ABU DHABI, April 20: It was a total reversal of fortunes in the second One-day International of the ‘Friendship Series’ when India outplayed Pakistan on Wednesday night to square the two-match series and share the trophy at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium (partly reported in Thursday’s edition).

If Pakistan coasted home in the first ODI by six wickets, India's 51-run victory was too achieved with considerable ease. Pakistan were never in the hunt chasing a not-to-formidable target of 270.

The outcome did not surprise the almost packed house and those who watched on their TV sets. Everyone believed that India will win the second ODI and the 1-1 finish was a foregone conclusion to make both sides happy. Even the bookies who operated here illegally had predicted the same outcome.

Pakistan were bowled out for 218 with still 28 balls remaining.

Pakistan's inconsistent batting again showed its fragilities. Wickets fell at regular intervals and any hopes of an improbable victory vanished when Mohammad Yousuf failed for the second time in a row to make it five down for 108.

The continued tinkering with the batting order too played its part in the defeat. Shahid Afridi, promoted to bat at number three backfired. The mercurial all-rounder showed his vulnerability when facing new ball. His best place is in the middle order and it is where he should bat irrespective of the circumstances.

Afridi's dismissal was big blow and from then it was an uphill struggle for the incoming batsmen with the exception of skipper Inzamamul Haq, who came at number five, after first match hero Younis Khan failed.

Inzamam batted like a champion but none of the other batsmen stayed with him long enough to challenge the Indians. As long as he was at the crease Pakistan had hopes of snatching a dramatic victory but when he ran himself out for a brilliant 79 off 91 deliveries it was all over bar the shouting. He clubbed five fours and a massive six.

Incidentally, Pakistan's batting bankruptcy in much friendlier conditions than that of Tuesday's opening encounter could be measured that the highest partnership of the innings was between Inzamam and Rana Navedul Hasan for the eighth wicket that yielded 50 runs.

Rana Naved, in fact, was the dominant partner outscoring his more illustrious skipper hammering 27 off 17 balls and slammed three fours and a six.

India, like Pakistan in the first ODI, fully deserved their victory on Wednesday. The foundation of the success was laid by the opening stand. Rahul Dravid and his teammates bowled and fielded better second time around and Yuvraj Singh's catch to dismiss Shoaib Malik was an outstanding effort.

Such catches win matches and it was certainly the turning point of the tournament.

Irfan Pathan, who had a horrid time in the first ODI, came good and was the best of the bowlers grabbing three wickets for 35.

The left-arm paceman started Pakistan's slide by removing Imran Farhat and the dangerous Afridi to put Pakistan on the defensive from the word go.

The loss of the first ODI had its effect on the Indians who definitely looked sharper and played to a game-plan throughout.

Dravid was declared Man-of-the-Match for his captain's innings of 92 while his counterpart Inzamam had the consolation of being voted Man-of-the-Series for being the top run-getter of the two-match series.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

V. Sehwag b Afridi 73

R. Dravid b Asif 92

M.S. Dhoni b Rana Naved 59

Yuvraj Singh c Asif b Rana Naved 24

S.K. Raina run out 6

Irfan Pathan not out 7

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-1) 8

TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 269

FALL OF WKTS: 1-138, 2-228, 3-234, 4-255, 5-269.

DID NOT BAT: Y. Venugopal Rao, R.R. Powar, A.B. Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, S. Sreesanth.

BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 10-2-57-1; Rana Navedul Hasan 10-2-45-2 (1w); Rao Iftikhar 10-1-51-0; Abdul Razzaq 5-0-39-0; Shahid Afridi 10-0-39-1; Shoaib Malik 5-0-31-0.

PAKISTAN:

Shoaib Malik c Yuvraj b Powar 45

Imran Farhat lbw b Pathan 8

Shahid Afridi b Pathan 0

Younis Khan c Dhoni b Agarkar 5

Inzamamul Haq run out 79

Mohammad Yousuf c Raina b Powar 5

Kamran Akmal c Dravid b Harbhajan 18

Abdul Razzaq c sub (M. Kaif) b Powar 1

Rana Navedul Hasan c Rao b Pathan 27

Rao Iftikhar b Sreesanth 11

Mohammad Asif not out 1

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-11, NB-2) 18

TOTAL (all out, 45.2 overs) 218

FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-23, 3-45, 4-91, 5-108, 6-147, 7-148, 8-198, 9-209.

BOWLING: Irfan Pathan 10-0-35–3; Sreesanth 7.2-0-30-1 (2nb); Agarkar 8-1-30-1 (2w); Harbhajan Singh 10-0-57-1 (1w); Powar 10-0-61-3 (4w).

RESULT: India won by 51 runs to level series 1-1.

UMPIRES: R.E. Koertzen and B.G. Jerling (both South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: T.H. Wijewardene (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Rahul Dravid.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Inzamamul Haq.

FIRST MATCH: Pakistan won by six wickets.