Review of BCCI Platinum Jubilee Match

An ODI(One Day International) was held to memorize the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of BCCI,75 years of achievement of making cricket in India what it is now. The 2192th ODI was held in Eden Garden,Kolkata between arch-rivals and cricketing giants 1983 champions India and 1992 champions Pakistan in front of thousands of Indian supporters. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat despite clear indications of dew factor.India started with star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and free flowing Virendar Sehwag facing speedstar Shoaib Akhtar and Rana Naved.They suffered an early setback when Tendulkar was dismissed due to a brilliant effort of Younis Khan running him out but Pakistan fail to consolidate on their position as VVS Laxman and Sehwag put 82 in the partnership.Things turned when Shahid Khan Afridi dismissed both the partners simultaneously and proved to be Pakistan most lethal weapon as he picked 2-29,Rahul Dravid continued his bad form and scored 18, skipper Ganguly and Yuvrag Singh gave Indian innings life when they added 74 before Ganguly went two short of a half century but the real star of Indian innings turned out to be young Yuvrag who blasted the Pakistani attack all over the pitch before getting out in the last over or the second last ball scoring a magnificent 78 of 62 balls.Kaif added 14 .India put a gigantic total of 292 much to the pleasure of the home fans.Only 23 times in 2192 matches that scores of being 290 plus have being chased by the side batting second. Pakistan started with young Salman Butt (6th ODI)and Younis Khan a middle order batsmen as Pakistan opening problems continues.The ploy didn't work as he went on a duck making the crowd go wild but India like Pakistan failed to take advantage of the situation and Shoaib Malik and Butt put on a century partnership.By this time the dew factor was really affecting the game and Indian spinners were unable to grip the ball.Shoaib was out in a strange manner the ball after the ball was changed.Butt got injured and retired hurt shortly,the responsibilty of taking Pakistan home rested on strong shoulders of captain and the ever consiten Yousaf Youhana.Tempers were shooting up by now and Irfan Pathan and Yousaf Youhana had an argument of their own.Youhana left shortly after on 18 and Salman Butt came back.He looked to start where he left off but it was Inzi's show now Pakistani skipper just made 17 of 40 balls then but finished with 75 of 75 getting out 9 short of victory while the young opener made his maiden century and Pakistan cruised to victory with 6 wickets in hand and a over to spare.The crowd really showed opposite of what they did in the 1st innings and not a sound to be heard in a jamm-packed stadium and eventually left before the end.Dissapointments for the home crowd but a glorius day of cricket.Butt was named man of the match for his 108 notout. for pics for detailled stats http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2004-05/OD_TOURN EYS/PLATINUM/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_PLATINUM_ODI_13NOV2004.html