One of the most fierce rivalries in sporting history, any game between India and Pakistan is more than just a regular match. The Men In Blue have dominated the Pakistan team at the biggest stage possible for quite a few years especially in any ICC tournament and in the 50-over World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar has carried the weight of the nation for over 20 years. The iconic master blaster has been India’s Starwalt and the heartbeat of Indian cricket which has made the sport a religion in India. On this day in 2011, The legend scored a magnificent 85 to help the Indian cricket team defeat arch-rivals Pakistan in the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar’s knock guided India to a historic third ICC World Cup final.
It was an innings struck in the minds of every Indian cricket fan as one of the most memorable memory from the 2011 World Cup. Sachin’s magic help the MSD lead Indan cricket team into the final against fellow sub-continent team Sri Lanka at the hometown of the little master where India lifted the coveted trophy after 28 years.
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Playing at Mohali’s Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in the second semi-final Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat first. The Dynamic opening pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Shewag took to the crease and hit the Pakistani bowlers hard. The fire and Ice duo struck 50 runs within 7 overs. The aggressive opener Virender Shewag scored 38 runs in just 25 balls taking the pressure off Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian team kept dealing in boundaries as they hit nine of them during the first powerplay.
While Shewag was undone for 38 by Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hafeez got the better of Gautam Gambhir who scored a 32 ball 21. Riaz also ended Virat Kohli’s struggle at the pitch as the current Indian skipper managed to score just 9 runs from the 21 balls he faced while batting with Sachin Tendulkar. A rare failure for India’s most in-form player and ICC World Cup 2011’s player of the tournament, Yuvraj Singh. The cancer battling Warrior was dismissed for a golden duck by Pakistan’s fast arm bowler Wahab Riaz.
The little master kept running out of partners but he stuck around to sail the Indian innings to safety. Sachin Tendulkar would have been praying to the gods and thanking the almighty on 30th March 2011 as the little master got not just one but three lifelines during his stay at the crease. Tendulkar, was dropped thrice in the match helped himself to a gritty 85 off 115 and small cameos from Dhoni and Suresh Raina propelled India to respectful 260-9 in 50 overs.
Pakistan openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez stitch up 44 runs for the first wicket before Akmal was dismissed by Zaheer Khan. Munaf Patel got the better of Mohammad Hafeez when the Pak opener was just 6 runs away from a gritty 50 for his nation in the semi-finals of the biggest cricket tournament in the world. Yuvraj Singh joined the party as the all-rounder sent Shafiq packing in the 24th over of the Pak innings.
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Yuvi struck again to send the veteran Younis Khan back in the hut in the 26th over. Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal began to stabilize Pak’s sinking batting collapse by attacking the Indian bowlers. Misbah raced up a thrilling half-century ending his innings with 56 runs on board. Umar Akmal continued to slaught the Indian bowlers before Dhoni’s master plan got the better of him. The Indian captain introduced Harbhajan Singh into the attack which eventually shifted the game in India’s favor. Munaf Patel removed Abdul Razzaq while Bhajji returned to get rid of Afridi leaving Misbah without a solid batter in the death overs of Pakistan’s innings.
With the last 6 overs to go, Pak needed a massive 62 runs when Dhoni sent in Ashish Nehra to create trouble for the Pakistan players. The veteran fast bowler did not disappoint as he dismissed Riaz and Umar Gul. In the end, Misbah’s wicket was once again (throwback to the World T20 final 2007 at Johnsburg) confirmed India’s slot for the finals as Kohli took the catch of Misbah and send India’ to Wankhede.
