It was a day on which Team India bucked the odds and experienced ecstasy through Harbhajan Singh's six off Mohammad Aamer.
Harbhajan's towering strike of the match's penultimate ball helped India defeat Pakistan by three wickets in a crucial Asia Cup clash at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium here on Saturday.
Chasing Pakistan's 267 in 49.3 overs, India scored 271 for seven in 49.5 overs with Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni laying the foundation while Suresh Raina and Harbhajan providing the final gallop when nerves were stretched in the true style of clashes between the sub-continental neighbours.
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The crucial victory paved the way for India's entry into the final against Sri Lanka here on June 24. The tournament's next set of matches after a rest day on Sunday will be all about assuaging wounded pride for Pakistan and Bangladesh while India and Sri Lanka would warm themselves up for the summit clash.
India needed an explosive start to flip pressure back to Pakistan but with Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Aamer bowling tight line with zest, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were grounded. Sehwag played and missed and the agony was complete when in the sixth over, he lay sprawled on the ground in visible discomfort. Limping badly, Sehwag had Suresh Raina as his runner while Gambhir guided a few past point against Aamer. Sehwag managed to pummel Aamer before fatally hanging his bat out to Abdul Razzaq.
Virat Kohli too fell early but India could breathe easy as Gambhir (83, 97b, 6x4, 1x6) stole his singles and hit a six off Shoaib Malik.
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Gambhir along with Dhoni (56, 71b, 2x4, 1x6) stitched a 98-run third-wicket partnership that kept the asking rate under six and the opener enjoyed a reprieve on 69 when Aamer grassed him in the deep.
Dhoni kept rotating the strike but when the opportunity to strike arose through a free hit against Akhtar, he hoisted the speedster for six. The Indian cruise however stalled briefly as Gambhir, Rohit Sharma and Dhoni fell to spin but with Raina (34) and Harbhajan (15 n.o.) launching into a fusillade of big hits against Akhtar and company, the ‘Men in Blue' soared high.
In the afternoon after Shahid Afridi opted to bat, the Pakistan innings was a tale of a good start being frittered away in the middle overs. Openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat shared a 71-run partnership.
Dhoni pressed Harbhajan in to service and the spinner struck in his second over. Harbhajan capitalised on Farhat's desire to carve one behind the wicket and lured the opener into a fatal prod. Butt and Shoaib Malik then raised 75 runs for the second wicket.
Zaheer returning for his second spell was spot on and castled Malik. Butt then tested Ravindra Jadeja's arm and the left-arm spinner proved equal to the task. Another piece of fielding brilliance enhanced India's delight as Virat Kohli plucked a fine left-handed reflex catch at first slip when Umar Amin pushed at Harbhajan.