Sehwag show for India

Virender Sehwag made 119 from 95 balls © Getty Images

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Virender Sehwag plundered a blistering century to inspire a six-wicket India victory over Pakistan in their Asia Cup clash in Karachi.

The opener cracked 119 from just 95 balls, including 12 fours and five sixes, as the visitors reached their victory target inside 43 overs.

Suresh Raina also contributed 84 off 69 in a second-wicket stand of 198 with Sehwag as India reached 301 for four.

Shoaib Malik had earlier hit 125 off 119 before he was forced to retire hurt as Pakistan made 299 for four, but it was not the decisive innings as India recorded their second Group B win.

Both teams progress to the Super Four stage, which begins on Saturday, having already beaten Hong Kong.

India suffered a setback in just the third over when Gautam Gambhir was caught at backward point by Misbah-ul-Haq off the bowling of Rao Iftikhar Anjum for nine.

But his departure turned out to be a blessing in disguise for India as Sehwag and Raina took the game away from their hosts.

By the time the latter’s wicket was snaffled by Anjum, caught in the covers by Fawad Alam, the damage had already been done.

Sehwag finally fell to Shahid Afridi, Younus Khan taking the catch at long-off, but Yuvraj Singh (48 off 47) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26 not out) guided India home with room to spare.

Pakistan had earlier won the toss and opted to bat, Salman Butt and Malik putting on 90 for the first wicket until Butt fell to the leg-spin of Piyush Chawla on 35.

It was the combination of Malik and Younus which threatened to prove key as they took Pakistan to 223.

But Younus went for 59, caught at mid-off by Raina off the bowling of Yusuf Pathan, and Mohammad Yousuf was run out for 30, while RP Singh – the pick of the India bowlers with figures of 1-44 – had Shahid Afridi caught behind by Dhoni for nine.

Malik, who was dropped twice after passing his 100, and Misbah, who hit 30no, continued to pile on the runs, but their efforts were to prove in vain.