Pakistan's innings was like a bad action movie: it started and finished at speed, but went through an extended slow passage in the middle. They did eventually manage to claw their way to 158 for six, but even that looked manifestly inadequate once the Indian openers got up and running.
Virender Sehwag missed this match with a bad shoulder, which left the way clear for his replacement, Rohit Sharma, to deliver a dream of an innings of 80 off 53 balls. He is a baby-faced 22 year-old, and there is nothing stiff or rigid about his batting either.
His hands yield beautifully when he plays a soft deflection, and they move with uncanny speed when he decides to lash one over mid-wicket. India have been looking for a possible replacement for Sachin Tendulkar for years, and here they have a contender.
One might have expected Gautam Gambhir, the more established player, to try to compete with Sharma's virtuosity. Sensibly, though, Gambhir, who made an unbeaten 52, performed a steady supporting role. Given that Sehwag has expressed an interest in moving down into the middle order, it will be interesting to see what happens when he comes back into the team.
After the small crowds and desultory West Indies performances that marred the start of this season, it was good to see such exuberance on and off the field. But England had better watch out when they come to keep their Super Eight date with India (pencilled in for Lord's on Sunday week). Paul Collingwood's men could end up feeling like the away team.
Final Score:
The Oval: Pakistan 158-6 (20 overs; Misbah ul-Haq 37no, Younus Khan 32); India 159-1 (17 overs; R G Sharma 80, G Gambhir 52no). India won by by 9 wkts.
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