Yuvraj guides India to series-levelling victory

Rawalpindi, Pakistan:  India rode on Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar's roller coaster start on Saturday to win the second limited-overs international against Pakistan by seven wickets and level the five-match series 1-1.

Yuvraj Singh (82 not out) and captain Rahul Dravid (56) also scored half centuries as India achieved the victory target of 266 runs for the loss of three wickets with more than six overs to spare.

With the crushing win the tourists levelled the five-match series 1-1 after losing the first match at Peshawar by seven runs after special bad light rules came into play.

"It was a great professional performance from our team. We had four run outs in Pakistan innings that was fantastic," said Dravid.

Openers Sehwag and Tendulkar smashed a 105-run stand off 94 balls and later Yuvraj and Dravid added 118 runs off 128 balls as Pakistan bowling attack - without injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar - struggled to stem the flow of runs on easy paced Pindi Cricket Stadium wicket.

Earlier, Pakistan's innings revolved around Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan's half centuries after Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat first, but four of the home team's batsmen were run out to smart Indian fielding.

Both in-form Pakistan batsmen combined for a 102-run partnership off 125 balls after India removed the top four batsmen for 68 runs by the 14th over.

Left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan (3-43) had Salman Butt caught behind off the second ball of the match and then Kamran Akmal (14) dragged one back onto his stumps.

Mohammad Yousuf attempted a second run off Tendulkar's mis-field and was run out as Pakistan stuttered at 47 for three by the 10th over.

Zaheer Khan removed Inzamam (8) off his second delivery when the Pakistan captain got a leading edge to mid-off before Malik and Khan added a century partnership and resurrected the innings.

After Malik failed to beat the strong throw of Sri Sreesanth from the deep in the 34th over, Pakistan lost its two big hitters - Shahid Afridi (18) and Abdul Razzaq (14) - cheaply.

Number 10 batsman Gul made a rapid 17 with three fours, but Pakistan failed to utilize its full 50 overs when Mohammad Asif was run out off the second delivery off the last over.

The third match of the series will be played in Lahore on Monday.