This post will be of my favorite sports Triumphs which i have been fortunate enough to watch live.(on TV i.e.)
9 th March 1996 World Cup-CricketIndia vs Pakistan-Quarterfinal
This was a great match between the rivals.India scored 287-9 in the first innings.Pakistan finished with 248-9.Who can forget the altercation between Prasad and Aamir Sohail.Pakistan`s opening batsman smashing prasad for a four through covers and gesturing to him.The next ball he was clean bowled.
1998 Basketball NBA Finals
Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls
Micheal Jordan was great in the entire series.He is just a great player to watch....this was the sixth title.
17 th june 1999 World cup -Cricket
Australia vs South Africa-Semifinal
Australia had qualified by beating South Africa by 5 wkts in their last match of the super six stage.Steve Waugh playing the captains innings.Although i didnt personally watch this live its one of the great triumphs.Australia scored 213 all out and South Africa did well Lance Klusener did well hitting 2 consecutive boundaries in the last over.Scores were tied and then Allan Donald almost ran himself out,next ball there was a mix up and Donald was run out on this ocassion.Australia went on to finals since they had beat SA earlier.Australia beat Pakistan in the Finals to win the World Cup.
i am not including the Test Series between Australia and India.India beating Australia after that amazing knock from VVS Laxman leading to Australias defeat first time in 17 matches.
13th July 2002 Natwest Trophy Finals
India vs England
England scoring 326/7 in their 50 overs.Naseer Hussain and Trescothick scoring centuries.India were in deep trouble when they lost their first few wickets for few runs but M Kaif and Yuvraj Singh playing well.Kaif scoring 87 to lead India to victory.This one was a great match at lords ending with India s victory.Kaif was awarded the Man of the Match.
1st March 2003 World Cup CricketIndia vs Pakistan
Pakistan scored 273/7 in the 50 overs with S Anwar scoring a century.Then the stage was set for Sachin Tendulkar and Virendar Sehwag.Who can forget the Sachin and sehwag hitting Shoiab Akhtar for six over third man.Even Wasim Akram couldnt stop them.Tendulkar was eventually out for 98(75 balls)of Shoaib Akhtars bouncer but the damage was done.In the process he completed 12,000 runs.First batsmen to reach that milestone.Another thriller in the world cup.
25th May 2005 UEFA Champions League
AC Milan vs Liverpool Attaturk Stadium,Istanbul
This was a great match....although the team i supported didnt win it was worth watching.It started with Maldini scoring in the First min.Crespo scoring twice in the first half with great passes from Kaka.Second half was all about Liverpool comeback.Gerrard,Smicer and Alonso scoring within 6 mins to level the scores.Shevchenko missed a sitter in the last mins of extra time.Liverpool won the match 3-2 on penalties.(Milan got their revenge though in the 2007 finals winning 2-1)
24th July 2005 Tour de FranceLance Armstrong-This person is just incredible.He has survived testicular Cancer.He went on to win the tour de france for seventh time in his career with the discovery channel team.This is a true Champion.
4th July 2006 FIFA World Cup-Semifinal
Italy vs Germany
This wasnt the most exciting games to watch.Germany hosting the World Cup had a good young team and the Italians team was full of stars.The teams didnt score in the 90 mins and there were few chances.In the second last min of the match a corner was awarded to Italy and after the initial kick ball came out to Pirlo who passed it on to Grosso who scored with a great strike.After that Del Piero scored to finish Germany off.All this when the Italian Football was struck with fixing allegation with top teams of Italian Seria A involved.Italy went on to win the Finals on penalties.Trezegeut only one to miss the penalty.It was a close game but the Final will be remembered more for the sending off of Zinedine Zidane rather than an Italian win.
15th September 2007 Twenty Twenty World CupIndia vs Pakistan
This was a group match between the two sides in the first ever 20-20 Cup.Pakistan restricted India to 141/9 in the 20 overs.M Asif taking 4 wickets from the 4 overs.Pakistan started off badly losing 2 early wickets.They kept losing wickets at regular intervals but a great innings from Misab ul haq 53(35) helped Pakistan bounce back.Unfortunately for them he couldnt finish the match off and got run out on the last ball.Match was tied with the scores level.For the first time(in ODI) ever the match went to a bowl out.India winning 3-0.All of the bowlers(Sehwag,H Singh,Utthappa)hitting the stumps.Pakistan failed to hit the stumps.
24th September 2007 Twenty Twenty World CupIndia vs Pakistan-Final
India reached the final after beating Eng,SA and Australia in 3 stunner's to reach the final where they played Pakistan again.India won the toss and elected to bat,they finished with 157/5 in 20 overs,Gambhir scored 75.Pakistan started off well but lost it in the middle of the innings.I Pathan bowled well to get 3 wkts and the Man of the Match.Again Misab ul Haq remained on the crease and managed to take it to the last over with 13 to get(with 1 wkt remaining)Hitting a six of the first ball but he couldnt finish off the match again.Shreesanth took a very important catch at short fine leg.....the scoop shot didnt quite work out.
13th August 2008 AFC Challenge CupIndia vs Turkmenistan
India beat Turkmenistan 4-1 to win the AFC Challenge Cup and gain a spot in the 2011 Asian Cup.(This was a proud day for all Indian football fans) Sunil Chetri scoring a hatrick.But Bhaichung Bhutia`s goal in the 19th min was my favourite.India football team is getting better and better under the new coach Bob Houghton.
2nd April 2011:- After the humiliation by Australia in 2003 World Cup Finals and the 2007 disaster, India became the first host nation to win the World Cup after beating Sri Lanka in the finals. The whole Team played really well throughout the tournament. Except for the loss versus South Africa. Games against Australia and Pakistan were more tough than the final itself but Dhoni's mentally strong team fought and triumphed through both the games beating Pakistan in the semifinals. It was fitting Dhoni got to hit the winning runs after his brilliant knock with the Man of the Series Yuvraj Singh on nonstrike
