#ThisDayThatYear: India thrash Pakistan in 2011 World Cup semi-final
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan locked horns in the high-voltage World Cup semi-final on March 30, 2011 in Mohali. The pressure of making it to the final was comprehensively mounted on both the sides, but the Dhoni-led India were still deemed hot favourites. Rightly so, India imposed a 5-0 World Cup lead on Pakistan, having won the semi-final. Here is how the action unfolded.
Openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar got off India to a flier. While the latter commenced his innings patiently, Sehwag whacked the Pakistani seamers before departing on 38. Sachin and Gautam Gambhir built a pivotal 68-run stand before Mohammad Hafeez ignited a batting collapse. However, Suresh Raina (36 off 39) propelled India to 260. Wahab Riaz took a five-for with Saeed Ajmal picking two.
The Pakistan openers commenced their chase with a bang. However, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan provided India the crucial breakthrough in the form of Kamran Akmal before the 10th over. Pakistan were soaring on 103/2 when Yuvraj Singh did the trick and uprooted Asad Shafiq. Although Misbah-ul-Haq held one end, the rest couldn't complement him enough. India sealed a rather one-sided contest by 29 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar's 85 off 115 deliveries was the differential for India when it mattered the most. However, the Master Blaster had to work hard for sticking around as he looked uneasy at the crease. In the 11th over, a timely review for LBW saved him after the on-filed umpire raised the finger. Pakistan's sloppy fielding also helped him, dropping the Little Master four times.
Having won the all-important penultimate clash, India extended their winning streak against Pakistan in World Cup tournaments. They had previously beaten Pakistan in all the four World Cup encounters (in 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003 respectively). India later registered victories in 2015 and 2019 too.
