The 2007 T20 World Cup was more of a platform for the starting point of a new generation of international cricket, and that one of the memories derived from this extremely dramatic and tension-filled match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on September 14, 2007 when India and Pakistan battled at the group stage. The highly dramatic and tension-filled match ended in a thrilling tie, where both sides achieved 141 runs in their respective 20-over innings. However, it was only the bowl-out-a rare and exciting method to break the tie-that transformed this match into a legendary chapter in cricket history.
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❌ @SAfridiOfficial#OnThisDay in 2007 India v Pakistan at #WT20 finished in a tie… and India won the bowl-out! pic.twitter.com/sN2dZMyLN2— ICC (@ICC) September 14, 2018
India Posts 141, Robin Uthappa Shines
Batting first, India could manage only 141/9, wherein Robin Uthappa had led in some valuable runs and MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan added to a huge score. Mohammad Asif was really on fire with the ball, taking 4 wickets for just 18 runs, and curtailled the Indian momentum well.
Chasing 142 for the victory, Pakistan had a tussle when India’s bowlers succeeded in applying pressure early on. Misbah-ul-Haq playing an important knock of 53 runs kept Pakistan in the contest. The match was taken to the last over and the tension between the two teams reached its climax. Sreesanth, showing nerves of steel, dismissed Misbah on the last ball, leaving Pakistan at 141/7 and the match ended in a tie, which meant there would be a bowl-out to decide the winner.
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India’s Memorable Bowl-Out Win Against Pakistan
The bowl-out is hardly ever seen in T20 cricket; however it worked with the asking of players to throw at undefended stumps, and the team which hit the stumps more often was declared the winner. In what proved to be an excellent tactical ploy, MS Dhoni decided to go for using the accuracy of Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, and Robin Uthappa instead of specialist bowlers. This move paid off with all three striking the stumps with their delivery.
While Pakistan’s bowlers could not carry out their target yet again, but this time, India won the bowl-out 3-0 through Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi. Dhoni’s calm and intelligent decision-making under extreme pressure was one of the hallmarks of his leadership that marks for one of India’s most vivid victories against Pakistan.
A Memorable Chapter in Cricket History
The match again proved to be a dramatic end, as Dhoni displayed a brilliant strategic mind, but the end result reached India’s triumphal march to the first T20 World Cup. For any cricketing fan, the match would never be forgotten since it turned into the symbol of the epic India-Pakistan rivalry and the craze of the new format of T20.
