An all-round Indian bowling performance, helped by some athletic ground fielding, propelled India into its third World Cup final.
India maintained its unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cup cricket, securing a 29-run win in Wednesday's marquee semifinal in Mohali to set up a title clash with Sri Lanka.
Sachin Tendulkar rode on his luck to make 85 and Suresh Raina contributed a vital cameo (36 not out) under pressure to help their side's score 260 for nine after winning the toss. Although it appeared an under-par total, the bowlers did their bit to give India its fifth World Cup win over its traditional rival. Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh shared the wickets, claiming two apiece.
Saturday's match in Mumbai will be India's third appearance in the World Cup final.
Pakistan had seemed in control when it began its pursuit spiritedly. Openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez looked comfortable against the new ball as they put on 44. India needed lifting – Zaheer did the job, having Akmal caught off a slower ball.
Hafeez (43) and Asad Shafiq (30) batted well, but fell attempting over-ambitious strokes. When Yuvraj got Younis Khan to lift a drive to Suresh Raina, Pakistan had slipped to 106 for four. India tightened the screws causing the asking rate to climb.
Umar Akmal (29) aimed to relieve the pressure. But just when it seemed as if India would pay for failing to run him out, Harbhajan bowled the young, talented batsman. With Misbah-ul-Haq (56) struggling, M.S. Dhoni's side needed only to gain the wickets of Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi to put the result beyond doubt.
Misbah chanced his arm, but he had left his charge too late. Pakistan was bowled out for 231 in 49.5 overs.
India earlier got off to an electric start, thanks to Virender Sehwag (38), but faltered thereafter as Pakistan fought back. Had Afridi's men held their catches – Tendulkar was dropped four times – they would have inconvenienced India further.
Wahab Riaz (five for 46) kept Pakistan in the contest with a fine display of left-arm fast bowling. After getting rid of the dangerous Sehwag in his first over, Riaz later struck twice in two balls, removing Virat Kohli and Yuvraj, to reduce India to 141 for four.
Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was excellent as well; he deserved better than figures of two for 44 from 10 overs. He nearly had Tendulkar out twice in successive balls for 23. The maestro was adjudged ‘lbw' on the first occasion, but a review saw the decision overturned. Pakistan appealed for a stumping off the next ball. The third umpire rightly decided a close call in the batsman's favour.
Tendulkar was then reprieved thrice off Afridi's leg-spin: on 27 when Misbah dropped a pull the batsman didn't keep to ground, on 45 when Younis Khan spilt a lofted drive, and on 70 when wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal failed to take a difficult chance. Tendulkar had another moment of fortune, on 81 when Umar Akmal shelled a catch off Hafeez's bowling, before his luck ran out.
Keywords: World Cup 2011, India Pakistan match
there is only one winner: SRI LANKA. India lacks selfconfidence when it comes to the final. They fear to fail and thats why they loose!
With only top3 bats for SL, if India can dislodge at least 2 early SL may score about 200 only and that must assure an easy WC final win for India tomorrow. Also it would be a sweet revenge for what happened in 1996 semi finals.
Even if Pakistan got Tendulkar out at 27, some other Indian batsmen would have rose to the occasion. May be Yuvaraj would not have got out in the first ball. Or may be Dhoni would have lasted longer..who knows..you can never tell. India and especially Sachin deserved to get those breaks ! Certainly Pakistan did not deserve to win after their poor fielding.
In the early eighties while playing cricket we were asked to remove the bandages on our injured fingers bowling as it gives added advantage while bowling. Shahid Afridi had one on his small finger while bowling. Is it now legal?
This was purely a fixed match not in a way to gambling, but under the Pak govt " love India policy " ... PM Gilani and president Zardari cannot afford the annoyance of Indians anyway.
I am happy for getting through to the finals but at the same time I fear for India's performance against Sri Lanka in past matches.
My wish list for the WC 2011 Final!
1. Let Sachin, Raina, Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Kohli, Zaheer and Nehra be their natural strong selves.
2. Let Dhoni and Gambhir score at least 30 runs each.
3. Let Sehwag not be a flash in the pan.
4. Let's have a real game-changing bowling performance...(Ashwin?)
5. Let us emulate Srilanka in their quiet humility and excellence on the field.
2011 World Cup Belongs To India....
It was really a nerve recking match for Pakistanis- whose side really let them down by their impetuous performance. But we are also consoled by the thought that Indian side played better and they deserved a victory, though this thought is made difficult to digest by the fact that had pakistani side played sensibly they could have made their place into the finals. Now I wish Indian side to play down the Sirilankan side to bring more cheers on the face of home crowd. And finally it is very relieving that World cup will remain in Asia, and a new champion will surface on the horizon after the stale championships of Yellow shirts.
India is up against the Wills 96 champs Sri Lanka. If you remember the Wills 96 cup, Sri Lanka reached the final by beating India in a highly controversial semifinal match. I hope this is our year to get our revenge and also clinch the cup after all these years. Come on India!
Luck also favoured the Indian team.
As everybody knows India has won the match due to support of public those were sitting in the stadium and luck of the Tendulkar. otherwise India could not be won over Pakistan !
Please Email the Editor