T20 World Cup: India edge Pakistan in a low-scoring thriller
New York : A top-class bowling spell from pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and a match-saving knock by Rishabh Pant were the highlights as India defeated Pakistan by six runs in their ICC T20 World Cup clash at New York’s Nassau County Stadium on Sunday.
After winning this thriller, India is at the top of Group A with two wins in two games and four points. Pakistan is in fourth place, having lost both their games to the USA and India. Their knockout stage chances look slim.
In the run-chase of 120 runs, Pakistan took a measured approach in starting overs, with skipper Babar Azam hitting only two fours.
Men in Blue struck early, with pacer Jasprit Bumrah getting the prized wicket of Babar for 13 in 10 balls, with Suryakumar Yadav taking a fine low catch at slips. Pakistan was 26/1 in 4.4 overs.
At the end of six overs of the powerplay, Pakistan was 35/1, with Mohammed Rizwan (17*) and Usman Khan (1*) unbeaten.
The surface was proving to be a difficult one for Pakistan as well, though they kept their composure and did not lose any wickets.
Pakistan reached the 50-run mark in 8.5 overs.
At the end of 10 overs, Pakistan was 57/1, with Rizwan (27*) and Usman (13*) unbeaten. With the pitch being a tricky one and Indian bowling being a strong point as well, the match hung in balance.
Just at the start of the second half, Axar Patel struck to remove Usman for 13 in 15 balls, with just one four. Pakistan was 57/2 in 10.1 overs.
Fakhar Zaman was next up on the crease. He put India under pressure with a four and six immediately, but a fine catch by Rishabh Pant spelled his end for 13 in eight balls. Hardik Pandya got his wicket. Pakistan was 73/3 in 12.2 overs.
Bumrah’s 15th over helped India get the major breakthrough of Rizwan. A fine delivery from Bumrah spilled his furniture, removing him for a well-made 31 in 44 balls, with a four and six. Pakistan was 80/4 in 14.1 overs.
At the end of 15 overs, Pakistan was 83/4, with Imad (7*) and Shadab (1*) unbeaten. They needed 37 runs to win in the final five overs.
The pressure of making the winning target with a steady run rate piled up on Pakistan, who lost Shadab for just four runs as he attempted to go high, but a top edge from his bat was caught by Pant on a delivery by Pandya. Pakistan was 88/5 in 16.3 overs.
Pakistan reached the 100-run mark in 18.1 overs.
Bumrah came in clutch in the 19th over, not only keeping the run-flow choked with his pace but also getting Iftikhar Ahmed out for five runs. Arshdeep took a fine catch near deep square leg. Pakistan was 102/6 in 19 overs, needing 18 runs in the final over.
Arshdeep came to bowl the last over and got Imad for 15 in 23 balls, with a four. Pant once again took a fine catch. Pakistan was 102/7 in 19.1 overs.
In the final over, Naseem tried to get Pakistan over the finishing line. However, Arshdeep came in clutch, not letting Pakistan hit the winning runs. Pakistan ended their innings at 113/7, with Naseem (10*) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (0*) unbeaten.
Bumrah delivered a world-class spell, taking three wickets for 14 runs in four overs. Pandya also took 2/24 in his spell. Axar and Arshdeep got a wicket each.
Earlier, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf’s three-wicket hauls helped Pakistan restrict India to 119 in the high-voltage match of the T20 World Cup at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday.
Pakistan came with a strong bowling attack giving Indian batters little room to go for their shorts.
After winning the toss Babar Azam-led Pakistan asked India to bat first.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opened for the Men in Blue and Shaheen Afridi started the attack for Pakistan.
Rohit stunned the Pakistani pacer in the first over as he slammed a six over the deep square leg. India had a great start to the match as they ended the first over with 8/0 on the scoreboard.
The game was stopped as rain played a spoilsport after the first six balls. After the game resumed, Kohli slammed a four towards the covers. However, the Indian talisman batter’s knock had to come to an end after Naseem Shah removed Kohli in the third ball of the second over for four runs. Rishabh Pant replaced Kohli on the crease.
After Kohli’s dismissal, India lost their momentum as in the third over Afridi removed Men in Blue skipper Rohit Sharma for 13 runs.
Axar Patel replaced Rohit on the crease. Mohammad Amir came for Pakistan in the fourth over and gave only four runs. The pair of Pant and Axar found it hard to score runs against Amir.
In the second ball of the sixth over, Usman Khan dropped Pant’s catch on the covers. Amir gave 12 runs in the last over of the powerplay.
India reached the 50-run mark after the end of the powerplay.
After playing a few risky shots, Pant played a stunning shot over bowlers head for four in the seventh over.
Naseem Shah bagged his second wicket after he removed Axar Patel for 20 runs in the fourth ball of the eighth over. The Pakistani bowler was successful to break the 39-run partnership of Axar and Pant.
Suryakumar Yadav replaced Axar on the crease. Soon after coming on the pitch, Suryakumar pressed the ball forward for a four.–
