There’s always a great fight between India and Pakistan, especially if it’s a World Cup. Due to the tense situation between the two countries, the game in 2003 was a much-anticipated event. The Blue Men lived up to their expectations to defeat their rivals and keep on their victory in the World Cup against Pakistan.
The star of the match was Sachin Tendulkar for his outstanding chase hit. But if he had scored a century it would have been the more unforgettable. He scored 98 runs in just 75 deliveries with 12 fours and a six. Shoaib Akhtar delivered him a brutal bouncer when he was already struggling and caught.
While the pacer and the entire Pakistani team had a significant breakthrough at that time, Akhtar has now stated he was disappointed that Sachin couldn’t do it. He wanted him a well deserved century and felt that he should have hit the bouncer he bowled for six.
“It was unfortunate as Sachin has been out for 98. He had to hit the ton mark, and it was a special inning. I wanted the century to reach him. I ‘d love to see a six for this bounce, as he hit previously, “said Rawalpindi Express during a Helo live session.
What happened in the match?
Shoaib Akhtar was taken to the cleaner as he provided 72 runs in his 10 overs. He picked only Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket in the game as India comfortably chased down 274 with more than four overs to spare. Besides Sachin, in the chase, Rahul Dravid (44 *) and Yuvraj Singh (50 *) also played major roles.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Pakistan rode on a masterful ton from their opener Saeed Anwar. He scored 101 out of 126 deliveries with seven fours to keep one end close for the 40 overs. However, no other Batsmen in Pakistan could even cross the 40-run mark that led them to be held to 273/7. At the beginning of the 2000s, it was still an awful number. But thanks to Sachin Tendulkar, India gunned it with complete ease.
