India vs Pakistan World Cup history – Part II

Tags: WC Cricket 2015, India, Pakistan, Cricwaves Columns

Published on: Feb 13, 2015

India and Pakistan will kick off their respective World Cup campaigns by taking on each other at Adelaide on February 15, we pay a tribute to the history of Indo-Pak clashes in World Cups

India and Pakistan will kick off their respective World Cup campaigns by taking on each other at Adelaide on February 15, we pay a tribute to the history of Indo-Pak clashes in World Cups. In the second and concluding part, we look at the fourth and fifth encounters between the two sides, which took place in 2003 and 2011.


ICC Cricket World Cup, Centurion, March 1, 2003: For a change, Pakistan batted first, and they would certainly have hoped that it would change their luck as well, in World Cup matches against India. The early signs were positive as Saeed Anwar and Taufeeq Umar added a quick-half century stand. After Umar was dismissed for 22, Anwar carried on batting in supreme form against his favourite opponent. He went on to compile a memorable 101 from 126 balls with seven fluent fours before being bowled by Ashish Nehra. The other batsmen played around him. Younis Khan made 32, Yousuf Youhana 25 and Rashid Latif a quick 29 not out as Pakistan finished on a strong 273 for 7. Zaheer Khan and Nehra picked up two wickets each for India.


India were under definite pressure in the chase, but Sachin Tendulkar responded with a sensational knock, blasting Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar all over the park as India seized back the initiative very early on. Tendulkar needed just 75 balls for his 98 decked with 12 fours and one six, before he was eventually claimed by Akhtar. This was the innings in which Tendulkar’s famous upper cut came to the fore. There were good contributions from the rest. Virender Sehwag made 21 at the top, Mohammad Kaif 35, Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 44 and Yuvraj Singh on 50. India eased to victory in 45.4 overs.


ICC Cricket World Cup, Mohali, March 30, 2011: After a no show in the 2007 edition, India and Pakistan met again in the 2011 semi-final. For the fourth time in five meetings, India batted first and were off to a whirlwind start with Sehwag smashing 38 in 25 balls to get India away off to a flyer. Sachin Tendulkar had a rather off-day, and yet managed to score 85. He never looked in any kind of touch, and Pakistan bowlers reprieved him four times. Still, Tendulkar couldn’t get a hundred. India were actually in some sort of bother when Tendulkar was dismissed, but Suresh Raina’s unbeaten 36 ensured India finished with a fighting score of 260. Wahaz Riaz claimed five wickets for Pakistan.

Pakistan got off to a reasonable start, with Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez adding 44 for the opening wicket in quick time. But, the innings stuttered after Hafeez went for 43. Asaq Shafiq and Umar Akmal got starts but were dismissed for 30 and 29 respectively. Misbah-Ul-Haq held one end up for Pakistan. But, the innings for stuck and never found momentum. Haq was eventually the last man dismissed for 56 as India claimed victory by 29 runs. All Indian bowlers picked up two wickets each.


--By A Cricket Analyst

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