India avoid whitewash, beat Pak by 10 runs - Is a batting collapse contagio- Navbharat Times Photodhamal

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Is a batting collapse contagious? Has ever a dead rubber produced such thrilling cricket? Are India's bowlers and fielders finally learning to shrug off the repeated failures of their batsmen? Does this formidable Pakistan team tend to crack like egg shells under pressure?

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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These were the questions left suspended in the cold evening fog at the Ferozeshah Kotla after India pulled off a near-miraculous 10-run win on Sunday. In a game of late twists and exasperating turns, the Pakistan batsmen made heavy weather of the modest 168-run chase, throwing it all away in the end to help India avoid the ignominy of a series whitewash on home soil.

Pic Courtesy : PTI

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Man of the Match MS Dhoni's words a day before the game, on how Pakistan could be vulnerable if India ever managed to put pressure on them, turned out to be prophetic as the visitors first recovered from 14/2 before Misbah-ul Haq fell to Ashwin to make it 113/4, triggering an inexplicable panic attack in the ranks.

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Pakistan's top order plans had gone awry with Mohammad Hafeez coming in late to bat after sustaining a finger injury, and when Umar Akmal fell trying to give Jadeja the charge with the score at 125/6, India closed in for the kill. But Rahane dropped Hafeez at leg-slip off Ashwin and it seemed Pakistan would squeeze through after all. After 46 overs Pakistan needed to score at a run a ball with Hafeez and Umar Gul at the crease and four wickets in hand. What had seemed like a comfortable chase at one point was now an adrenaline-surged test of nerves, but definitely not beyond Pakistan.

Pic Courtesy : PTI

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In the dramatic dying moments of the game, Ishant Sharma got an increasingly tense Gul to hole out at long on, and India's debutant pacer Shami Ahmed, who had come up with a nippy, impressive opening spell, sent back Saeed Ajmal.

Pic Courtesy : PTI