The Dream match

24 September, 2007. Johannesburg, South Africa was the venue that was going to host an event which had the potential to just freeze two countries for over 3 hours. It was the final of the first ever T-20 world cup. The stage was set, careers were on line and for the first time, maybe, traffic wasn’t an issue in India, or even Pakistan for that matter.The streets were buzzing with enthusiasm; screens were being put up in societies and shops. Nobody dared to miss this, for sure.

And, the action began. India lost the toss and was asked to bat first on a good wicket. Pakistan was the first to fire the bullet, removing Yusuf early on in the innings when the batter tried to chance his arm against a swinging delivery from Mohammed asif. The innings stuttered and stumbled, run rate never quite took off. But despite losing wickets at the other end, Gambhir played a fine knock and it was only because of his glorious 75 runs and some late flourish by Rohit that India managed to put up a modest score of 157 runs . It wasn’t a score to boast about but was definitely something to play with and the pressure of chasing in big games can do crazy things and this was the biggest of them all.

Speculations were flowing thick and fast on whether the score was good enough? How will Pakistan respond?

Soon, the Pakistani chase began and it began on a terrific note when Imran Nazir destroyed Sreesanth in his first over itself. However, India struck back through RP Singh. Those were nervous moments as the game could have gone anywhere. But Irfan Pathan had other ideas as he triggered a collapse and scalped four major wickets to give India more than a sniff .With four overs to go and 52 runs required, not many people gave Pakistan a chance. But hey, can an India – Pakistan game, that too a final, be this dull? You know the answer.

Misbah-ul-haq was standing firm in India’s way to history,making sure that Pakistan kept hanging in the match by the scruff of their neck. He demolished Harbhajan Singh in the 17th over hitting him for three sixes. It came down to the last over with Pakistan requiring 12 runs and India a wicket away. Dhoni played a gamble by giving the ball to the young Joginder despite having an over of Harbhajan up his sleeve. Misbah clobbered the second ball for a huge six over long off and the equation now was 6 from 4, well within Pakistan’s grasp.Was it all over for the Indians? Well, at that moment I switched off my television in disgust and anger only to be informed a ball later that INDIA had done it, Misbah was out caught trying to play a cheeky lap shot over fine leg that ended up in Sreesanth’s hands. I remember I was screaming at the top of my voice and at the same time regretting why I had switched off the TV. Emotions were flowing high and the feeling that INDIA had defeated arch rivals in a world cup final and had clinched the trophy, was ineffable.

What would have happened in Pakistan is a different story!!