India break world record, lift Cup

India broke a world record to clinch the Coca-Cola Independence Cup, beating Pakistan in the spill-thrill last game of the three-match finals by three wickets at the Dhaka Stadium yesterday. Set to score a mountainous total of 315 in 48 overs, India carved a niche in the record-books by overhauling a target that no team had ever dared to cross in the 27-year-old history of the limited-overs cricket. Left-handed batsmen Hrishikesh Kanitkar pulled the penultimate delivery of the match for a four over mid-wicket to throw the Indians into a sea of euphoria, much to the disbelief of their arch-rivals. Sri Lanka were the only country who enjoyed the unique feat of surpassing a 300-plus target in one-day cricket. In 1992 World Cup at Hamilton, the islanders, chasing a mammoth Zimbabwe total of 312 in the stipulated 50 overs, scored 313 to clinch an unbelievable victory with four balls to spare. But, yesterday, January 18, turned into a red letter day for the game of glorious uncertainty where a total of 630 runs were scored in only 95.5 overs. And the Dhaka Stadium, which bore all the excitements in the ten-day tri-nation cricket carnival organised in celebration of the host nation's silver jubilee of independence, went down to history in such a style that the cricket aficionados across the globe will fondly remember for a long time. Albeit a contrasting display of poor fielding and catching by both the sides, it was a cracker of a match replete with quality batsmanship. The eventful match, commencing under overcast conditions, was stopped for half an hour due to bad light in the morning session. Four overs were curtailed when the umpires and the two captains decided to continue the match under floodlights. Chasing a mind-boggling Pakistan total, India got off to a flyer with their explosive opener Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly extracting 71 runs off only 49 deliveries before the former departed for a whirlwind 26-ball 41 runs. His little cameo innings was studded with seven sweetly-timed fours and a massive sixer against off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The Bombay-born master blaster, who was adjudged player-of-the-tournament later, became the second Indian after his captain Mohammad Azharuddin to score more than 1000 runs against Pakistan. After the departure of Tendulkar, caught at mid-off by Azhar Mahmood, Ganguly took over from where the right-hander had left off. Together with the makeshift one-down Robin Singh, the West Bengal hero produced 179 runs for the match-winning second wicket. Robin, who more than justified his promotion in the batting order, scored a run-a-ball 82, embellished a quartet of fours and two towering sixes. But it was Ganguly who led the India's never-say-over mission with a scintillating 124, his second century in one-day cricket. The southpaw, an unanimous choice for both the player-of-the-final and most-valuable-player, struck eleven fours and an over boundary in his 139-ball vigil at the crease. Playing under fading light that at one stage threatened a premature end of the match after both the umpires left the field in the 40th over, Ganguly got some small but very significant support from the lower middle order before being out in 43rd over, leaving his side 39 runs short of a memorable victory. But, thanks to the sport's noble spirit, Pakistan captain Rashid Latif showed his courage to continue the match with the lights on the streets already on and the ICC delegates all set to give their verdict in favour of Pakistan, who were well ahead of their rivals in a possible 40-over match. However, it was Pakistan who dominated the morning session after the Indian skipper won the toss and decided to field first. On a batsman-friendly wicket, Pakistan thrived on twin tons after losing dashing opener Shahid Afridi (18) and out-of-form Aamir Sohail (17) with the scoreboard reading at 66 for two in 12 overs. Left-handed opener Saeed Anwar hammered a brilliant 133-ball 140 and Ijaz Ahmed scored a dazzling 117 to shatter a 10-year-old third-wicket partnership record of Pakistan. Together the two shared a huge 230-run stand playing only 203 balls. The previous record of 206 was held by Moin-ul-Atiq and Ijaz Ahmed against Bangladesh in the third Asia Cup at Chittagong in 1988. Anwar clobbered 15 fours and a couple of sixes for his 15th century in one-day cricket. The stylish left-hander, with a total of 315 runs, became the highest scorer in the tourney. He is now only two hundred shy of equalling the world record of former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes. Ijaz finally returned to his aggressive self with a blistering 111-ball century, spiced with seven fours and a six. It was his seventh hundred. In the ball-bashing last match of the tournament, bowlers were hammered mercilessly to all corners of the field. Saqlain, who claimed three wickets for 66 runs in 9.5 overs, became the highest wicket-taker with a bag of 13. For India, medium pacer Harvinder Singh took three wickets for 74 runs. India won a cash award of 12000 dollars apart form the coveted Cup which was handed over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Pakistan, who won the second final to go level with India, were richer by 5000 dollars. Bangladesh, the other participants in the gala event, were eliminated in the league phase conceding successive defeats against the two former world champions. PM, ministers witness match Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday witnessed the third and decisive and the most exciting final of the independence cup cricket tournament, reports BSS. Speaker Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury, Commerce and Industries Minister Tofael Ahmed, Home Minister Rafiqul Islam, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Matin Khasru, Dhaka City Mayor Mohammad Hanif, State Minister for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs Obaidul Quader, State Minister for Information Prof Abu Sayeed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, State Minister for Textile K M Jahangir, high civil and military officials, international cricket personalities also witnessed the nerve-racking final. The prime minister handed over the Cup to the re-appointed Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who paid high tribute to his team-mates for their elegant performance in the record-scoring encounter. The prime minister, earlier on arrival at the National Stadium, was received by State Minister for Youth and Sports Obaidul Quader and President of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury. The senior officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) were introduced to the Prime Minister by the BCB President.