Seven years back, on March 30: India defeated Pakistan in World Cup semifinal

It was a test for both teams. For the hosts, it was yet another World Cup semi-final, the hurdle they had failed to overcome at home on two occasions – 1987 and 1996. For the opponents, it was yet another opportunity to beat the arch-rivals and open their account in World Cup face-offs. And of course, both teams were determined to inch a step closer to their second world title.

India took on Pakistan in the second semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011. The winners would take on Sri Lanka, who beat New Zealand, in the final. India had beaten former champions Australia in the quarters while Pakistan annihilated the West Indies. Both teams were looking forward to a win.

It was an electrifying ambiance at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, Chandigarh, where India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss against his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Afridi and elected to bat first.

Sehwag belted Umar Gul at the very start

Virender Sehwag pounded Umar Gul for 21 runs in the third over of the match to set up the initiative. A promising inning suddenly got over when Sehwag was caught leg before by Wahab Riaz for 38 in 25 balls.

But Sachin Tendulkar (85) was joined by Gautam Gambhir (27) to take the score to 116 in the 19th over when the left-hander was stumped by Kamran Akmal off Mohammad Hafeez.

Yuvraj went for a duck, Riaz took a fifer

After a short partnership with Tendulkar, Virat Kohli fell for 9 off 21 balls and to the utter horror of the Indian fans, Yuvraj Singh, the man of the tournament in the 2011 WC, got bowled in the very next ball. The bowler was Riaz again, Pakistan’s wrecker-in-chief in that match who finished with 5 for 46, claiming the wickets of a non-sailing Dhoni (25) and Zaheer Khan (9) as well. India suddenly found themselves struggling at 141 for 4 and losing sight of that 300-plus target. Tendulkar was still there but he was far from his vintage touch and would consider himself lucky as the Pakistanis went on dropping his catches as many as four times.

Tendulkar’s luckiest innings of life

Tendulkar also escaped an lbw appeal and stumping attempt and when he was eventually caught by Afridi off-spinner Saeed Ajmal at 85 off 115 deliveries, the men in green couldn’t believe their luck. It was a brisk 36 off 39 balls by Suresh Raina at No.7 that India recovered somewhat to pose 260 for 9 wickets in 50 overs. Harbhajan Singh, too, chipped with a useful 12 in the death overs.

India’s semifinal ghosts were looming large

The fans were certainly not feeling confident about an Indian win with many pointing out at the semifinal jinx of ’87 when Graham Gooch swept Kapil’s men out of the tournament and ’96 when a mindless pitch saw Mohammad Azharuddin’s boys perishing against a resurgent Sri Lanka.

Pakistan had a decent start but then lost their way

Pakistan had a decent start, reaching 44 in the ninth over but the Indian pacers kept up the pressure, especially Ashish Nehra who gave just 33 runs in his 10 overs. Zaheer and Munaf Patel were less economical but they kept on picking wickets at regular intervals to put the Pakistanis under check.

Pakistan at one stage had slumped to 106 for 4 when Misbah ul Haq (56) and Umar Akmal (29) started the repair work. Akmal was looking ominous after he thumped Yuvraj for two sixes but then Dhoni tossed the ball up to Harbhajan Singh and the veteran off-spinner did the trick at his home ground, castling the Pakistani batsman with a crafty and accurate delivery. Pakistan were 142 for 5 in the 34th over and the target started looking distant from this stage on. The crowd at the PCA Stadium, too, felt that and the Tricolours started unfurling more.

Misbah the last man to fall again; as in 2007 T20 WC

It was all left to the calm and composed Misbah to do the job after the skipper Afridi hit a reckless shot off a full toss to be caught by Sehwag for 19. Misbah eventually fell as the last Pakistani wicket when he lofted one to be caught by Kohli off Zaheer and Pakistan were still 29 runs short of the Indian total.

It was the second time that Misbah perished as the final Pakistani wicket against India in a big tournament after the thrilling final of the 2007 World Twenty20 in Johannesburg. All the five Indian bowlers took 2 wickets apiece.

After the good start given by Hafeez (43) and Kamran Akmal (19), it was a disappointing end for Pakistan but the Indian bowlers deserved the credit for earning the victory. Their discipline in bowling was evident in giving away just eight extras as against Pakistan’s 18.

India made third WC final

India advanced to their third World Cup final (after 1983 and 2003) with the win while it was their second victory over Pakistan in a World Cup knock-out game at home after that famous win Bengaluru in 1996. They defeated the Lankans in the final in Mumbai to win their second title after 1983.

Tendulkar was adjudged the man of the match – the third time against Pakistan in the World Cup after 1992 in Sydney and 2003 in Centurion. It was also his fifth and final appearance against the arch-rivals in the mega event.

India also took a 5-0 lead over Pakistan in World Cup encounters, something which was extended to 6-0 in Adelaide in 2015.

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