India v Pakistan – Greatest Cricket World Cup Rivalries
In the first India-Pakistan match in close to three years, Sachin Tendulkar produced one of the best performances in ODIs, and effectively knocked Pakistan out of the tournament. Tendulkar, who had been preparing for this fixture for over a year, made a 75-ball 98 in a chase of 274 after Saeed Anwar’s 101 had stolen the limelight in the first half of the game.
On a flat deck at the SuperSport Park, Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag handled the seam attack of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akthar, Waqar Younis and Abdul Razzaq with ease. Shots flew to all parts of the ground in the opening wicket stand of 53 in 5.4 overs, with the upper cut six over point by Tendulkar off Akthar the standout shot.
In that over, Tendulkar also cut and drove the world’s fastest bowler for two fours, and the impact of his blade was such that Pakistan’s attack – among the most potent units in the world – seemed to lose its bite. After Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly fell for the same score, Tendulkar and Mohammad Kaif added 101 runs for the fourth wicket. Tendulkar was caught at gully off a rising delivery from Akthar with still 97 needed in 22.2 overs, but the fifth-wicket pair of Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh got the job done with relative calm in the 46th over.
Match 5: India v Pakistan at the PCA Stadium in Mohali in ICC World Cup 2011
In a high-pressure semi-final game in Mohali, watched from the ground by the heads of the state of both nations, a team effort by India saw it triumph by 29 runs. Sachin Tendulkar led the way once again, recording his third World Cup half-century against Pakistan – with all three efforts netting him the Man of the Match award. Tendulkar’s 85 and Suresh Raina’s intelligent batting in the last 10 overs took India to 260 for 9, with Wahab Riaz returning a five-wicket haul.
Though Mohammad Hafeez made 43 in Pakistan’s chase, he was caught behind playing a sweep shot to a Munaf Patel delivery on the offstump, and that opened the floodgates. Each of the five Indian bowlers picked up two wickets, with Ashish Nehra’s 2 for 33 in 10 overs the best figures, as Pakistan was bowled out for 231 in 49.5 overs.
What to Expect at #cwc15
India and Pakistan will face each other on February 15, in what will be the first match for each team in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Beginning with a high-profile, high-pressure match could make or mar either team’s chances, but there’s little doubt the winner will carry a load of momentum and confidence going forward in the tournament.
India, the defending champion, has the advantage of a mental edge in having beaten Pakistan each time in a World Cup, and will also have greater familiarity with the conditions – with many members of the squad having been in Australia since late November. However, Pakistan has shown it can be a rejuvenated side under Misbah-ul-Haq, and ultimately, the contest could well come down to who handles the big occasion better at the Adelaide Oval.
