indians would need their strategy of playing an extra seamer to pay dividends once Pakistan begin their chase.
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