SK Flashback: When India made it 5-0 against Pakistan at the Cricket World Cup

Munaf Patel picked up the crucial wicket of Mohammad Hafeez at the top of the order

Pakistan’s steady start followed by middle-order downfall

In reply, Pakistan were off to a good start thanks to openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez. At this point, India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan gave them the important wicket of Kamran Akmal who got dismissed for 19.

Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq were playing patiently before a clever delivery from Munaf Patel sent the former packing after scoring 43.

After failing with the bat, Yuvraj Singh made a significant contribution with the ball as he dismissed Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan in quick succession to keep Pakistan at 106/4. At this stage, Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq were at the crease. While Misbah was saving his wicket, Umar Akmal was batting aggressively. However, his aggression didn’t last long as Harbhajan Singh’s brilliance bowled him and sent him back to the pavilion for 29.

Misbah’s final fight

Misbah was the last man standing for Pakistan

The match was gradually falling away from Pakistan as Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi bit the dust too and the Men in Green were tottering at 184/7. After Afridi’s dismissal, Ashish Nehra inflicted further damage by dismissing Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul to keep India on the brink of reaching the final. Towards the end, Misbah-ul-Haq showed some aggressive intent as he reached his half-century but it was too little too late by then.

During the penultimate delivery of the match, Misbah-ul-Haq skied a Zaheer Khan delivery high in the air before it was taken by Virat Kohli to help India qualify for their third World Cup final. Pakistan ended on 231 with Misbah-ul-Haq top-scoring with 56. All of the Indian bowlers viz. Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh took two wickets apiece with Nehra being the most economical of them all.

Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the Man of the Match for his knock of 85 as India booked their place the final against Sri Lanka at Mumbai. This was India’s fifth victory over Pakistan at the Cricket World Cup, thus continuing their unbeaten streak against Pakistan.