Pakistan and India are traditional rivals, not only in cricket but whatever game you consider, any match b/w these two teams is always interesting to watch. Every one who is in the stadium or watching the match on TV can feel the heat between the players of both teams. Â AirTel Series ended today and Pakistan wasted a possible easy chance of clean sweep India for the first time in history after winning the last match of the series. Airtel cricket series 2012-13 started with T20 matches. 1st match was played on 25th of December in which Pakistan convincingly win by chasing an easy target of 134 with the help of brilliant batting of Captain Muhammad Hafiz who scored 61 runs on 44 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes and senior player Shoaib Malik who scored 57 not out on 50 balls with 3 sixes and 3 fours. Shoaib Malik hits a sixer to end the match. Muhammad Hafiz was player of the match.
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In second T20 match, which was the last match of Airtel T20 Series 2012-13, Pakistan fails to chase a big total of 192 set by strong Indian batting line. 72 runs on 36 balls with 7 sixes and 4 fours by Yuvraj Singh, helped India to set a big total for Pakistan. Pakistan played well in this match and again captain Muhammad Hafiz played a very good and aggressive innings of 55 runs on 26 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes, but he could’t stay at the crease till end. And Pakistan lost this match as a result Series trophy was shared b/w both the teams.
Then in ODI matches which starts from 30th of December, Pakistan proves itself a better side. In the first match, Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the tos and elected to field first. Pakistan  started very well and Junaid Khan took 4 quick wickets and India’s top 5 batsmen were back to pavilion on a total score of just 29 in 9.4 overs. After that Indian Captain Mahindra Singh Dhooni, played a brilliant innings of 113 not out and set a target of 228 runs for Pakistan. Muhammad Hafiz was bowled on the very first ball by Kumar. After that Nasir Jamshaid and Younis Khan played very well and took the score to 133 when Younis Khan’s wicket was down. At this stage Pakistan was 133-3. After this Pakistan won the match on 1st ball of 49th over with the help of  Nasir Jamshaid’s not out 101 runs. Indian Capain Dhooni was declared as Man of the Match for his 113 not out runs.
In second ODI match of Airtel series 2012-13, India won the toss and elected to field first. Pakistan set a total of 250 runs, Nasir Jamshaid contributed with 106 runs and Muhammad Hafiz with his brilliant 76 runs on 74 balls. None of the other batsman able to add good score in the scorecard except 24 runs of Shoaib Malik and 17 runs of Umar Gul. India started to chase the score but no batsman could stay on the crease until captain Dhooni comes. India could only manage to make 165 runs all out. Man of the match was Nasir Jamshaid for his 106 runs. With this 85 runs win, Pakistan also won the series of 3 matches by 2-0.
Third match…. it was a thriller. Pakistan has a very good chance for clean sweep after India were all out at 167. Saeed Ajmal give his best performance getting 5 wickets. But India replied very strongly and Pakistan could only manage to made 157 runs and all out. No batsman could perform well.
Indian Captain was declared Man of the Match for the highest scorer of winning side. And Pakistan’s opener Nasir Jamshaid was announced as Man of the Series for the tournament’s highest scorer with two centuries. He scored 241 runs in 3 matches with one not out innings.
But at last Pakistan won the Airtel Series by 2-1 and lifts the trophy.
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