It is a known fact to almost every Indian fan that India has always defeated Pakistan in a World Cup match. And that unbeaten run could continue in coming semifinal on Wednesday at Mohali. This will be the fifth meeting of both the archrivals in World Cup cricket and so far their meetings have gone in the following way –
1) 1992 World Cup (Sydney) – India won by 43 runs.
It was for the first time that both the teams played in a World Cup, and there was tension in the air. India won the toss and elected to bat first.
The star of the Indian innings was the young Sachin Tendulkar, who under pressure remained not out after scoring a 62-ball 54, against an attack comprising of Wasim Akram, Imran Khan and Mushtaq Ahmed. Pakistan in reply to India’s 216, choked even as Javed Miandad fought hard for his 40. The match will be remembered for Miandad funnily imitating the over-enthusiastic and acrobatic Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More.
2) 1996 World Cup (Bangalore) – India won by 39 runs.
In the next World Cup, India was to play Pakistan at Bangalore in front of a packed stadium in a quarterfinal knockout match. It was India who was under pressure right from ball one, and Pakistan’s famed bowling attack even without their skipper Wasim Akram was taking the game away. However, Waqar Younis, who was having a field day, threw it away in his last overs. He was pounded for 40 runs in 12 balls, as Ajay Jadeja decided to go after his full-length deliveries. His 25-ball 45 took India to a competitive 287/8 in 50 overs. Pakistan’s two southpaw openers, Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar gave them a good start. The match was in Pakistan’s hands until Sohail in a moment of insanity, went after an inswinging full-length ball towards the off-side from Venkatesh Prasad bowling round the wicket and got clean bowled. The previous ball was smashed for four with such audacity that Sohail sledged Prasad to take that in his face. But Prasad came back and after he got the wicket, he gave Sohail a verbal which he would never forget. The match almost ended with that wicket and Miandad once again could only delay a Pakistan loss. Pakistan, the defending champions were dumped in the garbage and it also resulted in riots across Pakistan with people getting injured or dead.
3) 1999 World Cup (Manchester) – India won by 47 runs.
This was a Super Six match. Prior to this game, India were engaged in a war with Pakistan over the issue of Kashmir. So the game could have been called off, but for the spirit of the game, the match was played. Both the teams were not in the mood to entertain each other, and this produced a good contest. India again batted first after winning the toss on a deteriorating and sub-continental type Manchester wicket. The young Rahul Dravid and captain Mohammad Azharuddin scored half-centuries each as India scored 227/6 after batting out their full 50 overs. Pakistan, in reply fell like a pack of cards. Venkatesh Prasad had another good game, picking up 5 wickets as he used his swing to great effect in the English conditions. India won, but it unfortunately could not help them reach the semifinals whereas Pakistan were not affected by this game as they went to the finals of the tournament.
4) 2003 World Cup (Centurion) – India won by 6 wickets.
India and Pakistan were playing each other after 3 years, so the expectations were high when both these teams were to play in a group match. And this was a virtual knockout match as the winner would certainly qualify for the Super Sixes. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, on a decent batting surface. Saeed Anwar, in what was his last World Cup innings, scored a century fittingly against India to guide Pakistan to a almost match-winning score of 273/7 in 50 overs. India had ever chased above 220 in World Cup cricket successfully and this was an uphill task. Yet, Sachin Tendulkar, the Master Blaster did not think so. He cleverly took strike of the first ball of the innings by Wasim Akram. And then decided to take on the pacy Shoaib Akhtar, scoring 18 runs off his first over. The Tendulkar assault made sure India had almost taken complete command of the game in the first 5 overs itself, as 50 had come up on the board without the loss of a wicket. When Sachin finally got out unluckily on 98, India needed 90 runs off 136 balls to win. Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh took India home comfortably and this turned out to be the last international match of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar. India’s stuttering campaign was resurrected further as they went on to make it to the World Cup final.
This time, too we have a cracking contest to watch. Sachin will be eying his 100th 100 in international cricket. Shoaib Akhtar would be gunning for revenge against India, in his last tournament. India and Pakistan would be looking to make it to another World Cup final and win after long.
Comments
Post a Comment