Pakistan Clinch Tri-Series

Pakistan defeated India by 25 runs in a thrilling final of the Tri-Series to avenge their earlier 140-run loss to the same opponents in some style.

Younus Khan struck a majestic 108 off just 99 deliveries and Salman Butt added 129 before he was forced to retire hurt as Pakistan piled on 315 for three after winning the toss.

India battled back with half-centuries from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, but fine bowling from Umar Gul at the death saw Pakistan home.

India lost opener Virender Sehwag early and then lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 290 in 48.2 overs.

Sehwag had given India blistering starts in their two previous matches in the tournament, but he was dismissed for just two when a leading edge off the bowling of Sohail Tanvir flew to skipper Shoaib Malik at mid-off.

India, however, bravely took up the run chase. Gautam Gambhir smashed 40 off only 33 deliveries, while Rohit Sharma (24), Yusuf Pathan (25) and Suresh Raina (24) failed to convert on good starts.

Yuvraj kept India in contention despite the fall of wickets, powering to a half-century. His 56 came off just 59 deliveries and it helped India consolidate.

Yuvraj's dismissal, however, heralded the end even as Dhoni fought valiantly on.

The Indian skipper reached his 50 by lofting Tanvir for a six and driving the bowler for a couple of runs. He was the last man dismissed, for 64, attempting to hit Shahid Afridi over the top.

Gul claimed four wickets for 57 from nine overs.

Earlier, Younus, who was run out without facing a ball against Bangladesh and out first ball against India earlier in the series, walked in after another failure from Kamran Akmal threatened to give India the advantage.

Akmal, who was at the receiving end of severe criticism from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf following the 140-run defeat against India in Pakistan's previous match, laboured to 15 runs before edging Irfan Pathan to Dhoni.

His dismissal left Pakistan in danger of succumbing early, but Younus changed all of that. He began with a boundary off the first ball he faced and quickly eased the pressure by taking the attack to the Indian bowlers.

Younus and Butt, who received a reprieve when Sharma split a difficult catch at cover with the opener on 19, quickly upped the scoring rate as they put on 205 runs for the second wicket.

Younus, the more attacking of the two, was particularly severe on the spinners.

Piyush Chawla, India's leading wicket-taker along with Praveen in the series, came in for harsh treatment conceding 85 runs in his 10 overs.

Butt's innings was just as severe. Three sixes and a dozen boundaries studded an innings which he had begun cautiously.

Misbah-ul-Haq (33 off 21 deliveries) chipped in with another cameo as Pakistan raced past the 300-run mark.