India 260 for 9 (Tendulkar 85, Riaz 5-46) beats Pakistan 231 all out (Misbah 56, Nehra 2/33) India in the Finals against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
There was little tension when Zaheer gone for 14 runs in the 48th over. But Munaf had nice over of 49th. and finally Zaheer took Misbah in the 50th over.
Two decisive blows following the second drinks break, first the dangerous Umar Akmal and then Abdul Razaaq, put India on top while defending 260 in the second semifinal of the World Cup here on Saturday.
Earlier, Pakistan openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez looked in no trouble whatsoever as MS Dhoni chose to open the bowling with Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra to defend a competitive 260.
The Pakistani duo reached 44 runs in the ninth over and looked in no trouble whatsover. But just when the two openers relaxed, Zaheer skittled out the dangerous Kamran (19), who was caught at point by Yuvraj Singh.
Hafeez and Shafiq then buckled down in an attempt to play out a spell of tight overs by Indian bowlers, where Munaf, after bowling a maiden over, came back in the next over to remove a set Hafeez (43 off 59 balls) who played a loose shot off a wide delivery. The ball took an edge and went straight into Dhoni's gloves.
Youngster Shafiq and veteral Younis Khan then too the score past 100 and looked to stead Pakistan innings after Hafeez's wicket.
But Dhoni kept ringing changes and brought India's man of the World Cup Yuvraj Singh to bowl his left-armers.
Yuvraj began well to keep Pakistanis under control and then struck two decision blows. First, he castled Shafiq (30) and then in his next over lured Younis (13) into a drive that was nicely caught by a leaping Suresh Raina in the covers.
That brought Umar Akmal on the crease and the youngster's hit-all approach made the pitch look totally different.
He took on India's top wicket-taker Yuvraj and hit him for a couple of sixes during an innings that started taking a match-winning shape.
Dhoni got his boys together on the second drinks break and his midas touch once again did the trick, twice
First it was Harbhajan, who struck first ball after the break by ending Umar's threatening stay at the crease after he had made 29 off just 24 balls.
Munaf's perseverence with line and length too paid him as he removed the dangerous Abdul Razaaq (3) for his second wicket of the innings.
In the afternoon, Virender Sehwag got India off to a rampant start after MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat first.
Sehwag hit Umar Gul for five boundaries in the pacer's second over and also brought up his 1000 runs against Pakistan. Meanwhile, India raced to 50 in the fifth over of the innings.
But Afridi's decision to bring on left-armer Riaz into the attack brought immediate result as the quickie took out a dangerous Sehwag after the Indian opener had made a brisk 38 runs of 25 balls.
Sehwag immediately called for a review of Simon Taufel's decision, but it remained unsuccessful.
On the other end, Sachin Tendulkar looked pretty assured and took India to 73/1 in 10 overs, after which two deliveries stopped India's heart.
Tendulkar looked out for all money on an lbw appeal by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal but the master, after consulting Gautam Gambhir, took a review which turned out to be successful.
But off the very next ball, Kamran Akmal's smart glovework seemed to have caught Sachin out of his ground but once again the TV umpire gave it not out as Sachin seemed to have got his toe back just in the knick of time.
Thereafter, Sachin and Gambhir buckled down to bring up their 50-run partnership that helped India cross the 100-run mark.
Mohammad Hafeez was pressed into service by Afridi in the bowling powerplay where the Pakistani spinners pulled back Indian scoring giving away just 26 runs in overs 11-15.
After putting a lid on scoring, Hafeez drew Gambhir out of his crease to get him stumped and give Pakistan their second wicket. Gambhir made 27.
Gambhir's wicket was shortly followed by another life for Tendulkar, when Younis Khan dropped an easy chance at short cover off Afridi.
After that, Tendulkar's charmed life reached a 95th ODI fifty as Pakistan looked destined for a punishment from the master.
Riaz then came back for his second spell and immediately got reverse swing to put Indian batsmen on guard.
That actually accounted for Kohli (9) who was caught at backward point after being hurried by Riaz. In-form Yuvraj Singh came in next with all eyes on him to give Tendulkar company. But Riaz had a heartbreak planned for Indian fans as he castled Yuvraj (0) off the very next ball to jolt the Indian innings.
A scratchy Dhoni then accompanied Tendulkar as the two decided to buckle down to score in ones and twos.
Sachin, however, continued to live a charmped life with edges flying off his bat until one, at 85, flew straight to Shahid Afridi at short cover who didn't commit the same mistake his team had throughout the afternoon. Saeed Ajmal had finally got his man.
India now needed a partnership from its last recognised pair of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina but it didn't happen as Wahab Riaz had other ideas in his final spell of the innings.
The left-armer returned in the last 10 overs and struck right away to take his fourth and the Indian innings' sixth wicket in the form of Dhoni, who scored an untidy 25 off 42 balls.
Thereafter, it was about how Raina can hold the tail together for a final flourish.
Raina and Harbhajan Singh chose to take the batting powerplay from overs 45 to 49 and began well taking 22 runs off the first two overs but the wily Ajmal drew his counterpart Harbhajan out of his crease to get him stumped after scoring 12.
At seven down, it was now about playing out the 50 overs, which India finally were able to do with a not-out innings of 36 off 39 balls from Raina.
But it wasn't before Riaz completed his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Zaheer Khan (9).
In the afternoon, the most awaited match of the 2011 World Cup got underway here in the northern Indian city of Mohali with a loud cheer receving the two captains for the toss that MS Dhoni won and decided to bat.
How Wicket Fall:
8.6 Khan to Kamran Akmal, OUT, Done in by the slower one. And also done by his own favourite square drive. It was full and outside off stump, Kamran couldn't resist the temptation and reached out for his square drive. But he ended up slicing it straight to point.
Kamran Akmal c Yuvraj Singh b Khan 19 (21b 3x4 0x6) SR: 90.47
Pakistan 44/1 Mohammad Hafeez 25* (33b 4x4) Z Khan 3-0-17-1
15.3 Patel to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT, What was Hafeez thinking? Again, yet again, a lovely 30 -40 and he has combusted. He went for a paddle sweep, yeah a paddle sweep, to a full delivery outside off stump and edged it to Dhoni. Oh dear. Pressure? or over confidence?
Mohammad Hafeez c †Dhoni b Patel 43 (59b 7x4 0x6) SR: 72.88
Pakistan 70/2 Asad Shafiq 8* (13b 1x4) MM Patel 5.3-1-24-1
23.5 Yuvraj Singh to Asad Shafiq, OUT, whoops! Shafiq's gone. Too straight and a touch too full to cut, Shafiq went back and tried to, he missed and the ball skidded straight past him and hit middle stump, the Indians get into a huddle. He was cramped for room and short of time to play that shot
Asad Shafiq b Yuvraj Singh 30 (39b 2x4 0x6) SR: 76.92
Pakistan 103/3 Younis Khan 11* (24b) Yuvraj Singh 2.5-0-9-1
25.4 Yuvraj Singh to Younis Khan, OUT, caught at cover! A slow ball on a good length outside off, inviting Younis forward and into the drive. He takes the bait and spoons the ball towards Raina who leaps and takes the catch at head height. India are back in this ...
Younis Khan c Raina b Yuvraj Singh 13 (32b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.62
Pakistan 106/4 Misbah-ul-Haq 1* (3b) Yuvraj Singh 3.4-0-9-2
33.1 Harbhajan Singh to Umar Akmal, OUT, bowled 'im! Bhajji strikes straight away, it wasn't the doosra - more of an arm ball - but Umar played it horribly, neither forward nor back and swishing hopefully through the line of the ball. It nipped past the bat and clattered into the off stump
Umar Akmal b Harbhajan Singh 29 (24b 1x4 2x6) SR: 120.83
Pakistan 142/5 Misbah-ul-Haq 8* (24b) Harbhajan Singh 7.1-0-31-1
36.2 Patel to Abdul Razzaq, OUT, gone! Bowled! Munaf sends down a slower ball, another legcutter, and Razzaq plays down completely the wrong line to lose his off stump. India surge ahead with that wicket, they've got control now.
Abdul Razzaq b Patel 3 (9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Pakistan 150/6 Misbah-ul-Haq 12* (34b) MM Patel 8.2-1-31-2
41.5 Harbhajan Singh to Shahid Afridi, OUT, gone! Harbhajan sends down a high full toss, Afridi attempts to smash it baseball-style down the ground but the ball takes the top edge and swirls up for cover to take an easy catch. The captain departs, he had to go for his shots but couldn't execute that one too well. This is India's game now
Shahid Afridi c Sehwag b Harbhajan Singh 19 (17b 1x4 0x6) SR: 111.76
Pakistan 184/7 Misbah-ul-Haq 26* (50b 1x4) Harbhajan Singh 8.5-0-36-2
44.5 Nehra to Wahab Riaz, OUT, there's another one! Full and straight, Riaz swings mightily across the line but all he can do is send the ball straight up in the air, an easy catch for Tendulkar at cover. India are just two wickets away from a World Cup final. Pakistan are still alive, but only just. The pressure really told on Riaz there, all those dot balls made him feel as though he absolutely had to hit the boundary
Wahab Riaz c Tendulkar b Nehra 8 (14b 1x4 0x6) SR: 57.14
Pakistan 199/8 Misbah-ul-Haq 32* (54b 2x4) A Nehra 8.5-0-30-1
46.1 Nehra to Umar Gul, OUT, gone! Full, swinging, and Gul is struck flush on the foot as he swipes across the line. He asks for a review but to no avail, that's stone dead. Gul's unhappy day comes to an end. India are just one wicket away from a dream final
Umar Gul lbw b Nehra 2 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
49.5 Khan to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, there's the game! Misbah swings, the ball goes miles up in the air and lands safely in Kohli's hands at midwicket
Misbah-ul-Haq c Kohli b Khan 56 (76b 5x4 1x6) SR: 73.68
Statistics Highlights of India - Pakistan Semi final 2011 World Cup
# Virender Sehwag has batted quite well in the present competition, aggregating 380 runs at an average of 54.28, including one century and one fifty, in seven matches.
# Sehwag's aforesaid performance is his career-best in a series/competition, bettering the 348 in five matches at an average of 69.60 in the 2008 Asia Cup.
# Sehwag's 38 off 25 balls is his best innings against Pakistan at the World Cup, eclipsing the 21 at Centurion on March 1, 2003.
# Sachin Tendulkar has recorded his 95th fifty in ODIs - his 38th at home.
# Yuvraj Singh has posted his second duck at the World Cup - his 14th in ODIs.
# Tendulkar is the top run-scorer in ODIs at Mohali, aggregating 366 (ave. 61.00) in seven matches, including four fifties.
# Tendulkar is also the top run run-getter in India-Pakistan ODIs, amassing 2474 at an average of 39.90 in 68 matches, including five hundreds and 15 fifties, surpassing Inzamam-ul-Haq's tally of 2403 (ave.43.69) in 67 matches.
# Only Sanath Jayasuriya has made more runs than Tendulkar against Pakistan - 2517 runs at an average of 32.68, including three centuries and 18 fifties in 82 matches.
# Tendulkar is the first Indian player to amass 400 runs in the present World Cup - 464 at an average of 58.00 including two hundreds and two fifties in eight games.
# Tendulkar's run-aggregate is the second highest in the present tournament, next only to the 467 by Tillakaratne Dilshan at an average of 66.71, including two centuries and two fifties, in eight games.
# Tendulkar is the first batsman to amass 400 runs in a competition three times at the World Cup - the first two occasions being 673 (ave.61.18) in 2002-03 and 523 (ave.87.16) in 1995-96.
# Virender Sehwag (1036 at 35.72) has become the sixth Indian to complete 1,000 runs or more against Pakistan, joining Sachin Tendulkar (2474), Rahul Dravid (1899), Mohammad Azharuddin (1657), Sourav Ganguly (1652) and Yuvraj Singh (1251). Dhoni soon became the seventh Indian to do so -1001 at an average of 52.68 in 25 matches.
# Gambhir and Tendulkar were involved in a stand of 68 for the second wicket - India's best against Pakistan at the World Cup.
# Wahab Riaz (5/46) has recorded his career-best bowling performance in ODIs - his first five-wicket haul
# Wahab's performance is the best for Pakistan against India at the World Cup, surpassing the 3 for 59 by Mushtaq Ahmed at Sydney on March 4, 1992.
# Wahab Riaz (5/46) is the first Pakistani bowler to bag five wickets in an innings at Mohali.
# Ntini (5/21 against Pakistan on October 27,2006) and Riaz are the only two bowlers to bag five wickets at Mohali in ODIs.
# Riaz became the fourth Pakistani bowler to claim five wickets or more in an innings in India. He has joined Naved-ul-Hasan (6/27 against India at Jamshedpur on April 9, 2005), Aaqib Javed (5 for 35 against Sri Lanka at Gwalior on May 12, 1997 & 5 for 61 against India at Chennai on May 21, 1997) and Azhar Mahmood (5/38 against India at Bangalore on April 4, 1999).
# Suresh Raina (36 not out) has posted his highest World Cup score.
# Umar Gul (8.62) has recorded worst economy rate by a Pakistani bowler against India at the World Cup.
# Kamran Akmal is the third wicketkeeper to effect four stumpings in the tenth edition of the World Cup, joining Kumar Sangakkara and Mushfiqur Rahim.
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