Pak beat India by five wickets in Ist T-20

DHAKA: Shoaib Malik`s unbeaten half-century ensured Pakistan began their ground-breaking tour of India with a five-wicket victory in the opening Twenty20 international.Malik launched Ravindra Jadeja back over his head for six to seal the win in Bangalore with two balls to spare.
The veteran finished on 57 from 50 balls after a 106-run stand with skipper Mohammad Hafeez (61) proved decisive in pursuit of India`s 133 for nine.
India debutant Bhuvnshwar Kumar (three for nine) initially crashed through the tourists` top order to leave them three for 12. But from there Hafeez and Malik took charge – albeit with both surviving chances – to make India pay after they had earlier lost nine for 47 to lose their way with the bat.
Pakistan were playing their first game in a bi-lateral tour of India for five years, with three one-day internationals set to follow Friday`s second and final Twenty20 in Ahmedabad.
The tourists selected 7″1` quick Mohammad Irfan to make his Twenty20 debut but he failed to trouble India`s openers as Ajinkya Rahane (42) and Gautam Gambhir (43) put on 77 inside 11 overs.
But Rahane`s dismissal, when he slapped Shahid Afridi to Umar Gul at deep extra cover, prompted a dramatic collapse.
Gul was the chief destroyer on his way to figures of three for 21 as India`s next highest scorers after the openers were Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, with just 10, as they scrambled to 133 for nine.
That total sub-par looked like it might be enough when Jadeja made a dream start to his international carer.
The 22-year-old right-armer got the ball to swing appreciably early on and knocked back the stumps of Nasir Jamshed and Umar Akmal, either side of catching Ahmed Shehzad`s edge.
Pakistan was reeling at 12 for three before they edged their way out of trouble thanks to the experience of Hafeez and Malik.
They required some luck along the way, with Raina dropping a sharp Hafeez chance at short cover when he was on 33. The Pakistan skipper pushed on to his 61, from 44, before a controversial 18th over.
Hafeez upper-cut Ishant Sharma to third man to depart and India thought they had Malik two balls later when Jadeja took a marvellous catch running back from point.
But after the umpires appeared to be asked to review the height of the delivery it was subsequently declared a no-ball, sparing Malik to steer his side into a 1-0 series lead.
Source: (Source: banglanews24.com/The Telegraph)

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