Match reports

India v Pakistan

Toss: India.

15-Apr-2000
Toss: India.
The meeting of India and Pakistan, whose armies were engaged in a stand-off over Kashmir, raised fears of a surrogate war between supporters, and security was intense. But the final statistics - three arrests, nine ejections, and one Indian flag burned during some scuffling at the close - were a very minor blemish on a thrilling day. The rival fans, flag-waving, whistle-blowing and drum-beating, created a passionate atmosphere unimaginable in English cricket. India's batsmen, though, were below their aggressive best. Tendulkar blazed briefly, passing 8,000 one-day international runs as he dominated the early stages. Dravid lost momentum, however, and Azharuddin only found top gear late on, adding 60 in nine overs with Singh.
Saeed Anwar launched his assault on a target of 228 with six fours. But Srinath was chipping away at his partners - and then Prasad took over, finishing with five for 27. His victims were Salim Malik, Anwar, Moin Khan, for an explosive 34 in 37 balls, Inzamam-ul-Haq, unusually subdued for 30 overs, and finally captain Wasim Akram, caught on the square-leg boundary. Pakistan suffered their third successive defeat, while Azharuddin had won all of the three India - Pakistan matches in World Cup history. His compatriots were euphoric, but it was their last hurrah, and later results made the victory irrelevant.
Man of the Match: B. K. V. Prasad. Attendance: 21,953.