ICC World Cup Semifinals history – Pakistan – Part 2
1987 was the year the prestigious cricket World Cup was playing host to its fourth edition. Pakistan was placed in Group B this time with their nemesis, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760. This time however the Pakistani side qualified top of the group and were set to play
Australia in what marked their hat-trick of semi final appearances.
The Australian batsmen set a target of 267 runs for the loss of only six wickets after winning the toss and electing to bat first. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Miandad-c66580 and Imran Khan starred for the Pakistani side with 70 runs and 58 runs respectively but it was not enough as
Pakistan fell 15 runs short of the target at 252 runs all out.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 had given away 34 extras when they were bowling and those runs ultimately cost them the match.
It seemed that all Pakistan needed to win their first semi-final was to wear their colors. The 1992 edition of the World Cup brought with it many changes. Colored kits were introduced; the balls used were now white in color as well as the use of flood lights
to allow matches to be played without sunlight.
There was a change in the group stage format as well with only one group with eight teams in the initial stage of the competition, the top four teams of which would qualify for the semifinals.
Pakistan managed to squeeze through in fourth place that set up a clash with host nation New Zealand. This was Pakistan’s fourth consecutive semi-final appearance in the World Cup as they looked to finally make it to their first illusive final.
Batting first, the Kiwi side put up a total of 262 runs as Pakistan had a mountain to climb when they took to the pitch for their turn to bat. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383 made himself a household name with his 60 runs blitz from just 37 balls as Pakistan made 263 runs
with an over to spare.
Pakistan were in their first final which they went on to win after Imran Khan led them to a victory after defeating England.
Pakistan had to wait till the year 1999 before they were back in that stage of the competition. Topping Group B with four wins, Pakistan made it to the ‘super sixes’ stage of the tournament. The Men in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Green-c60723 made it to the semi-final yet again and took on
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 at Old Trafford in Manchester.
New Zealand set a target of 241 runs in the allotted 50 overs as Pakistan had to chase another impressive total. The Men in Green however, were on top of their game as the opening partnership broke the record for most runs scored by the top two batsmen.
Saeed Anwar’s unbeaten 113 runs led his side to their second final appearance where they were eventually beaten by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
So out of five semi-finals, Pakistan have won only two and lost three but the side have won their last two semi-finals in which they have appeared in. They will be looking to make it three wins in six appearances when they face http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, a side they are yet
to beat in the World Cup.
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