ICC T20 World Cup match that will be remembered for ages, Team India clinched a historic six-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, defending the lowest total ever in the tournament’s history. The electrifying encounter at Nassau County Stadium saw India defend a modest 119 runs, restricting Pakistan to 113/7 and cementing their place at the top of Group A.
Match Highlights
India sets low target:
- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma gave India a solid start, with Rohit smashing a six in the first over.
- However, early breakthroughs by Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, restricted India to 119 runs.
- Rishabh Pant’s composed innings amidst the fall of wickets provided some stability to the Indian innings.
Pakistan’s Chase:
- Pakistan’s chase began cautiously, with skipper Babar Azam managing just 13 runs before being dismissed by Bumrah.
- Mohammed Rizwan’s steady 31 runs kept Pakistan in the game, but wickets at regular intervals, including crucial strikes by Axar Patel and Pandya, derailed their chase.
- The pressure mounted as Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowled tight overs, culminating in a dramatic final over where Pakistan fell short by six runs.
Incredible Bowling Display
India’s bowlers delivered a masterclass, led by pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, whose spell of 3/14 was pivotal in choking Pakistan’s run chase. Hardik Pandya’s crucial wickets and Rishabh Pant’s heroics behind the stumps added to the pressure on Pakistan.
Bumrah expressed his delight in the post-match press conference, highlighting the significance of disciplined bowling in conditions that offered little assistance.
“When the bat and ball challenge is good, it is more interesting to watch the match,”
he said.
His strategic bowling played a critical role in India’s defence, focusing on accuracy and exploiting the large boundaries.
India’s Innings: A Struggle for Runs
After losing the toss and being put into bat, India’s innings got off to a promising start with Rohit Sharma smashing a six off Shaheen Afridi in the first over. However, rain interrupted the match, and upon resumption, India lost momentum.
Virat Kohli was dismissed for just four runs by Naseem Shah, followed by the wicket of Rohit Sharma for 13, taken by Afridi.
Despite a few boundaries from Rishabh Pant, India struggled to build substantial partnerships. Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf’s disciplined bowling restricted the Indian batters, with Shah claiming three crucial wickets. India managed to reach a modest total of 119 runs.
Pakistan’s Chase: A Tight Contest
Chasing 120, Pakistan began cautiously with skipper Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan at the crease. Jasprit Bumrah delivered an early breakthrough, dismissing Babar for 13, with a brilliant low catch by Suryakumar Yadav at slips. Pakistan reached 35/1 by the end of the powerplay, maintaining a measured approach.
Despite keeping wickets in hand, Pakistan found it challenging to accelerate on a tricky surface. Axar Patel’s dismissal of Usman Khan and Hardik Pandya’s crucial wicket of Fakhar Zaman for 13 added to Pakistan’s woes. Bumrah’s exceptional bowling continued to stifle the run chase, removing Rizwan for a hard-fought 31.
The Final Overs: High Drama
As the pressure mounted, Pakistan needed 37 runs in the final five overs. Pandya struck again, dismissing Shadab Khan, and Bumrah’s consistent line and length saw him pick up another wicket, reducing Pakistan to 102/6 with 18 runs needed in the last over.
Arshdeep Singh’s final over proved decisive. He removed Imad Wasim for 15 with another fine catch by Pant, and despite Naseem Shah’s efforts, Pakistan fell short, ending their innings at 113/7. Bumrah’s spell of 3/14 and Pandya’s 2/24 were instrumental in India’s defence of the low total.
Reactions from the Cricketing World
The thrilling match garnered reactions from cricket legends and officials:
- Sachin Tendulkar lauded the bowlers, tweeting, “T20 may be a batters’ game, but in New York, bowlers were the Apple of our eyes today.”
- Jay Shah, BCCI Secretary, celebrated the victory, emphasizing its significance against Pakistan: “One more WIN, and this one… means a little more!”
- Irfan Pathan and Virender Sehwag heaped praise on Bumrah for his match-winning performance.
- Suresh Raina commended the team’s character and hunger to win.
- Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh highlighted the historical significance of defending such a low total.
With two wins in two games, India tops Group A, positioning themselves strongly for the knockout stages. In contrast, Pakistan’s back-to-back losses have put their tournament hopes in jeopardy, making their path to the next stage increasingly difficult.
This match not only showcased India’s bowling prowess but also underscored the importance of mental fortitude and strategic execution in T20 cricket.
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