By IANS
Durban : India beat Pakistan 3-0 in an exciting tie-breaker after their crucial Group D match of the Twenty20 World Championship ended in a thrilling tie here Friday.
Both India (three points) and Pakistan (two points), however, advanced to the second round, Super Eights, from this group with minnows Scotland crashing out.
After both teams scored identical 141 in the allocated 20 overs, the ‘bowl out’ tie-breaker, in which five nominated bowlers from both sides aimed at the unguarded stumps, was employed.
The first three Indians — Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa – hit the stumps while none of the first three Pakistanis — Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi – hit the target in front of the packed and noisy crowd at Kingsmead ground.
It was only the second tied match in the short history of Twenty20 cricket. New Zealand had beaten West Indies 3-0 on the earlier occasion.
Earlier Friday, Pakistan, chasing India’s 141 for nine wickets in 20 overs, needed one run off the last, but Misbah-ul-Haq (53, 35 balls, 7x4s, 1×6) was run out while taking the winning run.
Pakistan finished at 141 for seven wickets in 20 overs, with Yasir Arafat remaining unbeaten on 12 off five balls.