It was a match that was enveloped by increased tension all around as both nations waged a bitter battle in Kashmir. That India-Pakistan matches invariably throw up heightened excitement among fans is well documented to delve into and this one bordered on the same lines.
The match kicked off under overcast conditions with beefed up security cover but there was no let up in the intensity of flag-waving, whistle-blowing and drum-beating among the fans. Amidst this background, Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin called correctly and opted to set a target for their arch-rivals.
Azharuddin probably might not have been entirely satisfied with the score of 227 for six but then, one has to understand that India might have struggled to reach there had it not for his feisty half-century. He received solid support from Rahul Dravid who held the innings firm as Pakistan pegged them back.
As India walked out to defend a score of 227, there was one man who was willing to rise to the occasion even as the sun oozed out from the clouds. Venkatesh Prasad coming in as first change, ripped the heart out of the Pakistan innings with a probing spell of seam bowling. The lanky seamer caught Salim Malik at the crease with one that kept low as Pakistan were wobbling at 52 for 3.
Prasad grabbed the biggest scalp of the match when he induced the free-flowing Saeed Anwar to dangled at one that was moving away only to be snapped up by Azharduddin tumbling to his right in the slips. Anwar’s wicket was something India badly wanted for not only he has been India’s nemesis on many occasions before, but also because he was menacing to take the attack to the opposition.
Moin Khan tried to break the stranglehold Prasad was having over Pakistan with a nice cameo knock. The gloveman thumped a six off Prasad over mid-wicket but the bowler had the last laugh in the same over when he enticed Moin to pull one to deep fine-leg where Sachin Tendulkar took a nifty catch as Pakistan seemed like losing the plot at 124 for 6.
Prasad deepened the Pakistani crisis when he trapped bogged-down Inzamam-ul Haq in front when he tried to work one on the on-side. Inzamam’s painstaking 41 off 93 balls only aggravated their chase as their innings didn’t feature any partnerships of substance.
And it was left to Prasad to bring an end to the Pakistan fight when he had skipper Wasim Akram caught in the deep by Anil Kumble as India romped home by 47 runs.
Anil Kumble’s catch was barely completed and he had hardly walked out of the deep mid-wicket boundary that the frenzied fans invaded the ground prompting the players to scurry to the dressing room.
It was also India’s third straight win over Pakistan in World Cups.
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