2125: Unsurprisingly, Shoaib Malik is named man of the match for his superb 128. That's the end of my stint today, thanks for your company.

2123: Interesting admission from MS Dhoni, who said he has never seen so many runs scored from the cut shot in a match.

2117: So in the end a comprehensive victory for the World Twenty20 champions. For me, the telling contributions were not from Mohammad Yousuf or Shoaib Malik, but the control and variation of spinners Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal. The Indian inquest has already started, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side can still seek redemption with victories over the West Indies and Australia to secure their semi-final berth. But their bowling was distinctly average, Harbhajan in particular off-key. Barring a horrendous defeat by West Indies, Pakistan are almost certain to feature in the last four.

Yousuf Shah, TMS inbox: "Shall I say well done to Pakistani batsmen, bowlers or to Younus Khan who made strong Indian batsmen struggle?"

44.5 overs: India 248 all out Wicket Harbhajan bowled Ajmal 13
Valiant batting from Harbhajan, who cracks Ajmal through cover for four. But he is cleaned up two balls later attempting a reverse sweep and that's it - Pakistan have won by 54 runs. Brilliant victory from Pakistan, who have thoroughly outclassed their rivals in every department.

44 overs: India 244-9 Wicket Sharma b Rana 0
Quite sensational bowling from Rana, who spears a yorker right at new man Ishant Sharma's feet and knocks out his leg stump. No shame in that Ishant, that would've had every top order batsmen back in the pavilion.

43.4 overs: India 243-8 Wicket RP Singh ct Yousuf b Rana 2
RP makes room on the leg side but Rana follows his path, but the tail-ender manages to squirt a single down to long-on. Harbhajan is too early on a huge leg-side smear, hitting the ball straight back at the bowler for no run. Left with no option but to slog, RP perishes with mis-hit cross-batted shot into the hands of Mohammad Yousuf, who takes a good low catch on the run at deep mid-wicket. The Pakistanis go absolutely ballistic.

43 overs: India 241-7
Lovely bowling from Saeed Ajmal, bamboozling new man RP Singh with two successive doosras. Just three runs from the over, two wides and a single through cover.

42 overs: India 238-7 Wicket Dravid run out (Gul) 76
Bit of an impromptu meeting as Younus Khan points and stares as he shifts his field to accommodate his two men outside of the 30m circle. Two punched drives from Dravid sees the ex-India skipper collect three to move to 73, while Harbhajan attempts to saunter down the track and smash Rana back towards Johannesburg, but twice fails to make contact with the ball. Dravid creams a drive through the covers for two and turns for a third, only for Harbhajan to send him back with the throw on its way in from the deep. Kamran Akmal whips off the bails and Steve Davis goes to the third umpire. And Dravid's a couple of inches short of his ground. Looks like it's the end of India's run chase.

41 overs: India 232-6
More luck for Dravid, who spoons yet another mis-hit drive into space for a single off Mohammad Aamir. The tall left-arm seamer is bowling with serious wheels, hitting the splice of Harbhajan's bat before the off-spinner smears a paddle over mid-wicket for a couple. India need 71 off 54 balls to win. Considering Pakistan hit 84 from their final 10 overs, it's still very possible. Batting powerplay is taken.

40 overs: India 229-6
Beautiful shot from Dravid, who clips the returning Rana off his pads beyond the dive of deep square leg for four, while Harbhajan returns the strike to his senior partner with a nice dab to third man. More singles follow and the run-rate lowers to 7.37. So when will the batting powerplay be taken?

39 overs: India 220-6
New man Harbhajan Singh, blessed with an eye for a big hit, pushes a drive to mid-off to get off the mark, ending a potentially match-changing over from the teenage seamer. India now need 7.52 an over, something will have to give very soon.

38.2 overs: India 218-6 Wicket Pathan ct sub (Misbah-ul-Haq) b Aamir 5
Pathan's back in the pavilion as a thick outside edge from an attempted drive is snaffled by Misbah-ul-Haq, on as a substitute, at a wide second slip. Top catch and is that the end of India's hopes of victory?

38 overs: India 217-5
Pathan smears a leg-side Afridi delivery over mid-wicket, but cannot beat the man stationed on the boundary. Another leading Dravid edge once again drops to safety with cover patrolling the boundary, much to Afridi's chagrin. Six runs - all singles - and that's the end of a quite brilliant spell from Pakistan's Twenty20 captain.

37 overs: India 212-5
Mohammad Aamir returns and sees Dravid push a thick outside edge through cover point for a single. The teenager shaves the outside of Pathan's bat with a beauty which holds its line outside off stump.

36 overs: India 208-5
Just seen a replay of Raina's dismissal and that's a tough one, you could call that out or not out depending on which side of the border you sit on. Pakistan have reined back the run-scoring and a tight Afridi over leaks just three runs, with new man Yusuf Pathan scoring his first run of the game.

35 overs: India 205-5 Wicket Raina lbw Ajmal 46
Momentary salvation for Pakistan with the mandatory 35-over ball change - and Ajmal has struck! He sends down a quicker yorker which raps Raina in front, but it looks like a massive inside edge before the pad. However, umpire Steve Davis doesn't think so and up goes the finger, much to Raina's astonishment.

34 overs: India 203-4
Intelligent batting from Rahul Dravid, playing with soft hands to give the bludgeoning Raina the strike to Shahid Afridi. The left-hander once again uses his feet but completely mis-hits his drive, picking up a single for his efforts.

33 overs: India 199-4
Wallop! What an over - could this be the turning point? Suresh Raina lashes two successive boundaries - the first swept off middle stump over mid-wicket before using his feet to clear extra cover - and then unleashes another huge six with a slog-sweep over the deep mid-wicket boundary. Sensational batting, Pakistani heads are dropping.

32 overs: India 185-4
Dravid brings up his half century with a smart push through to deep cover for a single before punching a double through extra cover off Afridi. No turn for the leggie, which means the dew is having a significant effect on the bowlers. Crucial time for Younus, what next with Gul spraying all over the place like a teenage graffiti artist?

31 overs: India 181-4
Dravid moves to within a run of his 82nd one-day half ton with a push off his pads for a single off Gul, who once again oversteps at the most inopportune moment with Raina on strike - and the left-hander clubs a short of a length delivery over point and past the sprawling Mohammad Aamir, stationed on the deep cover boundary, who somewhat naively attempts to takes the catch when it wouldn't have mattered. Close call for Raina, who pushes a backward defence just beyond the bowler's follow-through.

30 overs: India 174-4
Droplets of dew all over the field now, a wet ball is the last thing the spinners and seamers want. Raina does his best to ensure more moisture is applied to the white ball with a quite gorgeous front-foot drive through extra cover for his second boundary to move to 23. Game still very much on.

29 overs: India 166-4
Umar Gul returns but sends down a leg-side wide to Raina, who then launches a wide delivery outside off stump high over point, down to the vacant boundary for a much-needed four, India's first in 11 overs. He follows that up with a quite sensational maximum, launching the ball high over the bowler's head for a 91m-long six, the second longest of the tournament.

28 overs: India 155-4
The PA system switches to a few Bollywood favourites, with huge cheers erupting around the ground. Is there anywhere on this planet where you will never find an Indian or Pakistani? Afridi continues to tease but the Indian batsmen are not taking the bait, adding five singles from the over.

27 overs: India 150-4
Another front-foot aberration, this time from Shoaib Malik, gifts Dravid a free hit. But an excellent comeback from the ex-skipper, spearing a fast yorker at Dravid's feet as he advances down the track. Dravid moves into the 40s with a tidy sweep for two while Raina steals the strike with a competent cut for a single off the last ball of the over. Dravid is in for the long haul, it's more a matter of who will be there with him should India get within sniffing distance of his sizeable target.

26 overs: India 143-4
Afridi drops short, but Raina cannot cash in as he mis-times his pull for a single. The required run-rate is edging its way towards seven-an-over right now as Afridi has a half lbw shout turned down after making the ball turn sharply towards Raina from off stump.

25 overs: India 138-4
Excellent bowling change from Younus Khan, bringing in centurion Shoaib Malik to exploit this very spin-friendly wicket. He tosses the ball up with plenty of flight, which Dravid opts to play conservatively, pushing a couple behind backward of square.

24 overs: India 134-4
At first sight there was plenty of uncertainty in my mind about that dismissal. But having watched the replay, Dhoni was plumb in front, despite the fact he was a good couple of yards out of his crease. Excellent decision from umpire Taufel and new man Suersh Raina has about two billion eyes on his innings right now.

23.4 overs: India 133-4 Wicket Dhoni lbw Afridi 3
More Afridi magic as he traps Dhoni attempting to charge down the track. Umpire Simon Taufel takes his time considering the appeal before lofting his right finger, Afridi looks as if he's just found the winning numbers to next week's lottery numbers. And why wouldn't he?

23 overs: India 131-3
The India captain has reined in his swashbuckling strokeplay in the early stages, preferring instead to opt for safety and play himself in before the aerial assault. However, he's fortunate to keep his wicket as he edges a superb Ajmal doosra into the gloves of Kamran Akmal, but the wicketkeeper cannot quite cling on for what would have been a ripper of a catch.

22 overs: India 127-3
Tail up, there's real purpose in Afridi's stride as he once again beats the outside edge of Dravid's bat with another fizzing leggie. Brilliant bowling and new man and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni plays his first delivery with notable caution.

21.3 overs: India 126-3 Wicket Kohli ct Gul b Afridi 16
Kohli skips down the track and attempts to loft Afridi over long on, but doesn't get enough willow on his aerial straight drive as the ball dips into the hands of Umar Gul, who does his best impression of a man who really doesn't to catch the ball, but just about clings on at the fourth attempt.

21 overs: India 125-2
Ajmal gets a delivery to spit off the surface past Kohli's outside edge as the duo, batting with a sizeable pinch of caution, add three from the over.

20 overs: India 122-2
Afridi bounds in beats Dravid all ends up with a brute of a leg-break, pitching on middle and leg and fizzing past the edge of Dravid's blade and the off stump. Afridi really looks the part with the ball right now, floating up tempting leg-breaks with discernable turn. Another excellent over for Pakistan.

19 overs: India 120-2
Excellent over from Ajmal, throwing up plenty of loop and dip and neither batsman can find anything loose to fashion for more than a single.

From NightRider on 606: "I am fine with Dravid's selection - I just want him to keep it going and take a single or two and not get the pressure too tight and crumble."

18 overs: India 116-2
Looks like it's time for Afridi O'Clock as Shahid loosens up at point. A smart leg cutter flirts outrageously with the edge of Kohli's bat, but the Delhi batsman has his revenge a couple of deliveries later, opening the face of his bat and guiding the ball past Mohammad Yousuf at a wide second/third slip for a fine four past third man. Kohli once again plays with soft hands and wants a single, but is sent back halfway down the track by partner Dravid and is only saved when Younus' throw from cover misses the stumps. One from the Owais Shah school of running.

17 overs: India 110-2
Excellent running from Kohli, turning an easy single into a risky double to long-on off Saeed Ajmal to ensure the scoreboard is ticking over at a healthy rate.

16 overs: India 105-2
Gul oversteps yet again as Virat Kohli opens the face of his bat and drops a single down to third man. Replays once again show the call was particularly harsh on Gul. However, Dravid cashes in, clearing his front leg and dispatching a length delivery on middle stump high over mid-on for four which brings up the Indian ton. Wonder what sort of inner monologue is going on inside of Younus' head right now... Good running from Kohli, playing a delivery with soft hands to nick the strike in the following over.

15 overs: India 97-2
Dravid will have to pull out the one-day innings of his life batting alongside 20-year-old Kohli. The veteran guides a cheeky sweep fine past fine leg four off Saeed Ajmal, but the offie is a difficult man to dispatch, offering nothing else to hit apart from singles.

14 overs: India 90-2
Virat Kohli is the new man at the crease as Dravid steals a single to nick the strike. The Pakistanis have a huge spring in their steps right now.

13.5 overs: India 90-2 Wicket Gambhir run out (Younus) 57
Disdainful from Gambhir, who steers a straight ball from Gul between mid-wicket and mid-on four four. Chris, below, she's a lovely lady whose place is among the stars. Mind you, Ursula Minor sounds like a Welsh cabaret singer. Disaster strikes for India as Rahul Dravid sends back Gambhir after taking a couple of steps down the track with a drive to Younus Khan at mid-off, but the left-hander is too far down the track as the Pakistani captain's superb direct hit catches him well short of his ground. Up goes the finger of Simon Taufel. Gambhir is livid and exchanges angry words with a spectator on his way back to the pavilion.

Chris the drummer, TMS inbox: "Loving the new star constellation of Ursula Minor - is that near Ursula Andress?!!"

13 overs: India 84-1
With his seamers leaking runs like a green backpacker in the backstreets of Lahore, Younus Khan turns to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. Although both Yusuf Pathan and Harbhajan Singh managed to find turn, neither troubled Yousuf or Shoaib in full flow. Dravid steals a single with a fortunate inside down to short fine leg attempting to play through the off side as Ajmal finds bounce and turn to flirt with the outside edge of Gambhir's bat. Excellent opening over from the wily tweaker.

12 overs: India 83-1
Better over for Pakistan with the bowling powerplay in full force as Rana runs his fingers over the seam and beats the outside edge of Gambhir's bat. Relative calm is restored following the maelstrom of the past few overs with just two runs from the over.

11 overs: India 81-1
Umar Gul, the leading wicket-taker of the World Twenty20 a few months ago, is introduced for his first joust and sees his first delivery - short of a length on off stump - beautifully thumped away off the back foot by Gambhir through extra cover for four, his sixth of the innings to move to 44. More indiscipline from Pakistan's bowlers as Gul oversteps, handing Gambhir the opportunity to free his arms. Oh lordy - what a shot! Gambhir once again clears his front leg and launches the ball towards Ursa Minor and the ends of the universe, with the ball eventually dropping in the third row over deep mid-wicket for six and bring up his 16h one-day half century. I don't think I have ever seen a ball travel so high in the air and just about clear the ropes. Cue some very anxious Pakistani faces, while Shahid Afridi offers some terse advice to his fast-bowling colleague.

10 overs: India 65-1
Rahul Dravid pushes his 36-year-old legs to pick up a couple behind square off Rana, but fails to dispatch a juicy long-hop on middle stump off the last delivery of the over, hitting the ball straight to mid-wicket. Better over for Pakistan, mostly because of Gambhir's early single in the over.

From midas_55 on 606: "I expect this to be a thriller. Dew factor can be decisive since Pakistan have two spinners, it may not be easy for them to hold the ball if it's wet."

9 overs: India 62-1
Aamir bangs the ball in short and succeeds in tempting a top-edge from a Gautam Gambhir pull, but the left-hander gets enough willow to clear Kamran Akmal's head and roll way for four past the onrushing fine leg. Another front-foot no-ball gives Gambhir the opportunity to launch into a free hit. Oh cripes - Gambhir has absolutely murdered the ball over mid-wicket for six - the ball could not have been more than 10-foot off the ground so flat was its trajectory. And it's another no-ball too! Harsh call from Steve Davis as there seemed to be enough of Aamir's heel behind the popping crease. Good comeback from the teenager, who fools Gambhir with a slower ball. He manages to stem the run flow as Dravid scratches unconvincingly around the crease.

8 overs: India 49-1
Rana's in danger of losing his voice as he rasps a thunderous lbw appeal to a ball which looks like it pitched outside leg. Sure enough, Simon Taufel agrees, although Rana looks as if someone has stolen his cheese sandwich from under his nose. Lovely forcing shot off the back foot from Gambhir, rolling away past point for his fourth boundary to move to 26, although his second attempt to skip down the pitch and hit over the top of mid-on/off fails as he wafts at nothing but fresh Centurion air.

7 overs: India 44-1
Dravid's fingers are stung by a sharp Aamir delivery which spits alarmingly off the deck, but the teenager oversteps looking for that extra inch of pace, allowing Gautam Gambhir to smear the resulting free-hit high over mid-off for a boundary. Lovely shot, clearing his front leg out of the way to create extra space for the hefty back-swing. Gambhir looks in excellent nick, everything seems to be coming out of the middle of his bat. To Tayo, in Nairobi, the batting powerplay is a five-over period when the fielding team can only have two fielders outside the 30m circle. The batting team can take it at anytime after the mandatory 10-over powerplay at the start of the innings.

Selena, Manchester, TMS inbox: "The Ashes is a fantastic competition but you can't beat Pakistan v India matches for sheer entertainment. Once again we have a match that both teams would rather die than lose with the hopes of both nations resting on the shoulders of their boys. Pakistan have given a masterclass in ODI cricket so far and with the loss of Tendulkar this looks like a very good win for the Pakistanis. I'm rooting for them especially after the terrorist attacks this morning in their homeland. The nation deserves some good news."

6 overs: India 37-1
Intelligent bowling from Rana, mixing up his pace and variations to keep Gambhir second guessing, although the left-hander opens the face of his bat and glides a double to third man. Gambhir adds a couple more with a gentle push off his pads through mid-wicket, while an awful short delivery bounces high over Gambhir's head, over the outstretched right glove of the diminutive Kamran Akmal for five wides.

5 overs: India 28-1
Wonderful delivery from Aamir, imparting the subtlest amount of deviation off the pitch, along with the left-armer's angle from over the wicket, to kiss the edge of Tendulkar's bat. In comes Rahul Dravid, who made his one-day debut when Aamir was four. Four?! That's just wrong. After a flagrant waft at a wide delivery outside off stump, "The Wall" hammers a forcing shot of the back foot through point for four.

4.1 overs: India 23-1 Wicket Tendulkar ct K Akmal b Aamir 8
Aamir finds the perfect line outside off stump as Tendulkar edges a delivery into Akmal's gloves. The Pakistanis go wild - and why wouldn't you? Sudden silence from the Indian contingent around Centurion.

4 overs: India 23-0
Lovely wristy flick from Tendulkar for a single behind square as Rana strays. The newly thatched fast bowler then serves up a buffet ball with extra helps of gulab jamboo, a full toss on leg stump which Gautam Gambhir smears away for four.

Mohammed Zaman, Bury, TMS inbox: "As always an edge-of-the-seat exciting start to this match and will be great to see the two rival teams in the second half of this battle! All eyes are now on the behaviour of the pitch and the composure of the two teams!"

3 overs: India 17-0
Manners from Gautam Gambhir, who arrogantly flicks Aamir off middle and leg for a one-bounce four high over mid-wicket for four. Disdainful stroke. Gambhir attempts to skip down the track, but Aamir spots the early movement and serves up a useful quick bouncer which Gambhir ducks under. Aamir blows the Delhi Daredevils opener a kiss to boot, careful son - you know what these Indian boys have been reading over the past few days.

2 overs: India 9-0
Rana Naved shares the new ball and squares Tendulkar with a beauty which bites off the pitch, forcing Tendulkar to squirt a streaky single down to third man. However, he latches on to a short and wide delivery outside off stump, carving the ball behind backward point for the first boundary of the Indian innings.

1 over: India 3-0
Nice start from Mohammad Aamir, mixing up his deliveries to keep Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar guessing. No swing though, so the left-arm seamer concentrates on slanting the ball outside Tendulkar's off stump, although he strays on middle and leg as the world's leading one-day run-scorer gets off the mark with a push off his hip.

Matthew Wright, TMS inbox: "Gosh! I thought ODIs only lasted 50 overs per side, not 1720! Little mistake there."

1745: Hello you. We're back - India's openers Gautam Gambhir and one SR Tendulkar are at the crease, with the teenage Mohammad Aamir to bowl the first over.

1720: I'll be back in 20 - see you shortly.

1715: Take a bow Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik. After a soporific start, the duo gleaned 206 from 193 deliveries with a series of wonderful cross-bat shots square and behind square of a wicket. That target, with possibly the best bowling attack in the eight-team tournament, will be like scaling Mount Everest. In spikes. However, fast bowler Ashish Nehra believes the pitch has gained a bit of pace in the second half of the Pakistan innings, meaning the ball is easier to hit than it was in the first 25 overs. Plenty of responsibility on the shoulders of India's stellar batting line-up.

50 overs: Pakistan 302-9 Wicket Aamer ct Kohli b Ishant Sharma 0
Another good ball from Sharma, speared at Mohammad Aamer's feet, and the teenager spoons a simple catch to Virat Kohli at mid-off. And he finishes off a good over with a dot ball as Rana looks to create space on the leg side.

49.3 overs: Pakistan 301-8 Wicket Gul ct Raina b Ishant Sharma 0
Interesting reading the wagon wheel of scoring shots - only one boundary has come on the leg side - the other 15 are all on the other side of the wicket, especially behind backward square. And Ishant Sharma sends new man Umar Gul back to the pavilion as he spoons a catch to backward point, where Suresh Raina takes a safe catch running back.

49 overs: Pakistan 300-7 Wicket Shoaib Malik ct Pathan b Harbhajan 128
Oh dear, we seem to have lost pictures from Centurion, which isn't particularly encouraging in the climax of Pakistan's innings. Rana launches Harbhajan high over mid-off for four, but Shoaib Malik holes out attempting to launch a massive six over long-on, but only manages to locate Yusuf Pathan stationed five yards from the boundary. What an innings. If that doesn't win this match, then there's no justice in cricket. Oh yeah, pictures are back.

48 overs: Pakistan 291-6
Cute batting from new man Rana Naved, who cuts two behind square to ensure Shoaib Malik keeps the strike for the 49th over.

47.4 overs: Pakistan 289-6 Wicket Umar Akmal ct Dhoni b Nehra 0
Urgh! Awful bowling from Nehra, dising out a full toss ouside off stump for Malik to smother through point for four before his next delivery is dispatched over the mid-wicket boundary for his 16th four of the day. Good running from new man Umar Akmal ensures Shoaib keeps the strike following a misfield at long-on. However, Kamran Jr is back in the pavilion as he attempts a huge mooey over mid-off, but only manages to snick an outside edge for Dhoni's third catch.

47 overs: Pakistan 278-5 Wicket Afridi ct Dhoni b Pathan 4
Dhoni places his faith in off-spinner Yusuf Pathan, which he could come to regret. Needless to say, Shahid Afridi goes inside out with his very first delivery and blasts the ball over cover for four. But he's back in the hutch the very next delivery as the ball turns and follows him as he attempts to make room on the leg side, feathering an edge into the gloves of Dhoni.

46 overs: Pakistan 271-4 Wicket Yousuf bowled Nehra 87
Poor Ashish Nehra, I bet he wanted to hide in the dressing room when he saw umpire Steve Davis signal the batting powerplay. The run haemorrhaging continues as Mohammad Yousuf smears an full toss - an attempted yorker - off his leg stump past mid-wicket for four. But the bearded batting genius is back in the dressing room the next ball as he is cleaned up by an intelligent slower ball attempting to make room to cut through the off side. But the damage has been done - and in comes Shahid Afridi...

45 overs: Pakistan 261-3
Rank filth from Harbhajan, who drops short outside off stump, allowing Yousuf to lift the ball high over cover for four. He adds a couple more with a crafty reverse sweep, it's about as easy as a TV telephone phone-in quiz right now. And here comes the batting powerplay. Pakistani pyrotechnics to come - time to reach for the crash helmets...

Paul, Lancs, TMS inbox: "Has your BBC colleague actually tried taking candy from a baby recently? It's can be a legal minefield. You reporters need to get your fact straight."

45 overs: Pakistan 261-3
Rank filth from Harbhajan, who drops short outside off stump, allowing Yousuf to lift the ball high over cover for four. He adds a couple more with a crafty reverse sweep, it's about as easy as a TV telephone phone-in quiz right now. And here comes the powerplays. Pakistani pyrotechnics to come - time to reach for the crash helmets...

44 overs: Pakistan 252-3
A luxuriant square drive from Mohammad Yousuf off RP Singh races away for his fifth boundary of the day while Virat Kohli puts down a seriously difficult chance at backward point off Shoaib. Replays suggest Kohli did ridiculously well to cut off the boundary, let alone cling on for the catch. Wallop! Shoaib takes a step back in his crease and absolutely marmalises the bowler back over his head for a brutal boundary. If this was a boxing match, it would have been stopped by now...

43 overs: Pakistan 241-3
Quite brilliant from Shoaib, who scythes a wide delivery outside off stump down to the deep backward point boundary for his 13th boundary and bring up his seventh one-day international century. The all-rounder will want to take that part of the ground home with him tonight, although his proficiency in that are says more about India's profligate bowling than anything else as Harbhajan concedes 11 from a very ordinary over.

42 overs: Pakistan 230-3
Ashish Nehra restores some semblance of control back to India's performance and almost snares a wicket as Shoaib Malik plays an ugly swipe/pull to a short delivery, but only succeeds in spooning the ball high in the air just beyond the inrushing Gautam Gambhir at fine leg. Still no word on the powerplay though.

41 overs: Pakistan 225-3
DJ's Jean's "The Launch" rings around Centurion Park as Shoaib moves into the 90s with yet another boundary to deep backward point, this time off Yusuf Pathan. India are all over the place right now - and we still have the powerplay to come.

40 overs: Pakistan 217-3
Oh the sheer craft of strokeplay...Shoaib turns his supple wrists and gently eases a full-toss on off stump from RP Singh behind square before an incredible front-foot cut shot pierces between point and deep cover for his 11th boundary. Exceptional timing too, neither were hit with menace.

39 overs: Pakistan 208-3
"This is just taking candy from a baby" says the man to my right - and he's absolutely spot on. Too wide from Harbhajan as Shoaib once again cuts through point for four, he has had a veritable feast of runs through that area today. Next ball he skips down the track and hits the off-spinner back over his head for what looks like another boundary, only for a quite brilliant diving stop from Yusuf Pathan running around from long-on to prevent two further runs.

38 overs: Pakistan 200-3
Stand and deliver from Yousuf, who hammers a half volley from RP Singh high over mid-on's head for four. Only a good diving stop from Gautam Gambhir prevents Yousuf from adding his fifth boundary, but nonetheless picks up two for his efforts. So when will Pakistan take the batting powerplay? Yousuf brings up the double ton with a pull down to fine leg.

37 overs: Pakistan 190-3
Shoaib Malik has turned on the burners, guiding another wonderful cut through backward point off the ineffective Harbhajan, whose figures are nothing less than ordinary right now.

36 overs: Pakistan 183-3
Whoops! Sorry India fans, wrong graphic for Yousuf's 50, I apologise for getting your hopes up for a moment. Meanwhile, Shoaib brings up his 32nd one-day 50 as he hammers a rank long-hop outside off stump from the returning Ishant Sharma behind square for four. More dreary filth from the fast bowler, who does exactly the same a couple of balls later, dispatched with more power by Shoaib in the same area for his sixth boundary. Number seven follows as Sharma goes around the wicket, but once again drops short and wide, allowing Shoaib to stretch his arms, although this time in more unconvincing fashion as a thick outside edge flies high over a vacant slips cordon for four. Huge over for Pakistan, who are on the cusp of a mammoth total.

35 overs: Pakistan 169-3
Yousuf brings up his 50 from 55 deliveries, featuring just three boundaries, which exemplifies his precision placement. The run-scoring relents for an over as the Pakistani pair exchange three singles off Harbhajan. Blimey, check out the batting to come - the lusty blade of Boom Boom and the nascent talent of Umar Akmal. It's all looking very rosy for anyone following the men in green.

34 overs: Pakistan 166-3
More dreamy late cuts from Yousuf who, like an artist with a fine brush, just dabs with soft hands fine past the vacant gully area for four. Shoaib brings up the century partnership with a more conventional cut through backward point for the second boundary of the over. Wonderful batting from these two, no risks, playing the percentages and latching on to anything with width. India are in a spot of bother.

33 overs: Pakistan 154-3
A change of ends for Harbhajan, although it seems to have minimal effect on the Pakistani duo as Shoaib runs another subtle late cut fine past the gloves of Dhoni for four as the ex-captain moves to within five runs from of his 32nd one-day fifty. Seven more runs and Bhajji of Jalandhar looks utterly perplexed, like someone has thrown him Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum to read in a day. Time for drinks.

32 overs: Pakistan 147-3
Welcome back Mohammad Yousuf, how you have been missed in your enforced international hiatus. The 35-year-old opens the face of the bat and guides the ball fine past third man for such a classy four off the sunglass-wearing Yusuf Pathan - and he's hardly broken sweat. More delicate late cuts from Shoaib and Pakistan are in total control right now. Meanwhile, Australia finally seem to be on course for victory over West Indies in Johannesburg, though it's been a tough old match for Ricky Ponting's men. With Travis Dowlin finally removed by Brett Lee, the Windies need an improbable 100 runs, exactly, from the last 13 overs with six wickets in hand. Johannesburg scorecard

31 overs: Pakistan 139-3
After the drudgery of watching singles with the tweakers, Dhoni turns to Ashish Nehra to break this belligerent fourth-wicket duo, but guess what? More singles, although Yousuf doubles up with a well-placed steer down to third man. The last boundary off the bat came in the 22nd over, which seems like an ice age away.

Amir Mir, TMS inbox: "Pakistan are in full control now, these two will get passed 50 and try and reach the 100 mark. That will then bring in Akmal and Boom-Boom to shoot Pakistan passed 320."

30 overs: Pakistan 134-3
Smart take from Dhoni as Harbhajan once again sprays a wild delivery down leg side, a ball which Yousuf attempts to sweep but completely loses balance and falls out of his crease. Dhoni throws the ball at the stumps, but the ball misses comfortably and Yousuf's bat had returned inside his ground anyway. Bhajji goes around the wicket, but still can't prevent the singles. That's another five from the over, it's about as lively as an autopsy right now.

29 overs: Pakistan 129-3
The seeds of a match-winning stand are being sown by Shoaib and Yousuf, both of whom look well set to launch a huge assault in the final 10 overs should they not give their wickets away. They milk four more runs, all singles, off Yusuf Pathan.

28 overs: Pakistan 125-3
Brilliant diving stop from Virat Kohli at short fine leg as Shoaib Malik's fine sweep looks destined to cross the boundary. Bit of comedy follows as Dhoni gathers Kohli's return and flings his glove, rather than the ball, at Harbhajan at the non-striker's end. Encouraging turn for the off-spinner, but his lines are all wrong as Dhoni fails to gather a ball which grips and turns sharply on leg stump and the ball rolls away for five wides.

27 overs: Pakistan 117-3
The atmosphere has gone rather flat as Yusuf Pathan races through his six deliveries, managing just one dot ball as he concedes another five runs. It's these overs that are so lugubrious to watch at times.

From Eagleeee! on 606: "India need to make the batsmen play with a straight bat. Right now, they're just swatting the ball away. Wickets please..."

26 overs: Pakistan 112-3
It sounds like the Rolling Stones have just taken the stage at Centurion as Harbhajan Singh comes on for his first joust of the afternoon. Paul, below (see 18th over), I absolutely love the sound of philosophy kabbadi, we could have the Pakistani Sufis up against the Indian giants of Salman Rushdie and Rohinton Mistry, each attempting to play tag while reciting verbose passages from their literary tomes without drawing breath. I'd watch it. Good start from Bhajji, offering nothing to tuck into, just four singles as we reach the halfway stage.

25 overs: Pakistan 108-3
Signs that Harbhajan Singh could be joining the party as the off spinner loosens up stationed on the leg-side boundary. Meanwhile, fellow tweaker Yusuf Pathan keeps things tidy with nothing to lay into, conceding five singles from his fourth over.

24 overs: Pakistan 103-3
The Virat Kohli experiment, which could be some sort of Indian/jazz fusion band from the 80s, comes to an end as RP Singh returns. Yousuf brings up the three figures with a languid flick off his pads as RP overpitches coming around the wicket, while subtle wrists from Shoaib sees the right-hander guide a single behind square. Four runs from the over.

23 overs: Pakistan 99-3
Impressive control from Yusuf Pathan, finding the perfect line outside off stump and giving nothing for either Yousuf or Shoaib to launch into, instead restricting them to five singles from the over. That said, these two batsmen are both capable of using their feet to the spinners, so expect fireworks soon. Apologies to Ryan in Pimlico for using some Hindi/Urdu earlier with no explanation to what it means. "Bahut aachi" means very good, a phrase you'll hear non-stop in the subcontinent.

22 overs: Pakistan 94-3
Kohli continues and serves up a short ball at such pedestrian pace, allowing Mohammad Yousuf to ease on to his back foot and merrily pull an aerial pull over mid-wicket for four. Might be time for Dhoni to forget the fun and gems and turn to Harbhajan Singh as the veteran Pakistani duo ease three more runs from the over.

21 overs: Pakistan 87-3
Middle overs alert - Yusuf tightens up the run scoring with another over of controlled off-breaks, conceding just a single as Mohammad Yousuf drives to long-off.

20 overs: Pakistan 86-3
Shoaib unleashes a beautiful flowing off-drive off Kohli through cover as RP Singh runs around from deep cover to cut off the boundary - only forgetting to actually stop the ball after making a spirited dive. Ashish Nehra shows his fellow left-arm seamer exactly how to stop the boundary, diving down at fine leg to prevent the ball from crossing the ropes. Mea culpa in the 19th over - it's Yusuf Pathan not Harbajan Singh bowling.

19 overs: Pakistan 77-3
As suspected, a bit of tweak as Yusuf Pathan floats in for an impressive first over, conceding just a single. The off-spinner finds a good line outside off stump as well as encouraging amounts of turn.

18 overs: Pakistan 76-3
Bit of a curveball, literally, from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who tosses the ball to Virat Kohi for some medium pace trundle of the highest order. What's going on with his action? It's a got a bit of a Mike Procter/Vincent van der Bijl double whirl about it, only without the scintillating gazelle-like pace. Not exactly what one would call an encouraging first over, but neither batsman can squeeze the half-trackers past the outfielders patrolling the boundaries.

Paul, Lancs, TMS inbox: "I can't help wondering who would win in a ringside dead celebrity hitting each other with chairs contest - the wonderful (even in translation) Urdu lyricist Mirza Asadulla Khan Ghalib, or influential Bengali poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore. My own view is that the Urdu master of lyrical rhythm would edge it on points, using his light footed Ghazal work to great effect, but I'm no expert in the sport and willing to be proved wrong. Tagore would surely take the honours in Philosophy-Kabaddi, mind.

17 overs: Pakistan 71-3
After an inauspicious start, RP is making the ball do things off this benign surface, beating the outside edge of Shoaib before banging in a couple of short'uns to keep the ex-skipper keen. Another maiden and that's 20 runs from the last 10 overs. Ouch.

Waqar Ahmed, TMS inbox: "Good match so far. Anything around 270-280 and Pakistan have a fantastic chance of winning this match."

16 overs: Pakistan 71-3
Perfectly judged late cut from Shoaib Malik, who opens the face of his bat and runs an Ishant Sharma delivery fine past the diving right glove of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, past a vacant first slip and past a rather poor diving stop from Harbhajan Singh dive at third man for a boundary. Umpire Taufel deems a bouncer which flies over Yousuf's head is unplayable, signalling a wide. Should be time for some tweak soon.

15 overs: Pakistan 65-3
Poor shot judgement from Younus as he attempts to open the face of the bat to run RP down to third man, only succeeding in edging the ball behind the wicket. Arpy opts to go around the wicket to new man Mohammad Yousuf, who spoons a risky glance off his pads in the air, but the ball falls well short of Sachin T at square leg. It's all bahut aachi for the Indians right now.

Syed, TMS inbox: "I am guessing that Ishant Sharma single, if his performance is anything to go by..."

14.4 overs: Pakistan 65-3 WICKET Younus ct Dhoni b RP Singh 20
Oh dear, after lauding Younus' artistry the over before, the Pakistan captain feathers an outside edge from RP Singh into the gloves of Dhoni, who takes a good catch off his toes.

14 overs: Pakistan 64-2
Ishant serves up a short and wide delivery outside off stump, allowing Younus to free his arms and smear the ball behind square for a couple as Virat Kohli's diving parry prevents the ball from crossing the boundary. However, he is a mere observer as Younus absolutely leathers a filthy ball from Sharma behind backward point for four. Brutal stroke played with such poise and control, Younus is a joy to watch in full flow. An update from the other match in Johannesburg, where West Indies are making a great fist of chasing 276 to beat Australia. However, they have now lost Andre Fletcher to a Mitchell Johnson direct-hit. West Indies 128-2 after 25 overs, Travis Dowlin 41 not out.

From poltergeist23 on 606: "Despite the fact India have lost the toss and have some big players out, they're still miles ahead of Pakistan as a team, and will walk this game. Looking forward to another masterclass batting display from Sachin Tendulkar today."

13 overs: Pakistan 58-2
Time for a bowling change and in comes RP Singh, whose first delivery is way wide of Younus Khan's leg stump as umpire Steve Davis gives his arms a little stretch to indicate a wide. Younus turns a couple of his hip as Sachin Tendulkar rather labouredly makes a sprawling attempt to stop the ball at square leg. Not so from Suresh Reina, who makes a quite brilliant one-handed stop at cover to prevent a boundary. Oooooh! Huge left-off for Younus as he plays a forward defence too early, looping up a tempting catch for RP Singh, but the ball drops agonisingly in front of the left-arm seamer's dive. Replays indicate the bowler was a little slow with his attempt, a more agile bowler and that could have been three down.

12 overs: Pakistan 54-2
A huge appeal echoes around Centurion Park as Ishant Sharma raps Shoaib Malik on the toe with a vicious inswinging yorker, but umpire Simon Taufel decides the ball would have missed leg stump - and it seems the hirsute Sharma isn't too perturbed by the Australian official's decision. Ishant serves up a juicy half volley outside off stump, only for Shoaib to hit it straight at mid-off. Another maiden and the runs, after flowing like mango lassi in the first five overs, have dried up significantly. Just five runs from the last three overs.

11 overs: Pakistan 54-2
Another frugal over as Nehra probes Shoaib Malik's off stump, but the all-rounder clips a straight ball off his hips backward of square to spoil Nehra's aspirations for a maiden and score his first run.

Guru, TMS inbox: "Muted celebrations - perhaps the Indians have been too busy.....reading the dossier!"

10 overs: Pakistan 53-2
Ishant Sharma hits his lines like Shah Rukh Khan at rehearsals, finding that difficult back of a length delivery line outside off stump which is so difficult to dispatch. Younus Khan wisely opts to keep his shot-making armoury in check and plays with a straight bat off his back foot.

9 overs: Pakistan 53-2
Out wanders former captain Shoaib Malik to join current captain Younus. Yet again Pakistan gift a wicket to India at an inopportune moment.

8.5 overs: Pakistan 53-2 WICKET - Akmal bowled Nehra 19
Nehra gives Akmal heaps of width and the wicketkeeper goes to scythe, only to bottom-edge the ball on to his off stump. Cue muted celebrations, so much so that it takes me a good couple of seconds to work out a wicket has been taken. Bizarre.

8th over: Pakistan 52-1
Bit dry on the comments so far, let's have some good-natured banter flowing in via the TMS inbox, the 606 website (link above) or text 81111 with the word CRICKET before your message. Like a referee giving two boxers the chat before the start of a bout, keep it clean, nothing below the belt (unless you're Gary Kirsten) and strictly no throwing chairs at each other. Much better over from Sharma, who reins in his line and length and concedes a single. PS - manually refresh your page and you'll see those very initials at the top.

7th over: Pkn 51-1
Thanks Ollie - note to self, write down the start time of this match correctly. No timing issues for Kamran Akmal, who rocks on to his back foot uses his bottom hand to batter Ashish Nehra through midwicket for four. This Centurion track doesn't have a drop of juice compared with the Green Mamba Wanderers track so brilliantly exploited by England yesterday. Nice comeback from the left-arm seamer, but so far the Pakistani duo are looking more comfortable than a man settling down in front of the box wearing his favourite lunghi.

6th over: Pkn 42-1
Ishant Sharma into the attack now, and that has to be a good call from Dhoni, but a nice little tickle of a leg-glance from Younus Khan earns Pakistan yet another boundary. The next ball is short and wide of off-stump - you know the rest. Lightning start for Pakistan, eight fours already. Dravid almost pulls off a catch there, the old man not really getting a proper dive out at short extra-cover.

5th over: Pkn 33-1
Pakistan are not going to be cowed by that wicket, and Akmal pulls Nehra for four more.

4.2 overs - WICKET - Nazir c Harbhajan b Nehra 20 - Pkn 29-1
Nazir cannot control himself at times. A wild attempted lofted on-drive, I think, skies up on the leg-side and Harbhajan settles nicely to take the catch.

4th over: 28-0
Here, belatedly, are the teams in full - India: Gambhir, Tendulkar, Dravid, Raina, Dhoni (C/W), Kohli, Y Pathan, Harbhajan, RP Singh, Nehra, I Sharma;
Pakistan: Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal (W), Shoaib Malik, Younus (C), Mohammad Yousuf, U Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Naved, Aamir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal. Oooh Nazir, that shot had the Pakistan fans purring in adulation - a high-elbow, back-foot straight drive for four off RP Singh and Pakistan are making some excellent headway here. And Nazir creams another boundary now through the covers. Head-scratch time for India.

3rd over: Pkn 18-0
Nehra bowls a dreadful delivery, short and wide. Nazir says thank you very much and smashes it through the covers for four. Nehra bucks his ideas up, and straightens one into Nazir's pads, but umpire Steve Davis denies an lbw appeal - it was close, but perhaps just missing the top corner of his leg-stump.

2nd over: Pkn 13-0
By the way, I am Oliver Brett, despite what it says in the field above. Pranav is fighting his way through tube closures and so on. Oh there's a humdinger of an off-drive from Imran Nazir off RP Singh's first delivery - four spanking runs for the right-hander. Now here goes little Kamran Akmal, driving the other side of mid-off, for the second boundary of the over. This pitch is expected to slow up later on but the ball's coming on nicely right now. A streaky square drive for Akmal gets Pakistan a couple more, but RP's over-pitching at the moment.

1st over: Pkn 1-0
Exciting stuff from the second ball, Imran Nazir grinning at the non-striker's end but he would have been run out if the throw from Suresh Raina. That was a very foolish single, but Pakistan survive. Nehra bowling well, with pace and accuracy plus just a little bit of seam movement.

1329: Kamran Akmal is first up to the plate - he will be batting with Imran Nazir. There's no Amit Mishra for India, by the way, and Ashish Nehra bowls the first over from the River End.

1328: So we're just two minutes away from the first over and the national anthems are being sung. It's a sunny afternoon in Centurion and the sell-out crowd are eagerly anticipating what could be a classic encounter between these two sides. They played out a high-scoring belter on this same ground in the 2003 World Cup, with India just about prevailing.

1325: Welcome. Here's the news from the middle - Pakistan have won the toss and decided to bat first.