2. Match 4 of Asia Cup 2010
Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
This game is remembered more for the tempers that flared on the pitch than the last over heroics of Harbhajan Singh with which the game culminated in an Indian victory. Having won the toss, Shahid Afridi’s Pakistan chose to bat first and were all out for 267.
The Pakistani openers—Salman Butt and Imran Farhat—got things off to a soaring start, putting up 71 runs for the first wicket, but some good bowling by Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan Singh in the middle overs stemmed the flow of runs before a late flourish by Kamran Akmal (51 off 41) helped his team reach that total.
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Chasing 262 for victory, India were dealt a huge blow when Virender Sehwag departed for 10 in the 11th over. It was Gautam Gambhir who took the onus of clinging on to one end and together with M.S Dhoni, he forged a 98-run partnership for the third wicket before being bowled by Saeed Ajmal in the 36th over.
The Indian middle-order chipped in with small but meaningful contributions and it all boiled down to three runs being required off the last two balls, with Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar being there at the crease. The hearts were pounding fast in both camps and before anyone fell victim to a cardiac arrest, Harbhajan whacked a good length delivery from Amir over midwicket for a six and brought down the curtains on what is considered by many to be the most thrilling game ever in the history of the Asia Cup. The Pakistani team in general and Shoaib Akhtar in particular, with whom Harbhajan had an altercation while batting, were therefore rendered absolutely silent.
