DRS saved Sachin Tendulkar in 2011 World cup

2nd Semi-Final: India v Pakistan at Mohali, Mar 30, 2011

Toss - India, who chose to bat

India won by 29 runs

Opting to bat first, India posted a competitive total of 260/9, thanks to Sachin Tendulkar's 85 off 115 balls. India may not have even reached that total had Tendulkar not decided to use the DRS in the 11th over. India had only one review available at that stage as Virender Sehwag had earlier made an unsuccessful attempt at using the technology for his benefit. When Ajmal struck Sachin on the pad, it looked plumb and umpire Ian Gould had no problems in raising his finger straight away. 

However, what happened after that left Pakistan ruing their luck.

The ball pitched on line and it appeared as though it would crash on to the leg stump. However, Hawk-Eye suggested that the ball was missing leg and the umpire, who shook his head with disbelief, overturned his decision. The Pakistan players were shocked at the decision as was the umpire, who all thought that the ball was headed only one way - onto the stumps.
Having received a reprieve, Tendulkar went on to make a sizable contribution to help India to a good score. Pakistan then lost their way in the chase and had to bow out of the competition after their fifth loss against India in a World Cup match by 29 runs.

Ajmal later claimed that he had bowled an arm ball and said the system misread it. "I don't know how the television replays showed my delivery turning towards the leg side because I had bowled an arm ball and it went straight." Conspiracy theories also made rounds, claiming that replays showed a different delivery which was superimposed deliberately to save the batsman.

However, Hawk-Eye Innovations defended the accuracy of its tracking technology by publishing details of Sachin Tendulkar's reprieve on its website. Stephen Carter, the managing director of Hawk-Eye, said: "The path Hawk-Eye showed was accurate and the Decision Review System was used correctly to overturn the umpire's original decision. The Hawk-Eye track lines up perfectly with the video of the real ball from release to impact point." 

"The commentators said on air that Tendulkar had been 'caught on the crease'. From the front-on angle it does look like Tendulkar has been hit when batting in his crease. However, Tendulkar was almost two metres out of his crease when struck," he further stated.