The 2008-09 cricket season started with the Kitply Cup where Bangladesh hosted its cricketing giant neighbors India and Pakistan. The series came as a breezer for many players of the teams after their hectic T20 schedule. Pakistan seemed determined to better their last performance in the series against India where they lost 3-2. India expected a crackling fresh start to a jam-packed cricketing year ahead. Bangladesh which were never the favourites relied on weather and Duckworth-Lewis for saving grace.

In the opening match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the hosts were razed by 70 runs by Pakistan in a match cut-short by rain. Firing half-centuries by Salman Butt(70) and Mohammad Yousuf (59) brought Pakistan to a challenging 233 in a 40-40 affair. They then stopped Bangladesh at 163 for 8 in 40 overs thus registering their 12th consecutive ODI win. India stopped the Pakistan victory wheel in the next match where they amassed 330 runs for victory.

A 155-run partnership between Virender Sehwag (89) and Gautam Gambhir (62) thrusted India to an intimidating total. In reply, only Shoaib Malik posted a decent score of 53 on the scoreboard. Praveen Kumar (4-53) and Piyush Chawla (4-40) did the final damage. In the next match between Bangladesh and India, Gambhir’s quick century rushed India to a 7-wicket victory over the minnows. India achieved the modest target of 223 with 14.3 overs to spare. The victory paved an easy path for India to the finals. Pakistan earned its seat in the finals by the virtue of its victory on Bangladesh.

The final was quite a showdown for the Dhoni’s boys as they had to swallow a 25-run loss to Pakistan. Centuries by Salman Butt (129 retired hurt) and Younis Khan (108) drove Pakistan to 315 for three, India repeated its usual tendency of performing great in the series and faltering in the final and got wrapped up for 290. Dhoni’s 64 off 59 balls and Yuvraj’s 59 off 56 balls could not save the sinking Indian ship.

Younis Khan was awarded the Man of the Match while Salman Butt was decided as the Man of the Series. Indian captain Dhoni blamed the batsmen for the defeat in the final and admitted tactical mistakes on his part. 

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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