Yuvraj blitz helps India beat Pakistan in 2nd T20

India salvaged their pride with a thrilling 11-run victory in the second Twenty20 international against Pakistan to square the two-match series at at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad on Friday.

A brilliant knock of 72 by Yuvraj Singh saw India set Pakistan a formidable target of 193.

Mohammad Hafeez threatened to take the game away from India with another captain's knock of 55 off just 26 balls which contained six boundaries and three sixes.

Pakistan managed to surpass their previous run chase of 178 for two against Bangladesh in Pallekelle during the World Cup.

But Pakistan who clawed their way back to win the first T20 match in Bangalore, fell short after losing a flurry of wickets going for big hits in the last four overs.

Dinda pegged them back with an excellent second spell which saw him finish with impressive figures of 3 for 36. 

"Yesterday I was batting in the nets and I couldn't middle a single ball, so I was trying to spend time in the middle," said Yuvraj of his amazing career-best T20 knock.

Hafeez was adjudged Man of the Series for his back to back half centuries.

He blamed bowlers for their lack of discipline but admitted the partnership between Yuvraj and Dhoni made the difference in the final analysis.

"When we were bowling, we didn't follow the basics, we bowled short of a length. The partnership between MS Dhoni and Yuvraj was the difference," he said.

Skipper Dhoni's was a relieved man after his faith in youngsters was redeemed.

"A lot depends on the youngsters bowling the last overs, I think they held their nerve nicely. They were feeling the pressure but they responded really well and executed the yorkers. When they wanted to bowl slower ones they did that," he said.

It would have a travesty of justice had India been denied after Yuvraj's sensational innings.

Pakistan also got off to a flying start chasing the daunting target of 193 with openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad posting 54 runs in six overs.

Left-hander Jamshed hit Bhuvneshwar Kumar out of the attack why whacking him for a six and boundary in his second over.

Shehzad not to be outdone smashed Ishant Sharma for a massive six.

Ashok Dinda's introduction failed to stem the flow of runs with the ball being fetched from the boundary thrice in that over.

Ravichandran Ashwin finally got the breakthrough when he induced Jamshed to miscue a drive to Kohli in the 10th over.

Jamshed made 41 off 32 balls with four boundaries and a six.

His opening partner Shehzad departed in the next over when he was stumped by Dhoni after giving the charge to Yuvraj after making 31 off 29 balls with three boundaries and a six.

It was a good comeback by Yuvraj whose first ball was belted over long-on by Umar Akmal.

Skipper Hafeez began his innings with an exquisite flick over short fine leg off Yuvraj which almost landed over the ropes.

The man of the match in the first T20 then took on Ashwin with two audacious hits over the midwicket fence in the first two balls of the 14th over.

Hafeez continued the assault by despatching Dinda to the fence in consecutive deliveries but the shot of the match was his lofted shot over extra cover boundary off sharma in the 16th.

Dinda gave India hope when he castled Umar Akmal with a slower delivery to break the third wicket stand which yielded 62 in 5.3 overs.

Afridi swung the first ball he faced from Dinda to the midwicket boundary.

Having sent Kumar soaring over long-on, he perished caught in the deep by Rohit Sharma.

A blistering half century by Yuvraj Singh (72 off 36) helped India post massive 193-run target for Pakistan.

Yuvraj smashed seven sixes, including three off consecutive deliveries from saeed Ajmal, and four boundaries during his barnstorming knock.

Yuvraj began the onslaught in the 13th over by hoisting the first six of the match off Shahid Afridi in addition to hitting two boundaries.

Skipper MS Dhoni was a spectator at the other end during their fourth wicket partnership which yielded 97 runs off 44 balls.

The last five overs yielded 74 runs as Dhoni made 33 with four boundaries before being bowled in the penultimate ball of the innings by Gul who finished with four for 37.

Pakistani pacer Umar Gul rocked India by dismissing Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane in quick succession after openers gave India a flying start.

Virat Kohli and Yuvraj led the Indian recovery, adding 35-run partnership for the third wicket before the former got run-out.

Indian got off to a rollicking start with 44-run opening wicket stand by Gambhir and Rahane. Gambhir hammered three boundaries on the trot off Umar Gull before being caught plumb in front of the wicket.

India made one change, bringing in Ravichandran Ashwin in place of Ravindra Jadeja while Pakistan retained the same playing eleven.

After being drubbed in the series opener in Bangalore, the hosts desperately need to win the second game to level the series.

Teams:

India: MS Dhoni (Capt.), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashoke Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma.

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (Capt.), Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul, and Ahmed Shehzad.

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