Tendulkar’s decision to put the opposition in to bat backfired as game’s heavyweights Kumar Sangakkara (70 off 30), Jacques Kallis (45 off 23) and Ricky Ponting (41 off 16) tore apart the equally celebrated Warriors’ bowling attack to smash 262 for five in 20 overs.

The likes of Tendulkar (33 off 20), Virender Sehwag (16 off 8), Shaun Pollock (55 off 22) Brian Lara (19 off 21) and Sourav Ganguly (12 off 12) enthralled a sizable crowd with their brief knocks at Minute Maid Park.

The ‘legends’ now travel to Los Angeles for the final game of the series on Saturday. The opening match, won by Warne’s men convincingly, was played in New York on November 7.

Though the match’s outcome was not that significant considering the games are a mere exhibition, the famed former cricketers from both teams displayed fierce competitive spirit.

The competitive zeal was evident when the dream opening pair of Tendulkar and Sehwag walked into the middle. What made the contest more mouthwatering was Wasim Akram opening the bowling for Warriors and swinging the ball in from the word go.

It was now Tendulkar’s turn to use the long handle. The master blaster hammered three fours and couple of sixes before his old foe Saqlain Mushtaq found his stumps with a fast off spinner.

Ganguly, playing his first game of the series, was expectedly rusty to start with but managed a four and a big hit in his run a ball innings.

Warne too appreciated the crowd response.

“The way we have been treated has been fantastic.

Sangakkara, who was the Man of the Match for his blazing knock, said: “It was a lot of fun, thank you Houston for the hospitality. Lot of credit to Sachin and Warney, they are pioneers on the field and they are breaking new round off the field. All outstanding players, legends of the game, the crowd participation has been unbelievable. Players have given their all on the field. “Participation of kids is vital for the growth of the game but for us, it has been humbling. Hopefully the game catches on in the US,” Sangakkara said. PTI

Warne’s Warriors: 262 for 5 (MP Vaughan 30, ML Hayden 32, JH Kallis 45, KC Sangakkara 70, RT Ponting 41, A Symonds 19 n.o., JN Rhodes 18 n.o., L Klusener 2 for 45)

Sachin’s Blasters: 205 for 8 (SR Tendulkar 33, L Klusener 21, SM Pollock 55, GP Swann 22 n.o., A Symonds 4 for 70)

The 49-year-old former captain said watching the passion of the fans at Gaddafi Stadium reminded him of his playing days.

“It’s unbelievable (to watch international cricket here),” said Wasim on the sidelines of second day-night match in Lahore.

“That’s something which brought back the memories of my playing days,” said Wasim who played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan between 1984-2003.

“You can’t keep cricket away from Pakistan because the amount of passion and the amount of talent here.”

Wasim praised Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for making the series possible — the first in Pakistan since terrorists attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

Foreign teams refused to tour Pakistan over secuirty fears and Zimbabwe only agreed to tour the terror-hit country after being promised security arrangements normally reserved for state heads.

“It’s a gtreat achievement by the PCB and I must thank the Zimbabwe cricket team that they are here and the passion is great with 40 plus degree heat in the middle of the summer and fans had to battle massive security to create this great atmosphere,” said Wasim.

Cricket starved fans packed the 27,000 capacity stadium in the preceding two Twenty20 matches which Pakistan won 2-0 and in the two one-day internationals.

Wasim hoped perceptions of other cricket playing countries will change gradually.

“This is the first step and slowly and gradually more teams will come. I hope that perceptions will change and I also hope that the cricketing world will take notice who have been lukewarm in praising this series,” said Wasim.

Wasim hoped the International Cricket Council — who did not not send their officials for this series on security fears — will be positive.

“ICC should have sent their officials but I can imagine that this is the first series and they were worried

about the security of their officials, so hopefully when the second team comes here they will be more positive,” said Wasim.

Wasim said Pakistan cricket suffered badly in the wake of no international cricket for six years.

“When I was young I got motivated by watching Allan Border, Malcolm Marshall, Imran Khan and Javed Miandad on these grounds. I used to take the whole round when they used to practice so you get more motivation when you watch them in front of your own eyes.

“That was not available to fans and players so they suffered badly.”

Wasim hoped India revive cricketing ties with Pakistan.

“India versus Pakistan should happen, whevere it happens because the beauty of Indo-Pak cricket is unmatchable, no series can match that.

“People are starved of Indo-Pak cricket so they are desperately waiting for that.”

Pakistan is due to host India in the United Arab Emirates in December this year pending New Delhi’s clearance.