India is on top in the second semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 against Pakistan on a track that has gone slower as the game has progressed. At the end of the 39th over, the Men in Green need another 93 runs to qualify for the final of the mega event against Sri Lanka.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has so far used his spinners brilliantly which helped him to break the momentum of Pakistan’s innings.
In pursuit of a competitive target under pressure, Pakistan was off to a great start through their openers and things were looking bright for them. Both Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez played some delightful shots and made sure that they do not allow the run rate to creep up. However, both of them failed to convert their starts into a big knock which could steer the Men in Green home.
Hafeez was looking in supreme touch before he tried to scoop a Munaf Patel delivery over the head of short fine-leg. It was a ridiculous piece of shot selection as the ball was way outside the off-stump and there was no need of big shots at that time.
Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan tried to consolidate Pakistan’s innings from then on, but just like the openers they could not carry on and build their innings, which was the need of the hour.
Although Younis is one of the most senior players in Pakistan’s rank, but he failed to cope with the pressure of such a big game against the arch-rivals. He dropped a sitter of Sachin Tendulkar and looked visibly under pressure while he was on the crease.
Umar Akmal looked threatening for a while, as he struck a couple of towering sixes, but Harbhajan Singh got the better of him. Young Akmal struck a one-handed six of the bowling of Yuvraj Singh which was a spectacular sight.
Pakistan’s hopes now rely on their captain Shahid Afridi and vice-captain Misbah ul Haq as both of them have the capability take on the Indian bowling. The Men in Green need more than eight runs per over and that is still not impossible, although very difficult under trying circumstances.
