There can be no game between India and Pakistan without a bit of intrigue. The Asia Cup clash between the two sub-continental neighbours followed that script last night before MS Dhoni's side eventually prevailed by three wickets in a typically tense finish. India seemed to be cruising to victory with 208 on the board in the 42nd over and seven wickets in hand. Dhoni and Rohit Sharma were at the crease and 60 more were needed to put Pakistan out of a contention for a place in the final of the tournament.
And then came the familiar twist. Shahid Afridi trapped Sharma (22) leg before wicket and stretched his arms out in triumph. But what he did next was intuition at its best. The Pakistan captain had already given the ball to Saeed Ajmal for the 43rd over, but he took it back and called Shoaib Malik, who delivered the big prize, bowling Dhoni out for 56. India were 219 for five, needing 49 more from 30 balls. They lost another wicket as Ajmal clipped Ravindra Jadeja's middle stump, but Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh, who hit two sixes off Shoaib Akhtar, the fast bowler, took the equation to 10 runs from 11 balls.
As the tension rose, so did the tempers with Akhtar and Harbhajan indulging in uncomplimentaries at the end of the 49th over. India needed seven for a win and then Raina got himself run out. Harbhajan, however, kept his cool to smack Mohammed Aamer's second-last ball into the stands to seal the victory. He then turned to Akhtar, roaring with eyes bulging to celebrate. Pakistan had won the last game between the two sides, eight months ago in the Champions Trophy, and Gautam Gambhir (83), the man of the match, was delighted to avenge that defeat.
"This was payback time. So we were really determined, not only me but the entire team," Gambhir said in a post-match TV interview. The opener also said he did not watch the thrilling finish, after losing hope following Raina's run-out. Dhoni, who added 98 runs for the third wicket with Gambhir, however did watch the end, but the "Captain Cool" was not so calm. "If you are playing an international game, especially against Pakistan, and the match goes so close, you can never be cool," he said in the post-match TV interview. "We should have closed the game. We were in a position where we could have, but things never go according to your plan. That's why cricket is said to be a cruel game."
* Compiled by Ahmed Rizvi