BANGALORE: Allrounders Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik steered Pakistan to a five-wicket exciting victory over their arch rivals India in the first Twenty20 International here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing 134, Pakistan made a disastrous start losing three wickets for only 12 runs
However, skipper Hafeez and former captain Malik batted sensibly to repair the damage and added 106 runs for the fourth wicket partnership to help Pakistan reach the winning target with two balls remaining.
Hafeez made 61, his third T20I fifty while Malik, who completed his fourth T20I
half-century, remained not out on 57.
Malik hit the winning six off the fourth ball of the final over to get Pakistan their first T20I win over India
Earlier, Pakistan bowlers restricted their arch rivals India to 133- after their captain Mohammad Hafeez won the toss and decided to field first.
Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajikya Rahane batted cautiously and gradually enhanced the run rate.
Both the openers provided a fine start of 77 before Rahane was removed by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi for 42. facing 31 balls and hitting five boundaries and a six.
Later, Gambhir was also dismissed, run out through an impressive throw by Sohail Tanvir for 43.
These two were the only top scoring batsmen as none of the latter batsmen could make any significant contribution.
Only two other batsmen --- Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina --- could reach the double figures. Both made ten each.
For Pakistan, pace bowler Umar Gul captured three for 21 while off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal bagged two for 25.
Afridi and debutant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan took one wicket each.
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