Last Updated:
On April 18, 1986, Pakistan defeated India by one wicket in the Austral-Asia Cup final at Sharjah. Javed Miandad’s unbeaten 116, including a last-ball six off Chetan Sharma, secured the win.
Pakistan’s Javed Miandad showcased his composure under pressure to score 116 runs off 114 deliveries. (Image: ICC/X, formerly Twitter)
On This Day In 1986: Nearly four decades ago, India and Pakistan rekindled their rivalry by playing out a classic battle in the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup final. The high-octane affair is primarily remembered for its breathtaking conclusion. The match was held at the familiar grounds of Sharjah on April 18.
It eventually culminated in a narrow one-wicket victory for Pakistan, courtesy of Javed Miandad’s century. The Pakistan batter showcased his composure under pressure to score 116 runs off 114 deliveries. He remained unbeaten while smashing three fours and three sixes in his heroic innings. Miandad also won the Player of the Match award for his game-winning knock in Dubai.
The epic final kicked off on this day with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to field first. India’s innings witnessed some solid contributions from their top order. Kris Srikkanth and Sunil Gavaskar opened the innings for India and put up a dominant stand early. They remained unbeaten while helping India score 117 runs. Srikkanth was eventually dismissed by Abdul Qadir, who sent him packing for 75 runs.
Sunil Gavaskar continued to deliver for India, forming another crucial partnership with Dilip Vengsarkar. After scoring a half-century, Vengsarkar lost his wicket to Wasim Akram.
The Pakistan bowling legend doubled down on his haul, dismissing Kriti Azad for a duck. Gavaskar continued anchoring India’s innings, adding 92 runs to the board. He smashed six fours in the game to help his team finish at 245/7 after the first fifty overs.
Pakistan’s chase began with early setbacks as Muddasar Nazar lost his wicket to Chetan Sharma after scoring five runs in 22 deliveries. The Imran Khan-led side kept losing wickets at regular intervals, putting additional pressure on the middle order.
Javed Miandad emerged as the pivotal figure in the chase. He formed key partnerships with Mohsin Khan and Abdul Qadir to keep Pakistan in contention.
The final over of the match proved a spectacle of tension and drama. Pakistan needed 11 runs off the final six deliveries to win. The responsibility of bowling the last over fell in Chetan Sharma’s hands.
The over began with a few singles but soon Wasim Akram was run out on the fourth delivery, delivering a major blow to Pakistan’s hopes of lifting the trophy. Javed Miandad clinched the victory for his team in the final ball of regulation, smashing it over mid-wicket for a six.
The Austral-Asia Cup victory marked a significant moment in Pakistan’s cricket history as it was their first major ODI triumph.
