Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
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- Oct 1, 2012
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Few rivalries in sport let alone cricket surpass the rivalry of an India-Pakistan contest.It reveals intensity and competitve spirit at it's highest zenith reminiscent of a military battle.Irrespective of who won some of the most memorable games were victories for the game of cricket itself.
To me the best and most memorable India-Pakistan O.D.I.game was in the final of the Australasia cup in 1986 at Sharjah.It had the twist and turns of an epic Hollywood thriller with a continuous ebb and flow and ending with a dramatic climax.India were sailing along to an unsurpassable score before a mini -collapse in the middle order towards the end .Pakistan floundered in the run chase and only Javed Miandad's defiance kept them in the game.He literally was the pivot or backbone of the Pakistani chase displaying the nerves of a soldier and the craftsmanship of an architect.Even when towards the closing stages of the game India kept pegging back with wickets,Javed pierced the gaps with supreme skill to enable the ball to reach the ropes.On the final ball when 4 runs was required he lifted chetan Sharma over the ropes for a six,to hit the final nail in the Coffin.Even Indian supporters would have joined the celebrations that day,such was the spirit with which the game was played.Rarely have I have rarely seen such mastery by batsmen in manipulating field placings and exploiting the weaknesses of opponents or a player championing a cause as a lone crusader as Javed displayed that day.He executed the perfect shot for every ball faced.The intensity,competitiveness and ebb and flow reached a level I have never witnessed in an Indo-Pak .O.D.I.As a sportsman I wished Pakistan would win with Javed's genius.The game ressurected the past glory of Pakistan cricket which was ta low ebb for a period with a string of successive losses to India.
In 2nd place to me was t he O.D.I.at Karachi in 2004 which was the 1st game of a 5 match series.Chasing a a mammoth target of 348 Pakistan were going blistering barnacles looking like sailing home before Inzamam's dismissal.In the end India held it's nerves to ward of Pakistan by 5 runs.Inzy's dismissal stopped galleon in full sail.At
1n 3rd place I put the 2nd game at Rawalpindi of 2004 series with exactly the reverse of the 1st match at Karachi.Chasing target of 329 India looked to have the game in the bag before the dismissal of Tendulkar and a middle order flurry of wickets.
In 4th place I put the match in Ahmedabad which was the 4th of the 7 match series with Pakistan chasing a target of 320 to win and getting home on the last ball.Inzamam Ul Haq hit the wining run in which he played masterpiece proving his prowess as one of the greatest of match-winners.He rallied his team around with the nerves of a soldier and the skill of a surgeon.This victory was part of dramatic turnaround in the series.
In 5th place I place the game in Sharjah in 1985 with Pakistan chasing a target of a mere 125 and being bundled out for 87.India literally rose like a phoenix from the Ashes and it was their do or die spirit that ressurected themselves from the grave.
In 6th place I put the 2nd O.D.I of the 6 match series in 1987 when Salim Malic scored an unforgettable 72 of 35 balls with Pakistan requiring 65 of the last 6 overs.He revealed domination and strokeplay at it's supreme zenith to take Pakistan home by a margin of 2 wickets.Malik championed the cause of alone crusader as few batsmen have ever done in finish of a run chase.It was a testimony of the ressurection of Pakistani spirit under Imran.
I obliterated the 2011 semi-final which was hard -fought but marred by Tendulkar being dropped 4 times and Mizbah Ul Haq virtualy calling the shutters at the end.
To me the best and most memorable India-Pakistan O.D.I.game was in the final of the Australasia cup in 1986 at Sharjah.It had the twist and turns of an epic Hollywood thriller with a continuous ebb and flow and ending with a dramatic climax.India were sailing along to an unsurpassable score before a mini -collapse in the middle order towards the end .Pakistan floundered in the run chase and only Javed Miandad's defiance kept them in the game.He literally was the pivot or backbone of the Pakistani chase displaying the nerves of a soldier and the craftsmanship of an architect.Even when towards the closing stages of the game India kept pegging back with wickets,Javed pierced the gaps with supreme skill to enable the ball to reach the ropes.On the final ball when 4 runs was required he lifted chetan Sharma over the ropes for a six,to hit the final nail in the Coffin.Even Indian supporters would have joined the celebrations that day,such was the spirit with which the game was played.Rarely have I have rarely seen such mastery by batsmen in manipulating field placings and exploiting the weaknesses of opponents or a player championing a cause as a lone crusader as Javed displayed that day.He executed the perfect shot for every ball faced.The intensity,competitiveness and ebb and flow reached a level I have never witnessed in an Indo-Pak .O.D.I.As a sportsman I wished Pakistan would win with Javed's genius.The game ressurected the past glory of Pakistan cricket which was ta low ebb for a period with a string of successive losses to India.
In 2nd place to me was t he O.D.I.at Karachi in 2004 which was the 1st game of a 5 match series.Chasing a a mammoth target of 348 Pakistan were going blistering barnacles looking like sailing home before Inzamam's dismissal.In the end India held it's nerves to ward of Pakistan by 5 runs.Inzy's dismissal stopped galleon in full sail.At
1n 3rd place I put the 2nd game at Rawalpindi of 2004 series with exactly the reverse of the 1st match at Karachi.Chasing target of 329 India looked to have the game in the bag before the dismissal of Tendulkar and a middle order flurry of wickets.
In 4th place I put the match in Ahmedabad which was the 4th of the 7 match series with Pakistan chasing a target of 320 to win and getting home on the last ball.Inzamam Ul Haq hit the wining run in which he played masterpiece proving his prowess as one of the greatest of match-winners.He rallied his team around with the nerves of a soldier and the skill of a surgeon.This victory was part of dramatic turnaround in the series.
In 5th place I place the game in Sharjah in 1985 with Pakistan chasing a target of a mere 125 and being bundled out for 87.India literally rose like a phoenix from the Ashes and it was their do or die spirit that ressurected themselves from the grave.
In 6th place I put the 2nd O.D.I of the 6 match series in 1987 when Salim Malic scored an unforgettable 72 of 35 balls with Pakistan requiring 65 of the last 6 overs.He revealed domination and strokeplay at it's supreme zenith to take Pakistan home by a margin of 2 wickets.Malik championed the cause of alone crusader as few batsmen have ever done in finish of a run chase.It was a testimony of the ressurection of Pakistani spirit under Imran.
I obliterated the 2011 semi-final which was hard -fought but marred by Tendulkar being dropped 4 times and Mizbah Ul Haq virtualy calling the shutters at the end.
