ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Reliving the previous India-Pakistan matches in the Champions Trophy

#2 Group Stage, 2009 Champions Trophy

The 206-run stand between Shoabi Malik and Mohammad Yousuf was one of the main reasons behind Pakistan’s win over India in the 2009 Champions Trophy

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India would open their 2009 Champions Trophy campaign against Pakistan at Centurion where they had defeated their neighbors at the 2003 World Cup thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s sensational knock of 98. Meanwhile, Pakistan were only a win away from the semi-finals after beating West Indies in their tournament opener.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first and were off to a steady start thanks to their openers Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal. However, both of them were dismissed by Ashish Nehra and soon Younis Khan followed them back to the pavilion, reducing Pakistan to 65/3 with Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf at the crease.

The duo batted incredibly well and struck several boundaries en route to building a partnership of 206 during which, Malik reached his century. The partnership was broken by Nehra when he bowled over Yousuf when he was at 87.

While his partners were giving away their wickets, Malik took Pakistan across 300 courtesy of his 128 before being dismissed by Harbhajan Singh. Pakistan ended their innings at 302/9, giving India a target of 303 to chase down.

In reply, India lost Sachin Tendulkar early but Gautam Gambhir steadied the ship with Rahul Dravid offering him good assistance. Gambhir mainly targeted the midwicket boundary with both of his sixes coming in that region.as the man from Delhi raced towards his 50.

With Gambhir batting aggressively, India’s required run-rate went below six and with the reliable Rahul Dravid at the crease, a solid partnership was on the cards. However, the 67-run partnership was broken by none other than the Pakistan skipper Younis Khan when he made a direct hit from mid-off to run out Gautam Gambhir for 57.

Gautam Gambhir’s wicket turned out to be vital

Following Gambhir’s dismissal, India’s scoring rate lessened as Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli batted without displaying any sort of aggression. India gradually began to feel the pressure when Kohli was dismissed for 16 before skipper MS Dhoni followed suit after scoring just 3, both being sent back to the hut by Shahid Afridi.

Suresh Raina’s steady batting gave India some hope as he along with Rahul Dravid (who reached his fifty in the meantime), stitched a partnership of 72. However, just as things were starting to look good for India, disaster struck as a quick and full delivery from Saeed Ajmal trapped Raina LBW and he was sent on his way back to the pavilion after scoring a 41-ball 46.

Raina’s wicket was the turning point of the match as India’s run-rate once again slowed down. Any hopes of India winning the game were dashed after Rahul Dravid was dismissed for 76. India were eventually dismissed for 248, thus handing Pakistan a 54-run victory as well as a place in the semi-finals.

Shoaib Malik was adjudged the Man of the Match for his sensational 128 as Pakistan registered their second consecutive win over India in the Champions Trophy.