Anwar slams 20th ODI ton, leads Pakistan to 273 for 7
Saturday, March 1 2003 17:39 Hrs (IST)

Centurion: Seasoned opener Saeed Anwar smashed his 20th One-day century as Pakistan scored 273 for seven from 50 overs in the World Cup match against arch-rivals India on Saturday.

The 33-year-old left-hander hit 101 at the overflowing SuperSport Park to draw level with rival captain Saurav Ganguly as the second highest century-maker behind another Indian Sachin Tendulkar's world record tally of Anwar celebrated his 50th match against India by completing 2,000 runs against the old foe as he held the innings together after Pakistan won the toss and elected to take first strike.

"Playing against India brings out the best in me," Anwar said. "It was really good to get a hundred today but hope we can also win." Some 22,000 fans, many of whom had travelled all the way from India and Pakistan, were at hand to watch the first international between the warring South Asian neighbours since June, 2000.

Pakistan slipped to 98 for three before Yousuf Youhana joined Anwar to retrieve the situation with a 73-run stand for the fourth wicket. Yousuf made 25 when he was caught on the square-leg fence off Javagal Srinath, while Anwar was bowled by Ashish Nehra playing a tired defensive stroke soon after he reached his century.

Part-time spinner Dinesh Mongia removed 23-year-old birthday boy Shahid Afridi for nine as Pakistan was pegged back to 208-6 in the 42nd over. But Younis Khan (32) and Rashid Latif (29 not out) put on 48 off 41 balls to lift the total past the 250-run mark before Wasim Akram took boundaries off the last two balls of the innings from Nehra.

Pakistan got its best start of the tournament against a major team when Taufiq Umar helped Anwar put on 58 for the first wicket by the 11th over. The pair took advantage of a nervous start by seamer Zaheer Khan who bowled three wides and as many no balls in his first two overs.

Zaheer hit back in his second spell when he clean bowled Taufiq for 22 with one that dipped in sharply and found the gap between bat and pad.

Pakistan moved to a comfortable 90 for one in the 21st when two wickets fell in the space of eight runs, including the unfortunate run out of Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Inzamam rushed to the wicket determined to get over the lean trot which has seen him make just 10 runs in the tournament. He smashed his first delivery from Anil Kumble straight back over the bowler's head for a boundary, but failed to last the over when Anwar did not respond to his call for a single.

A distraught Inzamam trudged back slowly back to the pavilion as the giant scoreboard highlighted the 35th run out in his otherwise brilliant career.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Kumble in Harbhajan out; Younis wins toss, opts to bat