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Download PDF Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s young Team India snatched the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Championship world title after defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five runs in a rousing final on Monday.
The Indians, restricted to 157-5 after electing to take first strike in good batting conditions, fought back to bowl out valiant Pakistan for 152 before a sell-out crowd of 32,000 at the Wanderers here.
Pakistan appeared out for the count when they were reduced to 104-7 after 16 overs, but Misbahul Haq gave the Indians a scare with a late charge of 43 off 38 balls.
Misbah and his tail-end partners took 19 runs in the 18th over bowled by Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and seven runs in the 19th from Rudra Pratap Singh, leaving 13 to get off the final over.
Seamer Joginder Sharma bowled a wide off the first ball and was hammered for a six by Misbah with the second legitimate ball, but gave India victory with his next delivery as the batsman holed out to fine-leg.
Rudra Pratap and Irfan Pathan claimed three wickets each as Pakistan’s jinx of never having beaten India in a World Cup or world championship match continued.
Top Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan was at hand to witness India take home the winner’s purse of 490,000 dollars while Pakistan received no prize money for their efforts in the final.
It was a remarkable performance by the Indians who had played just one Twenty20 international before the tournament began.
India’s innings was restricted by seamer Umar Gul who scalped three prize wickets of Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni and top-scorer Gautam Gambhir.
Gambhir slammed 75 off 54 balls, studded with eight boundaries and two sixes, but none of the other batsmen settled in to play a long innings.
The best partnership in the innings was between Gambhir and Yuvraj, who put on 63 for the third wicket.
India’s total was boosted by Rohit Sharma and Irfan Pathan who plundered 27 runs in the final two overs. Sharma remained unbeaten on a 16-ball 30.
Pakistan’s chase of the victory target of eight runs an over was launched by Imran Nazir who smashed 33 off 14 balls, taking 21 runs in the second over sent down by Sreesanth.
But Pakistan lost three wickets by the sixth over as left-armer Rudra Pratap dismissed Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal in his first two overs and Nazir was run out by a direct throw from Robin Uthappa.
Pakistan took the total to 65-3 in the ninth over when three further wickets fell for 12 runs, two in one over from Irfan Pathan.
Batting mainstay Younis Khan made 24 when he gave a catch to mid-on off Joginder Sharma and Irfan removed captain Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi in the 12th over.
Malik on-drove Pathan to Rohit Sharma at mid-wicket and Afridi, expected to provide the late fireworks, was caught in the deep off the first ball he faced.
India went into the match without aggressive opener Virender Sehwaq who was ruled out of the key match with a thigh strain sustained during Saturday’s semi-final against Australia in Durban.
Yousuf Pathan, elder brother of all-rounder Irfan Pathan who replaced Sehwag, made a dramatic start to his international career after being sent in to open the batting.
Pathan survived a run-out scare off the first ball of the match and smashed the fourth ball from Mohammad Asif over long-on for six.
September 26th, 2007 at 3:20 am
pAKISTAN pLAYED EQUALLY WELL & COULD HAVE WON THE GAME IF THEY WOULD NOT HAVE RUSHED.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:47 am
It was a great match. But what differentiated this sport of cricket between two countries is the ATTITUDE OF the captains after the match. Pakistan captain said he felt sorry for letting down ALL MUSLIMS OF THE WORLD!!! Did it include irfan pathan and yousuf pathan brothers from riot ravaged Gujerat of India? Did he mean that pakistan has only Muslims and no christians and hindus who rooted for his country?
The rumour about Tabliq jamat taking over Pakistan cricket team seems to be true.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Sports must be treated in the spirit of sports.
If you study the teaching of the Prophet mohammed
(SAS) He propagated universal Brotherhood. Religion is not a copulsion on any body for ALMIGHTY GOD is the judge for all.
When some one invite fellowship of Muslims in Sports, then the game must not be played on Fridays or on in the Holy Month of Ramzan.
War is forbidden in the Month of Ramzan yet our Muslims brothers create Chaos & fighting all over the Globe!
Any Way, Many of us have Hindu & Christian friends in addition to Muslim friends & Relations we bear no grudge againstr any peaceful people.
Islam still stands on true path There is ONE GOD & All Prophets From Adam to Abraham, Moses, Jesus & Mohammed (Peace be on all of these Holy Prophets) have equal status but Muslims are divided.
However Game is a game & the cleverest ones always Win!.
I live in England and though I am a Muslim I will support England in all games played by England
For England is my country where I live & My Children were born & By GOD I must Love the country as Propgated by Our Prophet MOhammed(MSAS).
Thank you.