Win #6 - Defeating Pakistan at Sharjah after 125

Thanks to CricketCountry for the image

If the Indians thought that the Rothmans Cup would be easy after their 1985 World Championship win, they were in for a shock in the first match. In their match against Pakistan, the top order slumped against the bowling of Imran Khan. The Indian team lost their first five wickets to Imran at the score of 34 when captain Kapil Dev joined Azharuddin at the crease.

The two added 46 runs for the sixth wicket before Kapil Dev fell, not able to replicate his Tunbridge Wells knock. Azharuddin managed to hold one end up with the others falling all around him. Madan Lal was the only other person who managed a score in double digits (other than extras). Once Azhar fell, the Indian innings folded quickly in the 43rd over for 125.

The buzz around the stadium was that the Indian team was going to be defeated by the young and charged up Pakistan side who were bent on taking revenge for the 1985 win. But the Indian team had other ideas. Despite losing Mohsin Khan, the Pakistan team were going good in their chase of the paltry target.

In what was a rarity at that time, both the openers had a strike rate of more than 100. Roger Binny stuck at the right time, dismissing Mudassar with one that moved away. Sunil Gavaskar took the first of his four catches of the match and then there was a procession. The early introduction of spin saw the match move decisively in the way of the Indians. The combined bowling figures of Ravi Shastri and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan was 17-7-33-4. Such was their control over the Pakistan batsmen.

It was all over in the 33rd over when Tauseef was dismissed by the Indian captain with the Pakistan score on 87. A big margin of 38 runs in such a low-scoring game that did not start right for the Indian team. A combined effort with the ball and good backing by the fielders meant that the earlier display by the batsmen was negated successfully.

This match would forever stay in memory of Indian fans, especially after scoring a small total and defending it successfully. India would go on to defeat Australia and win the Rothmans Cup, reminding everyone of their stature as No.1 in ODI cricket.