India top order build large total

An impressive opening partnership between Gambhir and Sehwag set the foundations as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men put on a battling display in their first one-day match since their CB Series win against Australia in March.

On a wicket which is expected to offer the spin bowlers encouragement as the day goes on, it was India who seized the initiative as Gambhir and Sehwag set off at a blistering pace.

Both players were dropped early in their innings, and Pakistan were made to pay for their mistakes as first Sehwag and then Gambhir notched up quick fifties.

The duo continued to pile on the runs and raced to an opening stand of 155 within 22 overs before Gambhir was the first to be dismissed on 62, edging Wahab Riaz's full length delivery to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

Sehwag lasted just two more overs falling to the same combination after he edged a fine slower delivery from Riaz straight into Akmal's gloves, departing for a fine 89 from 76 deliveries, including 13 fours and one six.

Yuvraj was happy to pick up where the openers had left off adding more runs to India's total, but he lost partners at the other end as debutant Yusuf Pathan (three) holed out to Iftikhar Anjum off the bowling of Shahid Afridi, while Rohit Sharma (nine) also fell cheaply when he chopped the ball onto his own stumps to give Afridi his second wicket.

Dhoni hit a quick fire 24 off 23 balls, including four boundaries before being trapped lbw by Sohail Tanvir.

Having notched up his 36th ODI fifty, Yuvraj was the next to depart when he was bowled on 55 by Umar Gul.

Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina led India beyond the 300 mark before both fell to the bowling of Gul.