India v Pakistan, 2012-13

At Delhi, January 6, 2013 (day/night). India won by ten runs. Toss: India. One-day international debut: Shami Ahmed.

This was a morale-boosting win for India - and a clean sweep spurned by Pakistan. Misbah-ul- Haq's attack had again been too good for a batting line-up lacking form and confidence, but the work was undone by a diffident chase that never gained momentum once the impressive Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up two early wickets. Misbah's 39 spanned 82 balls, and Shami Ahmed, a debutant seamer from Bengal, hustled through four maidens. But at 113 for three with 16 overs to go, Pakistan were cruising; to lose seven for 44 was shockingly careless. India's modest total owed much to a stand of 48 between Raina and Dhoni, and a late cameo from Jadeja. This time, Mohammad Irfan made the early incisions before Saeed Ajmal bamboozled the rest with his variations, finishing with his best figures in one-day internationals. Dhoni top-scored again, with a steady 36 that included three huge sixes, and later led with sufficient imagination to win the match award. But avoiding India's first home one-day whitewash for 19 years was small consolation at the end of a poor series for his team.

Man of the Match: M. S. Dhoni.
Man of the Series: Nasir Jamshed.