ICC World Cup Semifinals history – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 – Part 1
Pakistan are set to play http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391 in the second semi final of the ICC World Cup in one of the most anticipated matches in recent cricketing history. While the rest of the world looks to the future it gives one a rare
opportunity to revisit the past.
Upon investigating the forgotten days of earlier World Cups one can uncover many interesting facts. For example, the semifinal on Wednesday will be the sixth time that Pakistan has reached the last four of the tournament since the tournament’s inauguration
in 1975. Only http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 have reached the last four as many times, with Australia winning the tournament four times.
In fact, Pakistan reached their first semifinal in only the second edition of the prestigious tournament in 1979 where they faced the legendary West Indies. Things were a lot different then, with both sides in white kits and the ball used was red not white,
but more significantly each innings consisted of 60 overs.
Pakistan finished second place in Group A behind England who went through to the semi-finals unbeaten. Pakistan on the other hand were faced with the Windies who had the likes of Vivian Richards and Clive Lloyd in their ranks.
Batting first, the Windies managed a more than respectable total of 293 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. After a brilliant start from the Pakistani batsmen that included a 166 run partnership for the second wicket, the side from the Sub-Continent looked like
they might beat the West Indies but a trademark batting collapse proved otherwise.
Pakistan lost nine wickets after having added only 94 more runs to the scoreboard. The final score read Pakistan at 250 runs in 56.2 overs; that meant a 43 run win for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 and a place in the Final.
The next installment of the World Cup brought with it Pakistan’s next venture into the semi finals with the format similar to the previous tournament with the exception that the group stage consisted of two legs. Pakistan qualified for the semi-finals in
second place on run rate after sharing twelve points with New Zealand.
Four years on and it seemed like nothing much had changed and once again the Pakistan team faced the West Indies in the semi-final. Batting first, Pakistan did not have much to cheer about as they struggled their way to 184 runs in their allotted 60 overs.
Malcolm http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marshall-c74817 took three wickets in a dominating bowling display by his side.
In response, the West Indies reached the target with little fuss as Vivian Richards smashed 11 fours and six on his way to 80 runs. For the second time Pakistan had faced the West Indies in the semi finals and for the second time they lost out on a chance
to play in the final.
What made this worse for the Pakistani side was the fact that their bitter rivals, India went on to win the final.
Pakistan had made a habit of reaching the semifinals and once again they found themselves in the penultimate step to the World Cup final.
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