The New Nation - Internet Edition

BBC Online

Shoaib Malik produced a fine all-round display to inspire his side to a 31-run win as Pakistan salvaged some pride from their 3-2 series defeat in India.

Malik fired 89 off just 82 balls as he and Mohammad Yousuf shared a record fourth-wicket stand against India of 168 in helping Pakistan to 306-6.

India always looked like struggling after Sohail Tanvir took 3-42 early on.

Yuvraj Singh (50) and Rohit Sharma (52) provided some hope, but skipper Malik (3-61) helped bowl them out for 275.

It brought muted celebrations from the visitors, who will not be happy despite their victorious finale following their first one-day series defeat in India for 24 years.

That result had already been secured by the hosts' six-wicket win in Gwalior on Thursday.

And, with that in mind, the hosts took the opportunity to give their fringe players a match, with debutant Praneev Kumar joined by Sharma, Murali Kartik and Sree Santh in the starting XI.

That meant Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Zaheer Khan could watch from the sidelines, alongside Pakistan stars Shoaib Akhtar, Younus Khan and Shahid Afridi.