Backed up by excellent fielding for the first time in the series, Pakistani bowlers bowled out India ``A'' for a paltry total of 195 in 46.4 overs. With no pressure of a big total, the Pakistani batsmen batted merrily to score 297 for the loss of only four wickets, with 11.1 overs to spare. The international opener Saleem Elahi hit a sensible, unbeaten knock of 89 on 106 balls (studded with 10 boundaries) in the role of a sheet-anchor to pilot the Pakistan ``A'' team to a creditable win. That earned him ``Man-of-the-Match'' award, which was given to him by the Oval Hero Fazal Mahmood amidst loud cheers from spectators.
Saleem Elahi's unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 78 runs on 74 balls with left-hander Test player Muhammad Husain blunted India ``A'' side's all efforts of a comeback in the series. Muhammad Husain hit a belligerent knock of 54 on 40 balls, studded with two big sixes and seven boundaries. Muhammad Husain first lofted Bahutule over long on boundary and later repeated the stroke off David. In fact, Husain plundered 20 runs in David's sixth over. Shortly after his second six, Muhammad Husain off-drove for a four to take the Pakistani total to 197 which marked the end of the match. Earlier, Saleem Elahi and Basit Ali (27 on 48 balls with three fours) had added 61 runs for the third wicket partnership on 96 balls to steady the Pakistan ``A'' innings after cheap dismissals of Shahid Afridi (15 with one six and one four) and Akhtar Sarfaraz (0).
The third and last match of the series will be held at the National Stadium, Karachi on March 17 (Tuesday). Test umpires Saleem Badar and Riazuddin will supervise the last match of the India ``A'' team's tour of Pakistan before its departure. Zeeshan Fazal and Mahmood Moghal will be scorers. Former Test all-rounder Iqbal Sikandar will be the referee.
Aaqib Javed won a good toss in the morning. The Indian batsmen batted badly again on a batting pitch in bright sunshine, throwing away the advantage to level the series. But this should not detract from a valiant effort by the Pakistani bowlers and fielders. Had Rohand Gavaskar (39 on 71 balls with two fours) and Sanjay Raul (31 on 54 balls) not added 53 runs i 61 minutes, the India ``A'' team would have been dismissed for a poorer total. As in Sheikhupura, young paceman Abdul Razzaq made early dents in the visitors' innings by claiming both the openers Haldipur (5) and Captain Gagan Khoda (14). The skipper did not look satisfied with the leg before wicket decision awarded by umpire Iftikhar Malik.
Young left-hand medium-pacer Naeem Ashraf and the right-arm leg-spinner Shahid Afridi also took wickets, each to send the India ``A'' side reeling. Test off-spinner Arshad Khan picked up one scalp. Three batsmen were smartly run out by the Pakistani fielders. The most outstanding display in the field was that of wicketkeeper Humayun Farhat, who not only stumped top-scorer Rohan Gavaskar but also helped in dismissing Paranjape and Bahutule by holding good catches.
Saleem Elahi played one of the best knocks of his career. He collared the Indian bowling efficiently, cutting and driving the ball with the artistic ease. Before Saleem found a reliable companion Muhammad Husain, young Hasan Raza (3) also got out. Hasan signalled towards his shoulder and did not walk when the umpire raised his finger to declare him caught by Prasad off Agarkar. The match-referee Sultan Rana fined Hasan 50 per cent of his match-fee for showing dissent to the umpire.