Delhi: The historical match of Sharjah 1986, in which Javed Miandad won Pakistan by hitting a six on the last ball, always secures first place in India-Pakistan’s most exciting matches list. However, the truth is that the list of such high-voltage matches between these two arch-rivals teams is quite long. Something happened in every match that increased the heartbeat of cricket fans and recorded it in the pages of history. Apart from the memorable match of Sharjah, there have been many such matches that shook the cricket lovers. Which are the top-5 memorable matches-
Prior to this June 18, India had won 4 matches against Pakistan in all formats, but that day Men in Green won the title, changed its ICC record. Luck was with Pakistan from the beginning. Fakhar Zaman took advantage of the life that got from ‘no-ball out’ in the third over, he made 114 and along with 50 of Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez and Pakistan made 338/4 in 50 overs.
The pressure of this big score came to India. The score of 3 wickets (Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli) in Mohammad Aamir’s initial spell did not take long to score 72/6. Hardik Pandya- Jadeja’s 80-run partnership postponed the defeat for some time and the team collapsed for 158 runs. Pakistan became the Champions Trophy winner for the first time.
Karachi ODI, 2004: Then after about 25 years, Team India went to Pakistan to play a full series, so there was great enthusiasm. The first match of such a tour was on 13 March and many big personalities were in the ground. Noise and enthusiasm was so much that it was difficult to sit on the seat. In such a situation, a very close match was played in which around 700 runs were scored. India scored 349 runs (Virender Sehwag 79, Rahul Dravid 99). In response, Pakistan lost both openers for 34 runs, but Inzamam -ul -Haq (122) continued Pakistan and 9 runs were needed to win in the last over. Then Ashish Nehra did wonders and scored just 3 runs off the first 5 balls. Moin Khan caught Zaheer Khan on the boundary in an attempt to hit 6 off the last ball of the match and India won by 5 runs.
World Cup semi -finals in 2011: The day of March 30, Pakistan’s PM Yusuf Gilani was also in the pavilion of Mohali Stadium. The atmosphere was such that the Chandigarh Air Port was closed for all commercial flights from 6 am and Sukhoi-30 fighter planes were circling the sky. The Mohali Cricket Stadium had turned into a concentration. The wounds of Pakistan were not yet filled with defeat to India in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar’s last World Cup and the team were to win for Sachin, while Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi said, “We will kill our life in the match.”
In such a match, India scored 260-7 thanks to Sachin’s 85 runs. In response, the Indian bowlers were also not less and Pakistan already piled on the target 29 runs.
2015 World Cup in Australia: The day of 15 February and the first match of both teams in the World Cup was in Adelaide where there was an atmosphere like a party. At midnight, people were seen dancing to the tune of ‘Chak De India’ on the streets. India batted first and gave a target of 301 runs to Pakistan with the help of Virat Kohli’s 107 and Shikhar Dhawan’s 73. Indian bowling, especially Mohammed Shami, will be praised who took 4 wickets and the Pakistani innings was reduced to 224 runs. The atmosphere that was after the match did not seem that the match was happening in Australia.
Pakistan team’s India tour in 1987: Pakistan defeated India 5–1 in the 6 ODI series. The only match that India won (third of the series) was in Hyderabad on March 20. The match also divided the historic city into two parts. After a bad start, India made 212-6 in 44 overs (captain Kapil Dev 59 and Ravi Shastri 69*). In response, Pakistan was moving towards victory than 84 in 89 balls of Salim Malik, but India returned to the match by 3 wickets and stopped Pakistan at 212-7 in 44 overs. In fact, Pakistan needed 2 runs to win on the last ball and Kadir was run out in an attempt to take a second run on the shot of Manzoor Elahi. Today the match would have been tie or would go to super over, but according to the law, India won by falling less wickets. On this last ball, trapped in adventure and noise, there was also a mistake from the umpires. When Kapil bowled the ball to Manzoor Elahi, only 3 Indian fielders were inside 30 yards circles. The umpires did not pay attention to it.
The story after this match is very funny. Miandad could not digest this defeat and angrily came to Team India’s dressing room and shouted loudly that you guys won dishonestly. Ravi Shastri could not tolerate this and ran after him lifted his shoe.
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