Three times when India chased more than 300 to win against Pakistan

Chasing more than 300, to win a one day international has always been a difficult task. Even, in modern day ODI cricket, where scoring 300 runs during the first innings is not difficult anymore, it remains a challenge to chase down a score in excess of 300.

In matches, where pressure and stakes are really high, chasing big totals, has always been a difficult proposition.

India-Pakistan is the mother of all battles when it comes to pressure cooker situations. More so, when either of this team is chasing a big score, it is a test of temperament and skill.

For many years, the Indian team was not a good chasing side, but, lately, with the advent of players like Kohli and Dhoni, who are good chasers, India has improved a lot.

Let us take a look at three instances, where Indian team has chased down a target of more than 300 runs against Pakistan.

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1998, Independence Cup, Dhaka

Saurav Ganguly laid the foundation of an Indian win

Pakistan scored 314 runs during the first innings, with the help of centuries from Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed. It was a curtailed match, 48 overs a side. During those days chasing 300 was considered almost impossible.

India got off to a flying start. Before getting out, Tendulkar scored 41 runs from 26 balls. All-rounder Robin Singh was promoted to number 3, which turned out to be a very good decision as he scored 82 runs from 83 balls.

The real hero of Indian victory was Saurav Ganguly who got a magnificent hundred under pressure. Ganguly scored 124 runs from 138 balls.

Ganguly and Robin Singh were involved in a 179 run partnership for the second wicket. For Pakistan Saqlain Mushtaq took three wickets for 66 runs. Hrishikesh Kanitkar took India home with a boundary over mid-wicket on the penultimate ball of the match.

2008, Asia Cup, Karachi

Sehwag scored a brisk century to set up the Indian chase

Pakistan scored 299 runs in the first innings with the help of a brisk 125 from Shoaib Malik. Younus Khan chipped in with a half-century.

Playing against Pakistan in Pakistan is a difficult proposition, on top of that, India was chasing a monumental 300. Also, India did not have Sachin Tendulkar in their ranks. Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina latched on to this opportunity to become heroes for their country. Sehwag scored a century in his trademark style, 119 runs from 95 balls. Raina scored a blistering 84 runs from 69 balls. They added 198 runs for the second wicket. India got home with more than 7 overs to spare.

2012, Asia Cup, Dhaka

Virat Kohli celebrating his hundred

Pakistan scored a mammoth 329 runs in the first innings, with the help of brilliant centuries from Mohammed Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed. Both these players put on 224 runs for the first wicket. Younus Khan also scored a half-century.

Chasing 330 is a difficult task for any team. It requires a piece of individual brilliance to achieve a target like this and Virat Kohli did exactly the same for India. He scored 183 runs from just 148 balls which was laced with 22 boundaries, to take India home.

Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma chipped in with fifties. India got home in the 48th over.