LAHORE, Pakistan, March 24 (UPI) -- Riding on V.V.S. Laxman's century, India Wednesday defeated Pakistan in the deciding game of their five-match cricket series, the first in Pakistan in 15 years.
Tied at 2-2, the two teams played the potboiler final at a packed Gadaffi stadium in Lahore with millions others glued to their television sets in both nations where cricket is a passion.
India won the Samsung cup titled "jeet lo dil", or "win hearts" 3-2.
The host team floundered in chasing a competitive target of 294 that the Indian batsmen had put on board with a splendid knock of 107 runs by Laxman.
Pakistan lost three quick wickets for 25 runs. Heroic efforts by Shohaib Malik with 65 runs and Moin Khan with 72 runs remained futile.
Indian pacers kept a tight leash on Pakistani batsmen who would score 253 runs, losing the final game by 40 runs.
Earlier, India, put into bat first, cruised to 293 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.
Pakistan's fierce pace attack ripped through India's battling line up at regular intervals with Laxman staying put the longest at the crease.
