On This Day: WATCH - Javed Miandad's last ball six clinch Austral-Asia Cup for Pakistan 

Miandad hit Indian pacer Chetan Sharma for a maximum off the last ball to win the final.

By Kashish Chadha - 18 Apr, 2020

It isn't the fondest memory to recall for an Indian fan. On April 18, 1986, Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad broke many hearts across the border as he sealed the deal in the inaugural Austral-Asia Cup final in Sharjah with a last ball six. 

That game remains famous for how Miandad kept his nerves in a difficult run-chase and pulled off victory for Pakistan from yet another difficult situation, smashing Indian pacer Chetan Sharma for a six over deep mid-wicket when his team needed four runs to win off the final delivery. 

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Chasing a stiff target of 246 in 50 overs, Miandad almost singlehandedly took Pakistan home, scoring a brilliant ton (116), with the next best score of the innings being 36 from opener Mohsin Khan. 

For Sharma, that moment haunted him for a while as he received heavy criticism from Indian fans, before thankfully reviving himself with those brilliant spells in England a few months later to help India win a rare Test series abroad. 

Earlier in the day, Kris Srikkanth (75), Sunil Gavaskar (92) and Dilip Vengsarkar (50) played stand-out knocks to help India post a total of 245/7. 

Imran Khan (2/40) and Wasim Akram (3/43) ensured that Indians didn't completely run away with the game.

For India, apart from Sharma (3/51), Kapil Dev (1/45), Madan Lal (2/53) and Maninder Singh (1/36) also bowled well, but the team came one good ball short of winning the title. 

Miandad was awarded "Player-of-the-Match" for an innings and stroke he'll forever be remembered for. 

By Kashish Chadha - 18 Apr, 2020

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