Cricket: India blast way to victory

VISKHAPATNAM, India - Mahendra Dhoni cracked a blistering maiden one-day century to help India to a 58-run win over Pakistan in the second one-day international on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old wicketkeeper hammered 16 fours and four sixes in his 123-ball knock of 148 as India took a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.

Dhoni shared a 96-run stand for the second wicket with Virender Sehwag (74 off 40 balls, including 60 in boundaries) and 149 for the fourth with Rahul Dravid (52) as India amassed 356 for nine and then bowled out Pakistan for 298.

Pakistan got off to a brisk start and were well in the hunt until all-rounder Abdul Razzaq's dismissal for a fighting 88 in the 28th over reduced them to 176 for four.

Kamran Akmal struck a gritty 41 and Yousuf Youhana hit four huge sixes in his 56-ball 71 but it was all over for the visitors when he was the seventh wicket to fall with 94 still needed to win from 12 overs.

Left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra picked up four wickets for 72, including the wicket of Younana.

The next one-dayer will be played in the eastern city of Jamshedpur on Saturday.

- REUTERS