Inzamam-ul-Haq

New Zealand, the co-hosts of the 1992 World Cup, looked completely unbeatable after having won their first seven games convincingly. But they were stunned by Pakistan in the penultimate league encounter which meant that the two teams would meet again in the semifinals.

So the two teams squared up again in the first semifinal at Auckland. Martin Crowe, who could do no wrong in this tournament, won the toss and elected to bat. He led the way scoring 91 of 83 balls as New Zealand set Pakistan an imposing target of 263.

Rameez Raja got Pakistan off to a flier but skipper Imran Khan, who walked in to bat at the fall of Aamer Sohail, found runs difficult to come by. The Kiwi pacers Gavin Larsen and Willy Watson put a foothold on the scoring as Imran labored away to 44 of 93 balls. When Inzamam-ul-Haq walked out to the centre at the fall of his skipper, Pakistan needed 123 runs to win of the last 15 overs. The Kiwis seemed to have got their revenge for the loss in the league game. Inzamam didn’t seem to think so!

The youngster played the knock of a lifetime as he thrashed the Kiwi bowlers to all corners of the park scoring a quickfire 60 of 37 deliveries which included seven hits to the fence and one over it as he put on an 87 run partnership with the experienced Javed Miandad. Inzamam was dismissed with 36 runs still to get. But the damage had been done. Moin Khan’s late cameo ensured that New Zealand were beaten twice in the space of four days but most importantly also ensured that Pakistan would be playing in the final at Melbourne a few days later – a match they would eventually win and become the Champions of the World.

Tags: Cricket, Cricket World Cup, Greatest Moments, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, New Zealand, Pakistan, World Cup, World Cup 1992