The India-Pakistan rivalry in cricket is renowned for the excitement and passion it generates amongst fans though opinion remains divided on whether it really matches up to the fervour of an Ashes contest. The duels between the two nations are as fierce as they are memorable.
Fresh from its triumph in the World Championship of Cricket in Australia, India was on cloud nine. The team’s confidence was high but a resurgent Pakistan under Imran Khan soon brought it down to earth in the opening match of the Rothmans Four-Nation Cup. Imran finished with six for 14 in a devastating spell of accurate fast bowling. A target of 126 was modest, but India converted it into a winning one, thanks to Sunil Gavaskar picking up four catches in the slips and Kapil Dev (3 for 17) inspiring the team to great heights. India shot out Pakistan for 87, as it recorded one of its finest wins in this format.
Javed Miandad broke countless Indian hearts with a stunning shot that gave Pakistan, needing four runs off the last ball, a victory to cherish in the final of the Austral-Asia Cup. Chetan Sharma, attempting to york Miandad, saw the ball disappear into the stands behind mid-wicket, and with it began a new chapter in India-Pakistan cricket. Miandad’s knock (116 off 114 balls, three fours and three sixes) was a masterpiece. At no point did he appear in any discomfort and was rarely hustled into playing a false shot. The defeat haunted India for quite some time.
The city was tense and the cricket administration was on its tenterhooks ahead of the World Cup match between India and Pakistan. As the host, the pressure, obviously, was on India, but Pakistan was in no different state. India batted and set up a stiff target of 288, thanks to N. S. Sidhu’s valuable 93 and then a pulsating charge by Ajay Jadeja — 45 off 25 balls — that left Pakistan stunned. Pakistan had the chase under control, but Venkatesh Prasad getting rid of opener Aamer Sohail proved to be the turning point. India won by 39 runs, but it was a closer match than the margin suggests.
This was an acrimonious contest. There was cause for concern for the authorities and the Indian team as crowd trouble erupted. There was not one supporting voice for India when it began its chase of 266 in 47 overs after the innings was stopped following a walkout by the Indian team. Sourav Ganguly and Vinod Kambli took up the challenge and tore into the Pakistan attack with a flurry of rousing shots. A middle-order collapse raised Pakistan’s hopes, but Robin Singh and Saba Karim kept up the good work. When the contest became too close, Rajesh Chauhan silenced the audience by hoisting Saqlain Mushtaq for six to signal India’s victory.
A last-over finish can always leave you out of breath. However, a last-over win in poor light when chasing a stiff target can be sweet and memorable. The stadium was rooting for Pakistan with India facing a daunting 315 to win from 48 overs. Sourav Ganguly (124) and Robin Singh (82) swung the game India’s way with a second-wicket stand of 179 runs. India, however, lost its way and was staring at defeat. It all boiled down to the last over as India looked to Hrishikesh Kanitkar. He made no mistake as he clouted Saqlain Mushtaq for a boundary to seal victory in the third final of the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup.
The teams were well matched. It was a placid track and just the platform for a great game of cricket in the World Cup. It turned out to be one. Saeed Anwar slammed a brilliant century that laid the foundation for Pakistan’s 273 for seven. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag gave India a blistering start (53 in 5.4 overs) and Pakistan never recovered from it. Mohammad Kaif, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh built on the marvellous start to finish the game with 26 balls to spare. Tendulkar’s determined assault (98 off 75 balls) was the highlight of India’s glittering show that wonderful night.
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