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India to play Sri Lanka in World Cup final

Wed, 30 March 2011

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Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

One jinx broken'

'the other continues.

Team India scored a comfortable 29-run win over Pakistan in Mohali on Wednesday to book a berth in the decider of the World Cup.

The win was India's first at the semi-final stage at home, following losses in both 1987 and 1996, thereby breaking the jinx of failing at the last four stages as hosts.

On the other hand, Pakistan's jinx of never having beaten India in a World Cup encounter continued.

In five matches the neighbours have played in the tournament, India has come out on top on all the occasions.

It was India's first win in three matches over Pakistan in Mohali, and their 47th overall (against 69 losses).

It was also India's 13th win in its last 18 ODIs and ensured the co-hosts a place in what will be their third World Cup final.

MS Dhoni's team play Sri Lanka at the Wankhede on Saturday in a bid to end a 28-year-old draught and add to that memorable 1983 triumph. And of course to satisfy a billion restless souls.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

India complete a 29-run win over Pakistan in Mohali.

The win helps them book a final date with Sri Lanka at the Wankhede on Saturday.

Misbah (56) is the last man dismissed, caught by Kohli off Zaheer.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Nehra has trapped Umar Gul (2) leg before.

Just one wicket now between India and a place in the final.

Misbah is using the long handle now. Zaheer's ninth over costs India 14 runs.

Misbah is close to his fifty. He reaches his 14th ODI fifty with a maximum off Munaf.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Why Pakistan is yet to take the batting power play is something that is beyond explanation.

After one over they have to take it any way.

Nehra gets a wicket at last. He has Wahab Riaz (8) caught by Sachin.

It is 200 for eight now. Only formalities remain now.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Yuvraj has finished his spell (10-1-57-2).

Harbhajan replaces him in the attack, in the 42nd over.

And strikes, having the dangerous Afridi caught by Sehwag at cover.

It's all over now for Pakistan. They have lost their last hope.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Yuvraj's ninth over has cost India another 11 runs, Afridi doing the damage.

Yuvi has been expensive today.

More importantly though, he has picked up two vital wickets.

Zaheer is back into the attack in the 39th over.

Afridi survives. His shot off Yuvraj lands just in front off Nehra.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

The ball has been changed.

And it is Munaf who will bowl first with the new ball.

Yuvraj comes back to bowl, replacing Harbhajan. Dhoni wants to preserve the last two overs of the latter.

Munaf bowls a wide, the first extra run in the Pakistan innings and follows it up with a beauty that rattles Abdul Razzaq's (3) stumps.

Pakistan in deep trouble now. Until Shahid Afridi does something.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Harbhajan Singh has cleaned up Umar Akmal soon after the second drinks break.

It's the Turbanator's first ball off his new spell.

Akmal's 24-ball 29 was inclusive of a boundary and two maximums.

Abdul Razzaq has come in to bat.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Yuvraj's sixth over has cost India 12 runs, the best over for Pakistan thus far.

And Umar Akmal goes on the offensive again in his next, hitting over the bowler's head for another maximum.

Munaf, replacing Nehra, is unlucky though as a Misbah edge drops just short of Dhoni.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

On one hand we are talking of cricket diplomacy and on the other the audience in Mohali is happy saying anti-Pakistan slogans.

Umar Akmal survives a run out attempt. Yuvraj has shattered the stumps without the ball in his hands.

Another wicket at this stage would have been a death nail for the visitors.

Nehra replaces Harbhajan, the latter has forgotten the art of picking up wickets.

Akmal has decided to go on the offensive.

A boundary over extra cover is followed by a maximum over deep midwicket, both off Yuvraj.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Seeing Yuvraj's success, Dhoni has brought back Harbhajan into the attack in the 25th over.

Bhajji replaces the bowler who had replaced him: Zaheer Khan.

Dhoni has done a Kamran Akmal now. He has missed a simple chance to stump Younis, Yuvraj losing out on a second wicket on that occasion.

Not for long though.

Younis hits straight to Raina at cover three balls later.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Yuvraj strikes in the 24th over.

He has cleaned up Asad Shafiq (30).

The 29-year-old might have failed with the bat today but has delivered with the ball.

It is his 12th wicket of the tournament.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

It's Yuvraj Singh into the attack now, in the 20th over.

He has 11 wickets in the tournament thus far.

And he is immediately generating some turn.

Zaheer has replaced Harbhajan at the other end. What's in Dhoni's mind now.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Pakistan in some trouble now having lost both their openers.

It is up to their experienced batsmen to take up the responsibility now.

Younus Khan hasn't impressed thus far in the tournament but suddenly has the job of anchoring the innings now.

Shafiq comes out and hits Harbhajan over his head for a boundary.

Nehra is back into the attack now, in the 18th over. And almost induces an edge off Younus Khan's blade.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

28 runs came in the bowling power play.

Munaf has accounted for Hafeez in the 16th over.

The batsman, who was looking good in his 43, inexplicably tried a fancy shot and ended up giving a catch to Dhoni.

Pakistan has lost both its openers now.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Munaf Patel, who was expensive in his first four overs, is bowling a good fifth.

It is a maiden. Can you believe it?

Hafeez has hit Harbhajan to the fence through covers.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Harbhajan not only misses out on a chance to catch Hafeez at mid-off but also concedes a boundary.

Coming in to bowl his first over, the 11th of the innings, Bhajji does turn the ball a bit.

This brings us back to the question: Was leaving out Ashwin a mistake?

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal are batting sensibly here.

India's decision to play three seam bowlers has so far not worked in their favour.

However, it is the ever-dependable Zaheer who strikes in the 9th over, having Akmal (19) caught by Yuvraj.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Pakistani openers have frustrated India so far.

The home team has not managed a breakthrough in the opening eight overs.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal are batting sensibly here.

India's decision to play three seam bowlers has so far not worked in their favour.

However, it is the ever-dependable Zaheer who strikes in the 9th over, having Akmal (19) caught by Yuvraj.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Pakistani openers have frustrated India so far.

The home team has not managed a breakthrough in the opening eight overs.

Pakistan 43-0 in 8 overs

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Pakistan openers Kamran Akmal and Mohd Hafeez got reply to India's 260 off to a good start.

After seven overs, Pakistan were 38 without loss.

Both batsmen had 19 runs each to their name

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Wahab Riaz's career-best figures (five for 46) ensured Pakistan restricted hosts India to 260 for nine.

With the kinda start they had got, the hosts' final total was indeed a huge disappointment.

Sachin Tendulkar, benefitting from as many as six reprieves '" twice technology coming to his rescue and four being dropped chances, top-scored with 85.

However, it was anything but impressive.

That's all for now folks!

See you after the breather.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Wahab Riaz takes his maiden five-wicket haul when he has Zaheer Khan (9) caught behind.

Ashish Nehra (1) is run out.

And a good final over by Riaz ensures Pakistan restrict India to 260 for nine.

It seemed India would score 300-plus when Sehwag was batting.

But it was not to be.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Zaheer Khan is trying to play the long handle here and has managed to hit Riaz for a boundary.

Gul comes in to bowl the 49th over.

And a brilliant piece of fielding saves a certain boundary.

India has done decently in the batting power play.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh are putting up a good little partnership here, worth 31 runs.

Good lower order resistance this, albeit with a bit of help from Gul.

But Saeed Ajmal has given Pakistan another breakthrough here in his final over, having Harbhajan stumped.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

The batting power play has been taken in the 45th over.

And eight runs have come off Ajmal's first over in the period, including a boundary by Harbhajan Singh.

It is the first boundary in the last 15 overs.

Gul comes in to bowl. And Raina welcomes him by hitting a boundary over his head.

Raina picks up another boundary off Gul's third ball. And then it is Harbhajan's turn.

Gul has returned to his wayward ways, his profligacy is helping India.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Kamran Akmal has done it again.

He has dropped Dhoni off Riaz.

However, the miss doesn't prove costly as Riaz traps the Indian captain (25) leg before.

Dhoni goes for a referral.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Wahab Riaz has damaged the Indian prospects the most today, picking up four wickets.

But Kamran Akmal is playing for India today. This time he misses running out Raina.

The Indian innings has slowed down considerably. The only hope is now the batting power play.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Suresh Raina comes in to replace Tendulkar.

Afridi has finished his quota of overs.

No wickets for him today. But safe to say he has done his job well.

India reach the 200-run mark in the 40th over.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Saeed Ajmal has been brought back into the attack in the 37th over.

And he strikes, having Tendulkar caught by Afridi.

What others couldn't, Afridi could.

Tendulkar's luck finally runs out. He is dismissed for 85, his 115-ball knock inclusive of 11 hits to the fence.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Tendulkar, having been reprieved on five occasions now, seems to be enjoying his luck.

The Master Blaster is now trying out fancy shots.

Gul has been impressive in his second spell, conceding just four runs in two overs.

Umar Akmal now drops Tendulkar (on 81), Hafeez being the sufferer.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Shahid Afridi is back into the attack, in the 30th over.

And he induces an edge off Tendulkar again (on 68).

Kamran Akmal is clueless though.

The Master Blaster expresses his gratitude with a boundary over the off-side field.

Gul is back into the attack in the 32nd over. His first four cost 41.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

A boundary by Dhoni off Hafeez helps India reach the 150-run mark in the 27th over.

It is the Indian captain's second boundary.

Another misfield by Gul at fine-leg hands Tendulkar a boundary off Riaz.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Wahab Riaz is back into the attack in the 24th over.

Maybe Afridi wants to check if there's any reverse swing.

Riaz concedes just three runs but doesn't threaten.

However, he does the job that is expected off him in his second over, accounting for Virat Kohli (9), the latter hitting straight to Umar Akmal at backward point.

In comes Yuvraj Singh and he departs after just one ball, Riaz cleaning him up with a beauty.

The decision of not playing Shoaib Akhtar and including Riaz has worked for Pakistan.

Dhoni has eased the pressure with a boundary.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Virat Kohli has come in to replace Gambhir.

And Sachin has survived yet again, Younis Khan dropping him (on 45) at cover.

Poor Afridi.

His fielders have failed him completely today.

Sachin rides his luck to register hsi 95th ODI fifty, his 15th against Pakistan.

And he reaches there with a boundary off Afridi through extra cover.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Afridi is bowling well here. But his fielders aren't supporting him.

However, Hafeez has accounted for Gambhir here, having him stumped.

Spin has does the trick for Pakistan.

Gambhir made 27 and helped Tendulkar put on 68 runs for the second wicket.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Tendulkar hits Ajmal for a boundary to fine-leg and the crowd is back on its feet.

An outside edge off his blade finds its way to the fence, Kamran Akmal missing that one completely.

Yet another blunder from him.

Mohammad Hafeez comes into the attack now, in the 17th over and Gambhir hits him to the backward point for a boundary.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Shahid Afridi is into the attack, in the 12th over.

The Pakistan captain is the tournament's highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets.

Just three runs off his first over.

The introduction of spin has slowed down the scoring rate.

Misbah drops Tendulkar off Afridi. The Master Blaster is living dangerously here.

Afridi is livid.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Sehwag's dismissal has palpably slowed down the pace of the innings.

There's an occasional boundary but the Indian batsmen aren't dominating any more.

The hosts have reached 73 for one after 10 overs.

And Pakistan has opted to take the bowling power play immediately.

Ajmal has struck here, trapping Sachin leg before. Or has he?

They have gone for a review again.

And this time the decision goes in India's favour. There is a roar from the crowd.

Tendulkar is stumped off the next ball. He survives again.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Gul continues bowling to the legs though.

On this occasion Tendulkar punishes him, hitting him to the fine-leg fence.

The Master Blaster metes out the same treatment to Riaz in the first ball of his second.

Another comes in the fifth ball, through point. The shot helps Tendulkar cross the 400-run mark in this World Cup.

He seems to have taken off from where Sehwag left.

Saeed Ajmal replaces Gul in the attack in the ninth over.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Another boundary through midwicket by Sehwag in Gul's third over.

Then the opener goes past point for another, his ninth.

Gull has now conceded 33 off his three overs.

Sehwag is on 38.

Wahab Riaz replaces Razzaq in the attack in the sixth over.

And he strikes with his fifth ball, getting Sehwag out leg before with a beauty of a ball.

India opt for the referral but the decision stands.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Now it s Sachin's turn.

Gets a three off Razzaq.

Then Sehwag takes over again. Another boundary, his seventh. Super shot.

And Tendulkar finally gets a boundary for himself.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Abdul Razzaq opens the bowling from the other end.

It's a surprise decison one must admit. No Wahab Riaz as of now.

After three dot balls, Sachin manages to get off the mark with a single.

In comes Gul for his second over and Sehwag flicks off his legs for another boundary.

The second delivery witnesses a repeat.

Gul bowls the fourth to Sehwag's legs again and it is a third boundary.

The fifth goes through cover, the fourth boundary of the over. And so does the fifth.

And wait, it is a no ball as well. Gul's misery is compounded.

A dot ball to end the over.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag come into to bat amid loud cheer.

The heat is on already without a ball being bowled.

Sehwag starts the proceedings with a boundary off Umar Gul's third ball.

The shot helps him reach 1, 000 runs against Pakistan.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Dr Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan have arrived for the match.

It's the start of the cricket diplomacy.

Also in the attendance are Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

The decision is a tough one.

The captain has said at the toss that he wants more options in the seam department.

But Ashwin was very good in both the matches he featured in.

And Ashish Nehra has not played for some time.

Will dropping Ashwin prove costly for India?

Live scorecard - India vs Pakistan

Team India has had one change to their line up while Pakistan goes in with an unchanged line-up.

So it's basically end of the road for Shoaib Akhtar.

Teams:

India:

MS Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel.

Pakistan:

Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal.

India won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the second semi-final of the ICC World Cup in Mohali on Wednesday.

The moment MS Dhoni got it right with the coin, he had no hesitation in making what was in the end a predictable decision.

As mentioned earlier, Ashwin makes way for Ashish Nehra in the lone change in the Indian team.

Both the teams are practicing hard ahead of the toss.

The news here is that Team India that R Ashwin will be rested for the game and an additional seamer will be accomodated.

So we will have Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra leading the attack with Harbhajan Singh being the lone recognised spinner.

The conditions at Mohali has always suited the seamers.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the all-important semi-final between India and Pakistan at the PCA stadium here in Mohali.

There is a good 45 minutes to go for the match but the stadium is avout 90 per cent full.

The remaining crowd will be coming in for sure before the match commences.

And palpably it is a noisy atmosphere out here.

India to play Sri Lanka in World Cup final

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