Sehwag departs after steady start
Dambulla: Opener Salman Butt top-scored with 74 and Kamran Akmal hit 51 off 41 balls as Pakistanmade 267 against India in a key Asia Cup one-day match on Saturday.
Butt gave his team a fine start and Akmal provided the fireworks towards the end before Pakistan were bowled out in 49.3 overs after electing to bat in the day-night match in Dambulla. Pakistan, who lost their first match to Sri Lanka, must win to stay afloat in the four-nation tournament.Victory for India will ensure them a place in the June 24 final alongside hosts Sri Lanka.
Barely 2,000 Sri Lankan fans were on hand to watch a rare clash between the arch-rivals, only their second one-day encounter in the past two years. The last time the two sides played, Pakistan beatIndia in the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa.
Pakistan's innings wavered midway after a sizzling start by Butt, who put on 71 for the first wicket with Imran Farhat and 73 for the second with former captain Shoaib Malik (39).
Pakistan were sitting comfortably at 144-1 in the 29th over when three wickets fell for the addition of 15 runs.
Malik was bowled by seamer Zaheer Khan, Butt was run out by a smart throw from bowler Ravindra Jadeja and Umar Amin was caught in the slips by Virat Kohli off Harbhajan Singh.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi led a charmed life to make 32. He was dropped by Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni when on five and then Zaheer spilled a return catch just before the batsman got out.
Afridi, who hit a century against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, celebrated his first escape by smashing Harbhajan for a four and six off successive deliveries.
Kamran Akmal ensured Pakistan posted a competitive total with a sparkling knock that contained three sixes and two boundaries.
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