The huge expectations and hype created for the ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final match between India and Pakistan, which has not gone down by the 1.2 billion supporters from India. It was India who repeated the history of winning the matches against Pakistan in every world cup and now for the fifth time. Pakistan was defeated by India with 29 runs and gave path to India to face Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium at Mumbai for the finals of the World cup tournament.

India won the toss and elected to bat first. Virender Sehwag had a magnificent start along with Sachin Tendulkar. Umar Gul was punished and Sehwag kept the spirit going till he was out for leg before wicket by Wahab Riaz and giving a break to their partnership of 48 runs in 5.5 overs. Gambhir joined with Sachin and they made 68-run partnership. Gambhir tried to come forward but misses the ball and was stumped. Kohli returned to pavilion for low score for adding seven runs to the board. Yuvraj was bowled by the superb delivery from Riaz. Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni enters the ground.

Sachin Tendulkar was dropped four times then at 27,45,70,81 runs. But the strange innings of Tendulkar was put to end by Saeed Ajmal who has been creating problems to India has finally taken the wicket of Sachin at 85 runs, giving a low catch to Afridi. Dhoni stayed for less time along with the next batsman Suresh Raina. Dhoni was dismissed by Riaz for a leg before wicket, while on the other hand Raina is feeling pressure and he was the only batsman left for the team. He has contributed a good score during the power-play and managed India to score 260 runs. Wahab Riaz took five wickets by conceding 46 runs.

Needing 261 runs for the win, Pakistan has also provided a good start in their innings. The first break was given by Zaheer Kahn by dismissing Kamran Akmal and the wonderful take by Yuvraj Singh. Mohammad Hafeez on the other side played comfortably with Shafiq but not for the long time. Munaf Patel delivered a normal ball but Hafeez played a bad shot and was punished. The part-time spinner, Yuvraj Singh has taken the crucial wickets of Shafiq and Younis Khan at the right time.

Umar Akmal was bowled by Harbhajan who managed to score 29 runs to the board. Pakistan was 142-5 at 33 overs and the damage is done. Abdul Razzaq was bowled by Patel after three overs of dismissal of Akmal. The damage continued with the dismissals of Afridi, Riaz and Umar Gul. It was Misbah-ul-Haq who tried till the last moment by not giving Saeed Ajmal to face the ball as he is the only batsman left. During the last overs of Zaheer, Misbah secured 14 runs and slightly changed the situation game. Pakistan need to score 30 runs in their last over, after two dot balls, the crowd began to roar that India is going to win it. Misbah was dismissed in the last but one ball and Pakistan was all out for 231 and gave the win to India by 29 runs.

The prediction of Ricky Ponting has come true that India defeats Pakistan in semi-finals and will meet Sri Lanka in the final match of ICC World Cup 2011. Dhoni came up with only one spinner and was criticized by all the experts for picking Nehra instead of Ashwin, but he definitely need to be given a bow for his tactics and luck that favored him and his side. He attacked the Pakistan batsmen with just five bowlers and they got two wickets each. Sachin Tendulkar was deserved Man-of-the-Match for his awesome 85 runs. During the presentation ceremony, Afridi said sorry to his nation that they fell short. India defeated Pakistan and entered the finals of ICC World cup 2011.

Let's wait for another big battle between two sub-continental teams in the finals of ICC World Cup 2011.