Which match is Pakistan's greatest World Cup victory?

[Rana]

I dont want to mention the typical, obvious win over England in the 1992 world cup final. I am talking more in the sense of a match that captivated the emotions, prayers of the entire world and not only the millions watching in Pakistan. A hard fought victory at a time when the going was tough, or the opposition was unstoppable. Victories that have defined Pakistan's existence as the mercurial, unpredictable and simply brilliant on its day.

I would argue that yesterday's win against England was easily Pakistan's greatest victory in a world cup fixture. Losing 12 matches on the trot. Not being able to defeat a top 4 cricketing nation in the run in since 2015. Fresh of a mauling at the hands of West Indies. Facing England in the most daunting venue where the English have defined their own identity as the most destructive batting side. Pakistan did not walk through this game of course, England still gave it their best shot but fell short. This was a proper, proper win! The drop of Joe Root who went on to score a 100. Butler's fantastic 100 but Pakistan still defending 348 at Trent Bridge! This was no fluke, it was a real effort and a reward!

The second victory in contention is the win against South Africa in the 2015 World cup. Totally out of the blue! Pakistan were going through a torrid time down under. The top teams were constantly flexing their power and batting prowess, but Misbah's side were struggling to post a respectable total. Beating a strong South Africa side in must win game, with AB Devilliers in peak form defining the modern batting game for the world. AB gave Pakistan plenty of heart attacks in that game but Pakistan held onto their nerve and got through eventually.

The third victory has to be the win against New Zealand in the 1992 Semi Final. Facing the host nation in a tough, tough run chase of its time. Miandad's calm stability and Inzimam's iconic attacking knock.

These are three of my top picks, but I rank yesterdays win as the best ever considering all of the circumstances involved. What would you say?

 

[MenInG]

versus England yesterday has to be the best after WC 1992.

 

[Nado_]

I’m a big fan of the game we played against Aus 99 group stage, prob not the greatest but one of my personal favourites

 

[Slog]

I’m a big fan of the game we played against Aus 99 group stage, prob not the greatest but one of my personal favourites

Me too. And prolly one of the bette performances against a solid side.

Underrated but the win against SA in 2015 was great imo coz it was unexpected and a must win

 

[Junaid_ahmed]

1999 ag Australia
1987 ag WI
1979 semifinal ag WI (pak didn't win that but it was one of the best ODI played by any team ag the great WI)
1992 semifinal

 

[PakLFC]

When we had to defeat the Aussies to qualify for the semi final of the 1992 WC. After the heavens came to our aid when we got a point against England the pressure would have been intense.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

1999 Aus vs Pakistan - Akhtar and Wasim turning it around.

Yesterday’s match was awesome as well.

 

[Nado_]

Me too. And prolly one of the bette performances against a solid side.

Underrated but the win against SA in 2015 was great imo coz it was unexpected and a must win

Yh the SA game was a rollercoaster!

 

[moghul]

1-1992 WC final
2-1992 WC semifinal : a knock out game, SF of the world cup , beat the host nation, coming from behind
3-2019 Against England : yesterday

 

[MMHS]

25 March 1992, against ENG.

Yesterday’s game was just a group game against one of the favourites, because of that 0-11 (or 0-4) run, it looks that good, otherwise it won’t come even in top 5-6.

Here are the games that should be rated much higher than this game (not in particular order)

1979 - VS AUS (effectively QF)
1987 - WI & END (games in a group of death)
1992 - AUS
1992 - NZ (both)
1999 - AUS (almost ensured a SF spot as PAK took 4 points to super 6)
2011 - AUS, that was the first loss for Aussies in 12 years & 23 games in WC, which ensured PAK a top spot in group & QF tie with WIN
2015 - SAF, an elimination game against arguably the most or 2nd favourites

Not to mention the 1992 Final & 1999 SF

 

[msb314]

I dont want to mention the typical, obvious win over England in the 1992 world cup final. I am talking more in the sense of a match that captivated the emotions, prayers of the entire world and not only the millions watching in Pakistan. A hard fought victory at a time when the going was tough, or the opposition was unstoppable. Victories that have defined Pakistan's existence as the mercurial, unpredictable and simply brilliant on its day.

I would argue that yesterday's win against England was easily Pakistan's greatest victory in a world cup fixture. Losing 12 matches on the trot. Not being able to defeat a top 4 cricketing nation in the run in since 2015. Fresh of a mauling at the hands of West Indies. Facing England in the most daunting venue where the English have defined their own identity as the most destructive batting side. Pakistan did not walk through this game of course, England still gave it their best shot but fell short. This was a proper, proper win! The drop of Joe Root who went on to score a 100. Butler's fantastic 100 but Pakistan still defending 348 at Trent Bridge! This was no fluke, it was a real effort and a reward!

The second victory in contention is the win against South Africa in the 2015 World cup. Totally out of the blue! Pakistan were going through a torrid time down under. The top teams were constantly flexing their power and batting prowess, but Misbah's side were struggling to post a respectable total. Beating a strong South Africa side in must win game, with AB Devilliers in peak form defining the modern batting game for the world. AB gave Pakistan plenty of heart attacks in that game but Pakistan held onto their nerve and got through eventually.

The third victory has to be the win against New Zealand in the 1992 Semi Final. Facing the host nation in a tough, tough run chase of its time. Miandad's calm stability and Inzimam's iconic attacking knock.

These are three of my top picks, but I rank yesterdays win as the best ever considering all of the circumstances involved. What would you say?

I might be in the minority but I hold our victory vs Aus in the 2011 WC also in high regard. Not only did we we snap Aus 34 WC game winning streak but it was major victory against a top side - after the debacle of the 2003/2007 WC’s

 

[Rana]

25 March 1992, against ENG.

Yesterday’s game was just a group game against one of the favourites, because of that 0-11 (or 0-4) run, it looks that good, otherwise it won’t come even in top 5-6.

Here are the games that should be rated much higher than this game (not in particular order)

1979 - VS AUS (effectively QF)
1987 - WI & END (games in a group of death)
1992 - AUS
1992 - NZ (both)
1999 - AUS (almost ensured a SF spot as PAK took 4 points to super 6)
2011 - AUS, that was the first loss for Aussies in 12 years & 23 games in WC, which ensured PAK a top spot in group & QF tie with WIN
2015 - SAF, an elimination game against arguably the most or 2nd favourites

Not to mention the 1992 Final & 1999 SF

I think you are majorly underestimating the game yesterday. Pakistan were smashed for 444 at Trent Bridge in 2016. They lost a game at Trent Bridge recently after scoring a big total. They were bowled out for 105 against the West Indies. They didn’t just turn up and roll over England like they did with India in the CT final. This was never a one sided contest, it was a real battle/dog fight and Pakistan came out on top eventually

 

[mudassir84]

Mohali 2011 semi final would have been the mother of all victories but

92 semi filnal vs Nzl
99 vs Australia (Heart pumping match)
And
2015 vs South africa

 

[MMHS]

I think you are majorly underestimating the game yesterday. Pakistan were smashed for 444 at Trent Bridge in 2016. They lost a game at Trent Bridge recently after scoring a big total. They were bowled out for 105 against the West Indies. They didn’t just turn up and roll over England like they did with India in the CT final. This was never a one sided contest, it was a real battle/dog fight and Pakistan came out on top eventually

This is just a random game which earned 2 points. Had PAK won against WIN, most posters won’t have even mentioned it as special- rather they would have boasted the flexing muscles of “tournament team” - 2 out of 2 wins. There was not much on stake here like most games I have mentioned in my list and PAK played a pressure less game, where they started with massive odds to win.

I can recognise most of the posters here after almost a decade in PP and I can understand who are most of the posters here hyping this game to such status - they have grown up in a period when a win against top 4-5 teams by PAK is considered as an upset. And, I am sure hardly any of them has gone through the live experience of those epics that define character - that WC SF of 1979, those 2 wins in 1987, that WACA game in 1992, the Leeds game in 1999... those were games where two equally matched teams (& individuals) were tussling horn to horn for pride, glory and personal ego as well. Yesterday’s game was an underdog beating the favourites on ones good day and others bad one.

Sorry, if I had hurt your feeling, but that’s my reaction to the game. No credit taken away for sure.

 

[silentkiller187]

yesterday's game has to be up there, plenty of emotion especially when Butler and Root were going strong, edge of your seat stuff, the english commies always add to the drama know exactly how to sell a game.

 

[karthikc]

Those 2 games against New Zealand in 1992..nothing can match those..only people who watched the 1992 world cup on TV at that time would realise the enormity of defeating a team which crushed all th other sides for fun in that tournament

 

[Hasan123]

2011 against Australia for me. Ending that streak was amazing.

 

[Chokli]

1999 Group match vs Australia - Won by 10 runs
2011 Group match vs Sri Lanka - Won by 11 runs
2019 Group match vs England - Won by 14 runs
2015 Group match vs Zimbabwe - Won by 20 runs
2015 Group match vs South Africa - Won by 29 runs

All five had me on the edge of my seat... Some great cricket, yesterdays was much better than the other two since we were on a 11 match losing streak

 

[cricket4all]

Pakistan vs New Zealand semi final in the 1992 World Cup because it was a high pressure knockout they were losing and behind mostly.......until Inzy with the support of Javed and Moin changed the game and won it for Pakistan...thrilling and to the delights of Pakistan making their first ever final and breaking kiwi hearts.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

v Windies in 2011 WC QF

 

[Ab Fan]

Yesterday match was the greatest after the WC final 1992 because of the fact that your batsmen went on to score a marvellous 348 in first inning with the bat and pretty much all got runs.

That is a great news one would expect from any team not known for batting firepowers.

 

[ExplicitAI]

Since I started watching cricket in 2011 (during the world cup) I'd have to say the game against Aus in 2011 was the greatest victory I've seen mainly due to Aus being portrayed as an invincible juggernaut. The 2011 squad we had is the equivalent to a lone pirate assembling lost members of his crew due to the 2010 controversy. I remember the run chase as well, it was quite tense and I was literally cursing Misbah when he got out for a duck. The England victory yesterday is probably my second favourite to mention as our greatest WC victory.

 

[Rana]

v Windies in 2011 WC QF

That was a subcontinent desmantling of a poor team against spin. The opposition didn’t show up

 

[Rana]

Pak v NZ 2019?

 

[freezerburn]

pak vs afghanistan 2019
pak vs bangaldesh 2019

 

[Abdulm123]

Pak vs Sa 2015. No doubt, this was definitely the best victory achieved by Pakistan in world cup history besides 1992 world cup final (obviously). We defended a low target of 200 against a team consisting of prime Amla, QDK, Faf, ABD and Steyn and Morkel. Could you have asked for anything else?

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Enjoyed the win against NZ, this certainly rank amongst top 10 wc win

 

[Fahdi]

1992 Semifinal vs New Zealand still remains the best I would say.

 

[QalandarFan]

Ending Australia run of like 30+ undefeated matches in World Cups in 2011 was pretty special.

Against England a couple weeks ago was also great!

 

[QalandarFan]

Pak v NZ 2019?

Probably one of the best chases for a Pakistan side. It was so satisfying to see us chase it down with no hiccups along the way. Our two most talented and gifted batsman stuck it out and stayed at the crease for 25+ overs to put up 125 runs and win us the game. We as Pakistani fans are not use to this type of batting whilst chasing and in such a high pressure game WOW. Haris and Babar along with Fakhar and Imam at the top can really turn a leaf for Pakistan, they already kind of have on this tour. The way they've batted on this tour apart from the Windies game, India game and Aussie game in 7/10 matches on this tour we have been superb with the bat. Unlike England not only did our boys do it in those flat phatta pitches the Englishmen offered up but they also played brilliantly on a rank turner today. Last pitch wasn't an easy one to bat on either. It's been some seriously good batting by us on this tour.