But, that was not to be. After its batsmen ground the Pakistani attack into the dust, India's bowlers (the weak spot in the team) loosened the reigns to let the hosts take up the challenge well through their openers Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal.

Both powered the team's fifty in quickfire manner taking just 8 overs to do so. But that was when an inaccurate Sreesanth gave India the crucial breakthrough. Akmal looking to bash the ball through point managed to hit it straight to Gambhir fielding there. The ball was fairly zipping at warp speed and that the fielder caught was pure chance. It was a reflex action that so surprised Gambhir that he forgot where his feet were during his celebration and promptly tumbled over leaving him looking sheepish.

Akmal scored 25 (24) leaving Pak on 50/1.

But Butt was looking strong on 43 (46) and in the company of the prolific Shoaib Malik he took Pakistan to 73/1 in 12.2 overs, a run rate of 5.69 still behind the-then required rate of 6.89.

The fall was as sudden as it was unexpected. First he brought up his century and then either lost the script or the ill-luck of Nelson got him. Playing on 101, he faced his 111th delivery bowled by Kartik and expired through a mis-hit straight to Dravid.

31 runs later it was the time of Malik who had batted himself into the nineties. Facing Zaheer, he could not keep a shot down and it too went towards Dravid who made no mistakes in catching it. He fell for 90 (67). He had stroked nine fours and three sixes! Confidence in himself forced him into making too much room to play a stroke over mid-wicket but there was not enough elevation in it.

Arguably the most important wicket, that of Shahid Afridi, fell in the same manner as that of Pathan. He blasted a six of the previous ball that was a mis-hit but it still sailed majestically over the boundary. He was out next ball going for non-existent single by, who else, Mohd Kaif. Fielding in the covers he got to the ball quickly and hit the stumps with a direct throw, catching the batsman short. Afridi run out 17 (15) - scored with the aid of one four and one six.

Another very important wicket, that of Yousuf, went into the bag of Agarkar when he forced the batsman to hit in the air straight to Zaheer at mid-on.

Pakistan fell from 201/2 (Salman Butt, 31.4 ov.) to 265/5 (Mohammad Yousuf, 39.5 ov.), in just eight overs.

Inzi, of course, was there in the company of his deputy Younis. But, he created history of sorts!

Looking comfortable for a triumph, an overconfident Inzi did the unthinkable. He hit the ball straight to a fielder at mid-off and walked out of his crease. The fielder threw towards the stumps which were being blocked by the Pak captain. Some five feet out of the crease, he used his bat to stop the ball which was heading for his body. The Indians asked a question off the umpire and he raised his finger. Inzi complained volubly, but the ump refused to pay heed! By rights he had no business stopping the ball, whether it was thrown to keeper or at stumps was immaterial. Inzi fell obstructing the field for 16. Pak 289/6.

Make that 299/7 in 44.4 overs as Razzaq edged Agarkar to Dhoni! He scored 4.

With Younis on 18, Naved on 11 and Pakistan needing 18 runs in 18 balls the match was placed in a very tight situation.

In a surprise move the umpires offered light then and the batsmen walked off. According to the Duckworth-Lewis system the hosts won by seven runs! The revised target was of 305 in 47 overs. Pak finished on 311/7 in 47 overs.

Sachin, Pathan, Dhoni blast Pakistan Apart