As India take on Pakistan in the World Twenty20 tournament opener today, here is mid-day's pick of the best encounters between the arch-rivals in the shortest format of the game
India celebrate their triumph in the inaugural World T20 in 2007
ICC World T20; 14-9-2007 at Kingsmead; Durban
India had done well to get to 141 with Robin Uthappa hitting 50. Pace bowler Mohammad Asif troubled the opposition no end and gave away only 18 runs in four overs for his four wickets. After the interval, RP Singh and Irfan Pathan ran in hard and ensured Shoaib Malik's team were restricted to 141 as well. Identical scores meant the game was going to be decided via bowl out and Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Sinag and Robin Uthappa were bang on target. On the other hand Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi failed to hit the timber leading to wild celebrations in the Indian camp.
India celebrate their triumph in the inaugural World T20 in 2007
24-9-2007 at Wanderers Stadium; Johannesburg
Having won the toss, India chose to bat and despite opener Gautam Gambhir's 75, were restricted to a modest 157 in 20 overs. Umar Gul emerged the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-28. RP Singh struck brilliant form once again, taking 3-26. Irfan Pathan was even better, taking 3-16, but, it was not until S Sreesanth took Misbah-ul-Haq's catch off Joginder Sharma that India could lay their hands on their maiden World T20 trophy.
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30-9-2012 at R Premadasa Stadium; Colombo
India did not meet their arch-rivals in the next two editions of the tournament. But they did have a go at each other in Colombo with India winning the contest rather easily. They bowled out Pakistan for 128 in 19.4 overs, with paceman Lakshmipathy Balaji emerging with figures of 3.4-0-22-3. Off-spinner R Ashiwn and Yuvraj Singh too were miserly, giving away 16 runs apiece for two wickets each. Virat Kohli then hit a controlled 78 as India emerged victors by eight wickets.
25-12-2012 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
With the openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane putting on 77 in 10.5 overs, fans hoped India would amass a huge total. But that was not to be as the hosts lost their way and were restricted to a modest 133. Umar Gul was at his accurate best, taking 3-21. Having seized the momentum, midway through the Indian innings, Pakistan ensured they didn't let their opponents off the hook and cantered to victory by five wickets, with Mohammad Hafeez scoring 61.
28-12-2012 at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad
Trailing 0-1, in the two-match series, India came back hard and put on a huge 192, with the top order firing collectively. While Yuvraj Singh smashed 72 off 36 balls, he was well supported by Gambhir (21), Rahane (28), Kohli (27) and Dhoni (33). Pakistan made a fist of the chase but fell short by 11 runs. All their top-order batsmen got good starts but could not stay on to finish off proceedings.
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