| 0.0 : Hello and a warm welcome to the coverage of the mother of all battles, India against Pakistan. Whenever these two team compete, there is a lot at stake. Jam packed crowds and people shouting at the top of their voices add to the charm of the contest. Today will be no different. In the Asia Cup, these two have faced each other 11 times with the Men in Blue winning 6 times, including the sole game in the T20I version while the Men in Green have emerged victorious on 5 occasions. |
| India were in danger of facing an upset against Hong Kong last evening but their experience came to the fore. It is not easy to play back-to-back games especially in such hot conditions and that will test the fitness of the players. Their middle order woes are a big concern for them. It will be in the limelight again and it will be interesting to see how they deal with the massive pressure. We might see a few changes in the Indian set-up. KL Rahul might come in place of Dinesh Karthik while Jasp |
| Pakistan, on the other hand, are high on confidence at the moment. They hardly broke a sweat against Hong Kong and the fact that they won the finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy against their arch-rivals, India, gives them a psychological edge. They have a well-balanced team and will be banking on their bowlers again. These two sides have already made it to the Top Four and it might help them to express themselves with a lot of freedom. Expect a cracker! |
| Shikhar Dhawan is being interviewed on the sidelines. He says that they were in England for a long time and those were difficult conditions. Adds that his best was not good enough there but he didn't lose his self-belief. States that he came back into the nets, worked hard and is happy to have scored a ton in the last game against Hong Kong. Mentions that he believes in his process and wants to keep going strong. Adds that from the last two months he hadn't scored a half century or century and h |
| PITCH REPORT - Sunil Gavaskar says that the same pitch which was used yesterday is being used today as well. Mentions that there are no footmarks on the surface and there is no damage inflicted on it. Adds that the ball is expected to come onto the bat but a little slowly. Feels that the bowlers won't enjoy bowling here much while the batsmen will have a good time. Reminds that Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal got some turn yesterday but it is a good batting pitch overall. |
| TOSS - Sarfraz Ahmed calls heads and the coin lands in his favour. Pakistan opt to bat. |
| Pakistan skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, says that they will bat first today. Informs that they are going in with the same eleven that featured in their last game. Mentions that it is a good batting pitch and they want to put India under pressure. Ends by saying that they will target to put up a score above 280. |
| India skipper, Rohit Sharma, says that they would have batted first as well but nevertheless they know what they are doing now. Adds that they will play their upcoming games at the same ground and it is nice that they will chase today. Credits Hong Kong for the way they played in the last game but is happy that they were successful in getting over the line. Feels that it will be a fantastic game against Pakistan and they are all geared up for it. Informs there are two changes - Jasprit Bumrah co |
| The players come out to the middle for their respective national anthems. After the completion, we are all set to roll. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will open the batting for Pakistan. They are in rich vein of form and will be eager to capitalize on it. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will steam in with the first new ball. A slip in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : B Kumar to Imam, Right on the money is Bhuvneshwar! Bowls it on a good length around off and gets some inward movement. Imam shuffles a touch and blocks it down the track. |
| 0.2 : B Kumar to Imam, Pitches this one fuller outside off, Imam-ul-Haq leans ahead a touch and taps it towards cover-point. |
| 0.3 : B Kumar to Imam, Pakistan and Imam are underway! In search of extravagant swing, Bhuvi ends up bowling it on a length on the hips. Imam moves inside the line and tucks it in front of square leg. Chahal gives it a chase and keeps the batsmen down to a couple. |
| 0.4 : B Kumar to Imam, Stump-to-stump line and on a length, Imam hangs back and blocks it with authority. |
| 0.5 : B Kumar to Imam, A bit tentative! Back of a length and some width on offer, Imam tries to force it off the back foot through covers but ends up getting it off the inner half down the track. |
| 0.6 : B Kumar to Imam, Length ball that swings into the batsman who covers the line and tucks it towards mid-wicket. Decent start for Bhuvi and India, only 2 from the first over. |
| Jasprit Bumrah to bowl with the second new ball from the other end. |
| 1.1 : J Bumrah to F Zaman, Zaman is showing intent straightaway! Pitched up ball around off, Zaman makes a bit of room, clears his front leg and drills it but finds the extra cover fielder. |
| 1.2 : J Bumrah to F Zaman, Bumrah pitches this one up again and there is a bit of nibble in the air. Zaman leans ahead and blocks it with authority. |
| 1.3 : J Bumrah to F Zaman, Same line and length from Bumrah in the off stump corridor. Fakhar puts his head down and defends it besides the pitch on the off side. |
| 1.4 : J Bumrah to F Zaman, Four dots in a row! Back of a length ball, a touch straighter this time. Zaman is on his toes as he tries to defend it. He does block it but not convincingly. It was more of a fend towards mid-wicket. |
| 1.5 : J Bumrah to F Zaman, Bumrah spots Zaman taking a few steps down the track and bowls a high full toss aimed at him. He tries to hit it too hard and mistimes it back towards the bowler. A maiden on the cards? |
| 1.6 : J Bumrah to F Zaman, Fractionally overpitched on middle and leg, driven hard but straight to mid on. Brilliant start from Bumrah, a maiden. |
| 2.1 : B Kumar to Imam, OUT! Kumar is up and running! He was off color in the previous game against Hong Kong but he has come out firing on all cylinders today. He spots Imam using his feet and hence, shortens his length. Hits the deck hard as the batsman swings wildly at it. Ends up getting a thick outside edge though and Dhoni behind the stumps does the rest. That was a poor shot, the youngster will be kicking himself. Fails in his first outing against India. |
| 0.0 : Babar Azam comes out to bat. |
| 2.2 : B Kumar to B Azam, Full ball on off, kept out watchfully. |
| 2.3 : B Kumar to B Azam, On a length in line of the stumps, Azam stands tall and blocks it nicely. |
| 2.4 : B Kumar to B Azam, Lazy from the Indians! Back of a length outside off, Babar taps it towards point. The fielder is casual there and misfields. The cover-point fielder makes a mess of it too to concede a run. Azam is off the mark with that. |
| 2.5 : B Kumar to F Zaman, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 2.6 : B Kumar to F Zaman, Pitched up delivery, Zaman comes forward and defends it nicely. A wicket and a run from the over. |
| 3.1 : J Bumrah to B Azam, Overpitched outside off, Babar drives it on the bounce to Pandya at point. He lobs the ball up and starts to celebrate. Has a wry smile on his face after that, confused the crowd there. |
| 3.2 : J Bumrah to B Azam, Full ball on middle, tapped off the front foot to mid on. |
| 3.3 : J Bumrah to B Azam, On the sixth stump channel, played with an angled bat towards point. |
| 3.4 : J Bumrah to B Azam, Similar delivery on an identical length, punched crisply off the back foot square of the wicket on the off side. |
| 3.5 : J Bumrah to B Azam, Short of a length delivery on middle, kept out with a straight bat. |
| 3.6 : J Bumrah to B Azam, Bumrah hits the deck hard and generates good purchase from the deck. Azam hops and defends it down the track. Another maiden from Bumrah, he is on a roll. |
| 4.1 : B Kumar to F Zaman, OUT! Another poor shot has costed Pakistan big time! Both the openers are back in the hut in no time. Even though you are in rich vein of form, you got to respect the conditions and take your time to settle in. One poor execution can send you packing. Coming back to the ball, it is on a shortish length on off. Zaman doesn't have much space to work with but still goes for a big pull across the line. Ends up getting a top edge that lobs over mid-wicket. Chahal backtracks |
| 0.0 : Shoaib Malik strides out to bat. |
| 4.2 : B Kumar to S Malik, In the channel outside off, left alone. |
| 4.3 : B Kumar to S Malik, Short of a length outside off, Malik camps back and taps it towards covers. |
| 4.4 : B Kumar to S Malik, Full ball, angling in from outside off, Shoaib with his bat and pad close together drives it to mid on. Had it covered there. |
| 4.5 : B Kumar to S Malik, Back of a length outside off, Malik taps it behind backward point and calls for a run. There is a bit of hesitation initially but eventually they trust each other and Babar makes it home, beating the throw. |
| 4.6 : B Kumar to B Azam, On a length in the tight off stump channel, defended solidly off the back foot. Another tidy over, 1 from it. Giving no breathing space to Pakistan. |
| 5.1 : J Bumrah to S Malik, Overpitched on middle and off, driven crisply to mid on. |
| 5.2 : J Bumrah to S Malik, FOUR! Sit back and applaud! Everything was perfect about that shot - head position, high elbow and extension of the arms. Pitched up ball outside off, Malik reaches the pitch of the ball and drives it elegantly through covers to find the fence. First boundary of the innings as well. |
| 5.3 : J Bumrah to S Malik, Bumrah does the mistake of bowling this one too straight. Malik clips it nicely through mid-wicket and gets three good runs for it. |
| 5.4 : J Bumrah to B Azam, Rush of blood from Azam! Good length ball well outside off, Azam chases it away from his body and tries to drive it on the up but misses. |
| 5.5 : J Bumrah to B Azam, Back of a length, angling in, tucked with a closed bat face towards mid on for a single. |
| 5.6 : J Bumrah to S Malik, Similar length ball outside off, Shoaib shuffles a touch and pats it to cover-point. Better over for Pakistan, 8 from this one. |
| 6.1 : B Kumar to B Azam, Azam is itching to get going! Back of a length ball outside off, comes off slowly after landing. Azam goes at it with hard hands but mistimes it towards mid on. |
| 6.2 : B Kumar to B Azam, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 6.3 : B Kumar to B Azam, FOUR! That will do his confidence a world of good! A brilliant shot. In the corridor of uncertainty, Azam comes forward and just pushes at it. The ball hits the turf and races across to the long off fence. |
| 6.4 : B Kumar to B Azam, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Another eye-catching stroke. On a length outside off, Azam stands tall and caresses it through covers to find the fence again. |
| 6.5 : B Kumar to B Azam, Length ball around off, defended from the comfort of the crease. |
| 6.6 : B Kumar to B Azam, Outside off, Azam plays at it but misses. |
| 7.1 : J Bumrah to S Malik, On a length, angling in, defended off the back foot towards the off side. |
| 7.2 : J Bumrah to S Malik, Back of a length outside off, played with an open bat face towards the point region. |
| 7.3 : J Bumrah to S Malik, Good running! Slower ball outside off, Malik taps it towards covers and scampers across to the other end. |
| 7.4 : J Bumrah to B Azam, The batsman plays it with an angled bat and guides it to third man. They pick up a single. |
| 7.5 : J Bumrah to S Malik, That's a peach! Cut Shoaib into two halves. Lands on a good length outside off and curves in after landing. Malik tries to defend it but the ball goes through the gap between his bat and pad and into the mitts of the keeper. |
| 7.6 : J Bumrah to S Malik, Good length ball closer to the off stump, kept out watchfully. |
| 8.1 : B Kumar to B Azam, On a good length around off, Azam comes forward and defends it nicely towards covers. |
| 8.2 : B Kumar to B Azam, Good game awareness again! Taps the good length ball towards mid on and calls his partner through for a brisk run. Took on Kuldeep and got away with it with ease. |
| 8.3 : B Kumar to S Malik, Pitched up ball on the fifth stump channel, Malik comes ahead to block it nicely. |
| 8.4 : B Kumar to S Malik, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 8.5 : B Kumar to S Malik, Fuller in length on middle and off, Malik shows the full face of the bat and pushes it down the track. |
| 8.6 : B Kumar to S Malik, Angling in from a length outside off, Shoaib tucks it towards mid-wicket. Only a run from the over, Kumar continues to be frugal. |
| Hardik Pandya to bowl now. |
| 9.1 : H Pandya to B Azam, Starts off with a fullish ball around off, Azam comes ahead and defends it nicely. |
| 9.2 : H Pandya to B Azam, Good communication between the two! Azam plays it with an angled bat towards point and takes off. Has a look at his partner who responds well and they complete it nicely. |
| 9.3 : H Pandya to S Malik, This is what they need to do, keep the scoreboard ticking. Malik leans ahead to push it towards cover-point and scurries across to the other end. |
| 9.4 : H Pandya to B Azam, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 9.5 : H Pandya to B Azam, Fractionally overpitched outside off, Babar eases it towards covers. |
| 9.6 : H Pandya to B Azam, The slower ball from Pandya outside off, Azam hangs back and pushes it towards point. A really good Powerplay 1 for India. They will be aiming to keep the pressure on Pakistan. |
| Time for Powerplay 2! Maximum of four fielders are now allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over. Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal to roll his arm over now. |
| 10.1 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Starts off with a short ball outside off, Malik cuts it towards backward point. The fielder dives to his left but fails to stop it cleanly. A run results. |
| 10.2 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Tossed up ball on off, Babar uses his feet but gets too close to the pitch of it. Can only drive it back towards the bowler. |
| 10.3 : Y Chahal to B Azam, On the shorter side of things, cut away with the spin to sweeper cover to rotate strike. |
| 10.4 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Allows the ball to come towards him and defends it nicely. |
| 10.5 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Chahal needs to bowl fuller. Once again it is too short and Shoaib has ample time to rock back and tuck it towards square leg. A run taken. |
| 10.6 : Y Chahal to B Azam, FOUR! Poor delivery and gets the treatment! A half-tracker outside off, Azam makes good use of the depth of the crease and slaps it past the cover fielder. Beats the man in the deep as well to pick up another boundary. 7 from Chahal's first over. |
| 11.1 : H Pandya to S Malik, In the corridor of uncertainty, Malik puts his head down and defends it calmly. |
| 11.2 : H Pandya to S Malik, Full length ball outside off this time, carved away with an open bat face to the point fielder. |
| 11.3 : H Pandya to S Malik, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 11.4 : H Pandya to S Malik, Short ball on off but there is very little pace on this track to trouble the batsman. He stands tall and pulls it over mid-wicket. Bumrah in the deep cuts it off. A couple taken. |
| 11.5 : H Pandya to S Malik, Typical Shoaib Malik shot! It is a percentage one for him and fetches him a lot of runs. Shortish ball and there is room on offer, Malik rises on his toes and with a free flow of the bat upper cuts it towards deep backward point. A run taken. |
| 11.6 : H Pandya to B Azam, FOUR! All about timing and grace! Overpitched on middle, Azam stays well-balanced and clips it nonchalantly through mid-wicket. Don't need to chase those. |
| Kuldeep Yadav to have a bowl now. He has a truck load of tricks up his sleeve. Let's see how the Pakistan batsmen tackle him. Laxman Sivaramakrishnan on air informs that Chahal is off the field. Not sure about the reason though. |
| 12.1 : K Yadav to S Malik, Starts off with a tossed up ball on leg stump, Malik hangs back and tucks it around the corner for a single. |
| 12.2 : K Yadav to B Azam, Well bowled! Slower through the air on middle, dips on the batsman. He is cramped for room and bunts it out towards covers. |
| 12.3 : K Yadav to B Azam, Driven through mid off by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 12.4 : K Yadav to S Malik, SIX! Clean as a whistle! That was hit with so much authority. Tossed up ball on off, Malik skips down the track in a jiffy and with a high backlift tonks it over cow corner. Has send the ball a long, long way into the stands. Brilliant. |
| 12.5 : K Yadav to S Malik, Spinning into Shoaib as he drives it through mid on to rotate strike. |
| 12.6 : K Yadav to B Azam, Full loopy ball around off, Azam leans ahead and knocks it down to long off for a run. Expensive start from Kuldeep, 10 from his first over. |
| 13.1 : H Pandya to B Azam, Full ball outside off, eased through covers for an easy single. |
| 13.2 : H Pandya to S Malik, Full length ball again, just outside off, Malik taps it square of the wicket on the off side. |
| 13.3 : H Pandya to S Malik, Nicely done! Back of a length well outside off, Malik dabs it towards backward point. Azam calls his partner through for a run and he responds well. |
| 13.4 : H Pandya to B Azam, Shortish ball outside off, guided towards the gully region. Azam wants a run but there is none on offer and he is sent back. Good awareness from the backward point fielder. |
| 13.5 : H Pandya to B Azam, On a flatter trajectory, kept out watchfully. |
| 13.6 : H Pandya to B Azam, FOUR! Deft and effective! Short of a length and there is room on offer, Azam shows finesse as he waits for the ball to arrive and glides it past the keeper through to the third man fence. That brings up the 50-run stand between the duo. A good recovery after Pakistan lost two early wickets. |
| Chahal is back on. |
| 14.1 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Floated outside off, driven with the spin through covers to rotate strike. |
| 14.2 : Y Chahal to B Azam, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 14.3 : Y Chahal to B Azam, On the shorter side of things, Babar camps back and blocks it down the track. |
| 14.4 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Takes a step forward and milks it down to long on to change strike. |
| 14.5 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Better from Chahal! Slows the pace on this one and bowls it on the middle and leg line. Malik clears his front leg to keep it out but is foxed by the googly. Gets an inside edge onto his pads eventually. |
| 14.6 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Loopy delivery in line of the stumps, turned towards mid-wicket. |
| 15.1 : H Pandya to B Azam, Short and room on offer, cut away towards third man for a single. |
| 15.2 : H Pandya to S Malik, Another run stolen! These two have been astute in this area. Short ball outside off, guided towards backward point to change strike. |
| 15.3 : H Pandya to B Azam, Pitched up ball, driven nicely towards mid on. |
| 15.4 : H Pandya to B Azam, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 15.5 : H Pandya to B Azam, Length ball outside off, placed past point for a single. |
| 15.6 : H Pandya to S Malik, Dropped! Dhoni won't be happy with that! Good length ball outside off, straightens a touch after landing. Malik attempts to guide it down to third man but ends up playing it too fine and towards MS. He gets low to his right and the ball hits his right glove. On impact with the ground, the ball lobs up, hits his other glove and then dies down on the ground. Malik gets a life. Will he capitalize on it? |
| Time for Drinks! It has been a really good recovery from Pakistan, courtesy the unbeaten 50-run stand between Malik and Azam. The Men in Green had lost a couple of early wickets but these two have shown a lot of composure. The drop catch of Malik just before the break didn't help India's cause. They need to take their chances. |
| 16.1 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Tossed up on middle and leg, tucked with a closed bat face towards mid-wicket. |
| 16.2 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Azam gets to the pitch of the delivery and eases it through mid on to rotate strike. |
| 16.3 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Slower through the air, Malik leans ahead and drives it through covers for a single. |
| 16.4 : Y Chahal to B Azam, On a flatter trajectory and shorter in length, knocked down to long on for another run. |
| 16.5 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Good placement from Malik! On a shorter length, Malik hangs back and whips it through mid-wicket. It is in the gap and the batsmen get three runs. |
| 16.6 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Loopy ball on middle and leg, worked towards square leg for a run. |
| 17.1 : H Pandya to B Azam, FOUR! Good shot! Fractionally overpitched outside off, Azam leans into it and caresses it through covers. Rayudu has a lot of ground to cover. He runs to his right, slides full length and almost pulls it back in but his legs come in the way. Deflects to the ropes off the boots. Unlucky there. |
| 17.2 : H Pandya to B Azam, On a length on middle, tucked towards mid-wicket. |
| 17.3 : H Pandya to B Azam, Back of a length outside off, glided down to third man for a single. |
| 17.4 : H Pandya to S Malik, Full ball outside off, tapped to cover-point for a quick run. |
| 17.5 : H Pandya to B Azam, On a length outside off, played with soft hands towards covers. |
| What happened there? Hardik Pandya has fallen on the ground after delivering the ball. Seems to be in a lot of pain. The replays show that he lost his footing a bit on his followthrough. Might have pulled his hamstring. India will hope that it is nothing serious. |
| Well, not good news for India. He is lying on the stretcher and is being carried off the field. Doesn't look good at all at the moment. While landing on his followthrough, his right foot lost balance. Seems like he has hurt his hip region. Ravi Shastri looks concerned in the dressing room. A big blow for the Men in Blue. Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu will bowl the final ball of the over in Pandya's place. |
| 17.6 : A Rayudu to B Azam, Shorter in length outside off, cut away to the man at point. |
| 18.1 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Floated delivery on middle and leg, turning away. Malik hangs back and keeps it out. |
| 18.2 : Y Chahal to S Malik, The wrong one from Chahal. Malik camps back to tuck it across but seems to have missed it. The ball kisses his pads and rolls to square leg. A leg bye taken. |
| 18.3 : Y Chahal to B Azam, A direct hit would have made things interesting! Tossed up on middle and leg, Azam taps it towards square leg and calls his partner through. Dhoni attacks the ball, turns back but as he throws the ball, he loses his balance and the shy goes well wide at his end. Malik was struggling there. |
| 18.4 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Tossed up ball, defended solidly off the front foot. |
| 18.5 : Y Chahal to S Malik, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 18.6 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Lands on middle and off and skids after pitching. Malik hangs back and knocks it down to long on for a single. 3 from the over, tidy stuff from Chahal. |
| Kuldeep Yadav comes back into the attack. |
| 19.1 : K Yadav to S Malik, Floated delivery, milked down to long on for a run. |
| 19.2 : K Yadav to B Azam, Full loopy delivery on off, Babar leans ahead and eases it to long off to rotate strike. |
| 19.3 : K Yadav to S Malik, Kuldeep drags his length back. Malik has enough time to dead-bat it. |
| 19.4 : K Yadav to S Malik, Quicker one on middle, Shoaib makes a bit of room and punches it to covers. |
| 19.5 : K Yadav to S Malik, Waits for the ball to arrive and clips it with the spin to the leg side for a single. |
| 19.6 : K Yadav to B Azam, Fired in on the leg stump line, tucked around the corner for a single. |
| 20.1 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Tossed up generously in line of the stumps, tucked towards mid-wicket. |
| 20.2 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Fuller in length outside off, Azam frees his arms and square drives it behind point. A couple taken. |
| 20.3 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Flatter ball this time, punched off the back foot through covers for a run. |
| 20.4 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 20.5 : Y Chahal to S Malik, Slower through the air, Malik tucks it with a closed bat face through mid on for a single. |
| 20.6 : Y Chahal to B Azam, Similar delivery, knocked down to long on for another run. |
| 21.1 : K Yadav to B Azam, Tossed up delivery, kept out watchfully. |
| 21.2 : K Yadav to B Azam, OUT! Bowled 'em! He has completely bamboozled Azam this time and boy, he is absolutely pumped up. He slips in the googly around middle and leg and it dips on Babar as well. He is down the track but has no clue about it. Pushes at it but misses it completely to get the bails of his stumps dislodged. He looks back and thinks that Dhoni has lost the ball and he has a chance to come back in. However, he realizes that the ball had hit the timber. End of the flourishing 82-ru |
| The Pakistan skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, is the new man in. |
| 21.3 : K Yadav to S Ahmed, Ahmed brings out his favoured sweep shot right into play and plays it through square leg for a single to get off the mark. |
| 21.4 : K Yadav to S Malik, Full on middle, pushed down the track. |
| 21.5 : K Yadav to S Malik, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 21.6 : K Yadav to S Malik, Tossed up outside off, pushed towards point. A successful over for India. |
| Kedar Jadhav to have a bowl now. |
| 22.1 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, No run. |
| 22.2 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, Hangs back to the shorter ball and tucks it with a closed bat face towards mid-wicket. |
| 22.3 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, Almost! Jadhav spots Ahmed using his feet and bowls a flatter one outside off. Sarfraz just manages to get an inside edge onto his pad which saves him. |
| 22.4 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, Short ball outside off, cut away towards point. |
| 22.5 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 22.6 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, Camps back and clips it with the spin through square leg for a single. |
| 23.1 : K Yadav to S Ahmed, Tossed up delivery on the stumps, driven easily to long off for a single. |
| 23.2 : K Yadav to S Malik, A lot of loop on this, full on middle and leg, wristed to short mid-wicket for nothing. |
| 23.3 : K Yadav to S Malik, Dropped short and flat outside off, it's the googly, Malik stays back and runs it late down towards third man. Gets an easy couple for doing so. |
| 23.4 : K Yadav to S Malik, Oh, dear! Bhuvneshwar Kumar has completely missed that. Shoaib Malik is offered another life. He gives the charge to this floated ball and slogs over mid-wicket. Plenty of height, not enough distance and Bhuvneshwar is out in the deep. The setting sun's in his eye and as a result, he loses it and runs too far inside. Sunglasses are there for a reason, should have opted for them when they are so freely available. One taken. |
| 23.5 : K Yadav to S Ahmed, Sarfraz eases this full length delivery through to long off and gets to the other end. |
| 23.6 : K Yadav to S Malik, Down the ground again, this time towards long on and another single is collected. |
| 24.1 : K Jadhav to S Malik, Quicker and flatter one on middle and leg, punched away with the spin to mid-wicket. |
| 24.2 : K Jadhav to S Malik, Slower through the air, tucked with ease through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 24.3 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, The round-arm action of Jadhav is not easy getting used to it. He bowls a flatter one outside off, Ahmed tries to cut it through point but gets beaten. |
| 24.4 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, Good placement! Short ball outside off, Ahmed manages to cut it past the point region. Dhawan hares after it and by the time he cuts it off, the batsmen take a couple. |
| 24.5 : K Jadhav to S Ahmed, OUT! Take a bow, Manish Pandey! That is a gem of a catch. Malik's opportunity was missed in the previous over but this time the substitute, Pandey, has come to the fore. Tossed up fullish ball on middle and leg, Ahmed clears his front leg and slogs it towards wide long on. Manish covers a lot of ground to his right, keeps his balance intact and takes it brilliantly with both his hands. He realizes that the momentum is taking him over the ropes and hence, lobs the ball |
| Asif Ali strides out to bat. Meanwhile, umpire Marais Erasmus is waiting to check whether the batsmen crossed. They didn't cross eventually and Ali will be on strike. |
| 24.6 : K Jadhav to A Ali, Hangs back to the shorter ball and keeps it out. Another productive over for Jadhav. |
| 25.1 : K Yadav to S Malik, Tossed up ball, defended solidly off the front foot. |
| 25.2 : K Yadav to S Malik, The batsman drives the ball straight down the ground. |
| 25.3 : K Yadav to S Malik, On a flatter trajectory, tucked towards square leg. |
| 25.4 : K Yadav to S Malik, Slower through the air, kept out watchfully. |
| 25.5 : K Yadav to S Malik, Shorter delivery, cut away uppishly but falls well short of the man at covers. |
| 25.6 : K Yadav to S Malik, Tucks this one with the spin through square leg for a single. |
| 26.1 : K Jadhav to S Malik, Low full toss on middle, Malik drives it down to long on for a single. |
| 26.2 : K Jadhav to A Ali, Nicely bowled! This one drifts away as Ali tries to push it down the ground but edges it towards short third man. A single taken. |
| 26.3 : K Jadhav to S Malik, On the shorter side of things, placed towards point for a single. |
| 26.4 : K Jadhav to A Ali, Flatter one outside off, keeps low too. Ali tries to cut it away but misses. |
| 26.5 : K Jadhav to A Ali, Shorter in length, punched out off the back foot. |
| Direct hit from Ambati Rayudu! Seems Shoaib Malik is in trouble. Going to be real close. Over to the TV umpire now... |
| 26.6 : K Jadhav to A Ali, OUT! Another one bites the dust! Pakistan have lost their way big time. Malik was batting pretty well and he will be disappointed with himself. Ali taps this one towards cover-point and is looking at the ball. Malik however charges in from the other end. Realizing that, Ali tells his partner to go back. Malik in order to avoid the throw runs across the wickets. Rayudu attacks the ball, picks it up and hits the bull's eye at the bowler's end as Shoaib tries to drag it ba |
| Shadab Khan is the new man in. |
| 27.1 : K Yadav to S Khan, Spinning in on middle and leg, Shadab goes on the back foot and works it down towards third man for a single. |
| 27.2 : K Yadav to A Ali, Plays this full ball with the spin and wrists it down to long on for a single. |
| 27.3 : K Yadav to S Khan, Flat and short outside off, punched off the back foot down to long off for one more. |
| 27.4 : K Yadav to A Ali, Stays inside the crease and keeps it out safely. |
| 27.5 : K Yadav to A Ali, SIX! He can do that. He's known to do that and he's doing it now here too. Flighted delivery outside off, Asif Ali kneels down and throws the kitchen sink at it. Powers it over long on and sends it deep into the stands for a maximum. |
| 27.6 : K Yadav to A Ali, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 28.1 : K Jadhav to A Ali, OUT! Got 'em! Asif Ali's brief stay has come to an end. He's a dangerous player, India have taken a crucial wicket as he can go big towards the end after settling in. Jadhav darts it short and flat outside off, Ali looks to fiercely cut it away on the off side but can only manage a feather to Dhoni, who takes a sharp catch. |
| 0.0 : Faheem Ashraf walks into the middle next. |
| 28.2 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, From around the wicket, Kedar offers room outside off by bowling it short, Ashraf cuts it straight to short third man. |
| 28.3 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Loud inside edge, but a big inside edge and that's a good spot by Marais Erasmus. Coming in from around off, it keeps really low and raps Faheem Ashraf on the pads. Luckily for him, there's involvement from the willow which saves him. |
| 28.4 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Fullish in length and around off, kept out safely from the front foot. |
| 28.5 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Leans across to get right behind the line and defends. |
| 28.6 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Another solid defense from Faheem Ashraf. A wicket-maiden for Jadhav. Amazing stuff. |
| 29.1 : K Yadav to S Khan, Turning into the batsman from middle and off, Shadab goes back and turns it away on the leg side. |
| 29.2 : K Yadav to S Khan, Stays inside the crease again and works it with the spin on the leg side. |
| 29.3 : K Yadav to S Khan, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 29.4 : K Yadav to S Khan, The wrong 'un from Kuldeep, rising with some extra bounce, Shadab somehow manages to play it back to the bowler. Unable to pick the chinaman well here. |
| 29.5 : K Yadav to S Khan, A back foot punch from long off and a single results. |
| 29.6 : K Yadav to F Ashraf, Full and loopy outside off, comfortably driven through the gap in the covers for a couple. |
| 30.1 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Fuller, faster and straighter on the stumps, it's driven square to point off the outer half. |
| 30.2 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Tap and run stuff from Khan. Works it down in front of covers and scampers to the other end. Nicely done. |
| 30.3 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Drifting in from around off, Ashraf backs away and cuts it square to point for a single. |
| 30.4 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Stands firm inside the crease and meets it with a defensive blade in response. |
| 30.5 : K Jadhav to S Khan, On the shorter side of things, blocked. |
| 30.6 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Finds the gap well. Shadab punches this off the back foot through the gap in the covers and comes back for the second. |
| Jasprit Bumrah is back on. |
| 31.1 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, Almost a yorker, slanting across, Faheem drills it but straight to the man at mid off. |
| 31.2 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, Full again from Bumrah, makes it go across the southpaw, Faheem once again drives it to the mid off fielder. |
| 31.3 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, On a length and in the off stump channel, going away, Ashraf pushes it tamely towards cover-point and gets to the other end. |
| 31.4 : J Bumrah to S Khan, Play and a miss! A loosener as Bumrah bowls it full and wide outside off, Shadab reaches out to play at it but misses. |
| 31.5 : J Bumrah to S Khan, Angling back in on middle and leg, full in length, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| Review taken. It's for an lbw decision against Faheem Ashraf. Height maybe an issue. Let's see... |
| 31.6 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, Safe! Height is an issue and it saves Ashraf. Around the wicket to Faheem, back of a length coming in on middle and leg, the batsman fails to flick and wears it on the thigh pad. A loud appeal goes up but it's denied. Rohit Sharma thinks on what to do, asks Dhoni who says he's unsure, but he anyway goes ahead with it and reviews it. Replays show it's too high and missing the stumps. India lose their review. |
| 32.1 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Short and flat outside off, kept out off the back foot. |
| 32.2 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Too straight in line, Khan works it off his pads for no run. |
| 32.3 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Eased down to long off for a comfortable single. |
| 32.4 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. They pick up a single. |
| 32.5 : K Jadhav to S Khan, Fuller and straighter in line of the stumps, blocked safely. |
| A stumping referral against Shadab Khan is being checked upstairs by the umpire. The batsman is already walking. Probably says a lot in itself. |
| 32.6 : K Jadhav to S Khan, OUT! Not really a surprise why Shadab decided to walk. If Dhoni's sure, then you're more or less gone. Khan decides to give the charge and seeing this, Jadhav shortens the length and fires it outside off. It goes past the outside edge and Dhoni, lightning as always, whips the bails off in a flash. It's taken upstairs and replays show that Shadab couldn't drag his back leg inside in time. That's the end of that. |
| Drinks break. During the previous drinks break, Pakistan were in control. At this time, they've totally lost it. India have made a serious comeback with some smart and disciplined bowling from the spinners. From 85/2, they went to 121/7. All this after some dropped chances too. India on top here. Also, Mohammad Amir is the new man in. |
| 33.1 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, FOUR! Full in length and outside off, some room to work with and Ashraf pounces on it. Drives it nicely through the covers and finds the fence. |
| 33.2 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, Rising off the deck on a good length, takes Faheem by surprise a bit and raps him on the thigh pad. |
| 33.3 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, Shaping back in on middle and leg, pulled with a little swivel through square leg for one. |
| 33.4 : J Bumrah to M Amir, Amir rises and taps this short of a good length ball to cover-point. Dot ball. |
| 33.5 : J Bumrah to M Amir, Edged and FOUR! A slip was there in the place but just too wide. Full and outside off, Amir plays the expansive drive and gets a thick edge. Flies between Dhoni and Dhawan and wide first slip. Shikhar dives to his right but can't get to it. A boundary results. |
| 33.6 : J Bumrah to M Amir, Back of a length on off, Amir presents a defensive bat in response. |
| 34.1 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Slower through the air and drifting in around off, Ashraf prods forward and pushes it tamely on the off side. |
| 34.2 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Quicker one outside off, hit with a punch through the covers for a single. |
| 34.3 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 34.4 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Oh! A bit risky as it could have gone right through. A bit too full as Amir tries to sweep. Connects, but barely. It's away on the leg side for one. |
| 34.5 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Sliding in on a bit of a shorter length, Ashraf backs away and slaps the punch through the vacant spaces in the cover region. One to the total. |
| 34.6 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Another back foot punch, past the diving extra cover fielder. Single to end the over. |
| Yuzvendra Chahal is called back to bowl. |
| 35.1 : Y Chahal to M Amir, A lot of air provided here, full outside off, driven to long off for a single. |
| 35.2 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, No ball! Rare to see it from a spinner. Chahal oversteps as he bowls a full ball outside off, driven to long off for one more. Free Hit coming up. It wasn't a no ball though, as the replays show. A bit harsh on Chahal. |
| Y Chahal to M Amir, The catch is taken but of no avail. Full outside off, Amir gets low and slogs across the line. Into the hands of Kuldeep at wide long on and he throws it back in as the batsmen take a run. |
| 35.3 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, Comes forward and blocks it well. |
| 35.4 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, Dropped! He should have taken that. Relatively easy chance for the leggie. Tossed up on the stumps, Ashraf drives it on the up right back towards the bowler. Chahal moves to his right and gets his hands to it, but can't hold on. |
| 35.5 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, Stays back and keeps it out off the back foot. |
| 35.6 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, Spinning in, a bit too much though. On middle and leg, and hence, the ball is going down leg. The ball rapped the batsman on the pads, so the appeal is turned down quickly. |
| 36.1 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Short and wide, not much turn on this occasion, Amir camps on the back foot and cuts it square through point for a single. |
| 36.2 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Full in length, around off, it's lofted over the bowler's head towards long off for a run. |
| 36.3 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Darted it quicker around off, shorter in length, Amir defends it right under his eyes. |
| 36.4 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Another defensive shot presented, but this time off the front foot. |
| 36.5 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Short again, Amir offers a firm punch down to long on and crosses over. |
| 36.6 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Quicker one, sliding in on leg on a fuller length, strikes Ashraf low on the pads as he fails to play the flick shot. |
| 37.1 : Y Chahal to M Amir, Loopy and full on middle and leg, Amir tries to flick but it goes off his pads on the off side. |
| 37.2 : Y Chahal to M Amir, In the air... but it falls safely! Chahal flights it up well on the stumps and Amir goes down to play the big slog sweep. Skies it in the mid-wicket region as Dhawan comes running in from the deep. It falls just short of him as the batsmen take two. |
| 37.3 : Y Chahal to M Amir, Slower through the air outside off, full in length, eased back down to long off for a single. |
| 37.4 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, FOUR! Takes a bit of risk but it pays off. This is a good shot from Faheem Ashraf. Sees the ball landing full around off, Ashraf opens his body up and lofts it cleanly over the covers for a boundary. |
| 37.5 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, Takes a big stride forward and keeps it out well. |
| 37.6 : Y Chahal to F Ashraf, Driven hard, but right at the mid off fielder. |
| 38.1 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Starts from around the wicket and slides it in on off, Mohammad Amir goes back and defends. |
| 38.2 : K Jadhav to M Amir, Spears in a full delivery attacking the stumps, driven through mid on for one run. |
| 38.3 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Short, flat and close to the off stick, Ashraf watches the ball and blocks it to the off side. |
| 38.4 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, A bit of a misfield allows the batsmen to take some runs. Ashraf slaps it towards extra cover and the fumble concedes two. |
| 38.5 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Straighter one, flicked towards mid-wicket. |
| 38.6 : K Jadhav to F Ashraf, Pushed away to the cover region to end the over. |
| Kuldeep Yadav returns. |
| 39.1 : K Yadav to M Amir, A lot of revs as Kuldeep lands it full on the stumps, driven through mid off for a single. |
| 39.2 : K Yadav to F Ashraf, FOUR LEG BYES! A bit lucky, but the runs are what matter and Pakistan will accept them gleefully. Kuldeep tosses it up there, Ashraf tries to flick but misses and it goes off his pads past the off stump and MS Dhoni. Races away to the third man fence, beating the chasing fielder. |
| 39.3 : K Yadav to F Ashraf, Tossed up delivery spinning away, Faheem with a front foot defensive shot. |
| 39.4 : K Yadav to F Ashraf, A bit wider outside off, spinning away again, the batsman fails to put bat on ball. |
| 39.5 : K Yadav to F Ashraf, A lot of flight again, on off, Ashraf looks to flick across the line and it pops off the edge towards short third man. |
| 39.6 : K Yadav to F Ashraf, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| Powerplay 3 signalled. A maximum of 5 fielders will be allowed outside the ring till the end of the innings. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is brought back on. Can he break this useful stand? |
| 40.1 : B Kumar to F Ashraf, Good length delivery shaping away from around off, played to point. |
| 40.2 : B Kumar to F Ashraf, Bhuvi appeals loudly but it's clearly pitching outside leg. Not sure what the fuss was about. Length ball pitching outside leg and then it hits Ashraf on the pads in line of the stumps. The umpire sees that and doesn't respond to the appeal. |
| 40.3 : B Kumar to F Ashraf, Goes fuller on this occasion, it's driven to mid on. |
| 40.4 : B Kumar to F Ashraf, Just behind a length, outside off, cut hard to point. |
| 40.5 : B Kumar to F Ashraf, Marginally ahead of a length on middle and off, Faheem stands tall and attempts to slog it over mid-wicket, but instead gets it off the inner half in the same region. |
| 40.6 : B Kumar to F Ashraf, On the leg stump line, goes off the pads of the batsman and falls on the leg side. A leg bye is taken. |
| Jasprit Bumrah returns to the bowling attack. |
| 41.1 : J Bumrah to F Ashraf, OUT! Ashraf holes out, but not before contributing to a handy partnership of 37 for Pakistan. Bumrah strikes first ball on his return to the attack. Comes from around the wicket and bowls a slower one, full in length. Ashraf swings across the line but fails to pick it up. As a result, he skies it over mid-wicket and Dhawan out in the deep takes a safe catch. |
| 0.0 : Hasan Ali to bat next. |
| 41.2 : J Bumrah to M Amir, Full in length and outside off, cracked through towards sweeper cover for a run. |
| 41.3 : J Bumrah to H Ali, Fires in the yorker, accurately on off, Hasan Ali does well to bring his bat down in time and jam it out. |
| 41.4 : J Bumrah to H Ali, Off the mark with that. Full ball outside off, Hasan drives it through the covers for a single. |
| 41.5 : J Bumrah to M Amir, Back of a good length outside off, Amir opens the face of the bat and pushes it to point. |
| 41.6 : J Bumrah to M Amir, Amir shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 42.1 : B Kumar to H Ali, OUT! A simple catch and Hasan Ali walks back to the dressing room. Bhuvneshwar bowls a length ball on the stumps, Ali stands tall and tries to clear mid on. Doesn't exactly get on top of the bounce and so, lobs it towards Dinesh Karthik who takes a few steps behind to gobble it up. |
| 0.0 : Usman Khan is the last man in for Pakistan. |
| 42.2 : B Kumar to M Amir, Kumar goes fuller, keeps it around off and it's driven to the man at extra cover. |
| 42.3 : B Kumar to M Amir, Shortish delivery outside the line of off stump, Amir rides the bounce and opens the face before steering it behind point for a brace. |
| 42.4 : B Kumar to M Amir, Outside off on a good length, left alone. |
| 42.5 : B Kumar to M Amir, Angles it in by continuing from around the wicket, Amir defends it gently on the off side. |
| 42.6 : B Kumar to M Amir, Brings out the short one and hits the deck hard. It's coming in and Mohammad Amir ducks in time to evade it. |
| 43.1 : J Bumrah to U Khan, OUT! Bowled 'em! And that's the end of that. PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN WRAPPED UP FOR 162! Bumrah, typically, spears in an accurate yorker and aims it at the base of off stump. Too good for Usman Khan who can't do anything about it. It goes under his bat and the off stick is shaken. Jasprit celebrates like Shahid Afridi with his hands aloft. Superb stuff. |
| A clinical show with the ball from the Indians, that too after being asked to bowl. Barring that 82-run stand between Azam and Malik, nobody put up any kind of a fight, not worth anything of note at least. The two openers were sent back early by Kumar, but then the Azam-Malik stand provided good resistance and shored things up too. Though, the moment Kuldeep got rid of Babar, things went downhill from there for the Men in Green. Wickets kept falling and eventually, they were rolled up for a low |
| Credit to the Indian bowlers, they were exceptional right from the start. It was a collective effort. Kumar started things off, then Kuldeep followed by breaking that all-important partnership, Jadhav then played his part in the middle overs and then Bumrah contributed towards the end. There were a few dropped chances and some sloppy fielding efforts, but fortunately for them, none were costly. |
| Kedar Jadhav is being interviewed by Ramiz Raja on the sidelines. He says that he is enjoying his bowling. Mentions that his role is to contain the batsmen and try to get in as many dot balls as possible. Adds that if he gets wickets in the process, that is a bonus. Informs that he tries to read the batsmen and bowl accordingly. On being asked whether he intentionally bowls with such a low-arm action or not, he replies that he wants it that way. States that he sticks to a wicket-to-wicket line. |
| The ball is in India's court now. 163, on this surface, is a gettable one, and they should too with the kind of batting line-up they have. But, given Pakistan's attack and the pressure of the occasion, a couple of early wickets and anything can happen. Much like Pakistan's, India's middle order has shown to be frail in the past. Join us for the second half in a short while. |
| 0.0 : The players are back in the field. 163 to chase. How many overs will it last? 30? 35? Can Pakistan make a match out of this? Don't bother about attempting your occult powers. The reality will descend soon. |
| The Pakistan team gets into a huddle. They don't seem overly disappointed but then their captain always looks grumpy, even while winning. It will be interesting to see how he manages his temper if things don't go Pakistan's way in the field. |
| Out come the Indian openers. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are the openers. Mohammad Amir to start off proceedings. The skipper to face. Here we go!!! |
| 0.1 : M Amir to R Sharma, India and Rohit are underway! On a length on middle and leg, Sharma tucks it towards mid-wicket and takes off. Has to change his direction as he senses that he might collide into Amir on his followthrough. Completes the run safely in the end. |
| 0.2 : M Amir to S Dhawan, On a length outside off, holding its line. Dhawan points his bat skywards to allow it through. |
| 0.3 : M Amir to S Dhawan, Full ball down the leg side, Shikhar whips it away to fine leg for a run and gets off the mark. |
| 0.4 : M Amir to R Sharma, Fuller in length, in line of the stumps, Rohit leans ahead and defends it with a high elbow. |
| 0.5 : M Amir to R Sharma, Amir drags his length back a touch as Sharma taps it towards cover-point. Wants a run but he has been rightly sent back by his partner. |
| 0.6 : M Amir to R Sharma, Leaving the right-hander on a fuller length, Rohit taps it with an open bat face towards point. Good start from Amir, only 2 from the first over. |
| Usman Khan to bowl with the second new ball. |
| 1.1 : U Khan to S Dhawan, Outside off, Dhawan waits for the ball to come to him and guides it to third man for a single. |
| 1.2 : U Khan to R Sharma, INSIDE EDGE, FOUR! Usman has his hands on his head. Nearly got the Indian captain there. The ball is on a length, outside off, Rohit looks to push it through the off side but the ball moves while his feet don't. Inside edge, past the stumps, to the fine leg fence. 156 more needed from 292 balls. |
| 1.3 : U Khan to R Sharma, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 1.4 : U Khan to R Sharma, Similar ball, pretty wide, Sharma chases but misses. |
| 1.5 : U Khan to R Sharma, The bowler is lucky on this occasion. Usman angles this away from the right-hander but the ball is way too far from the batsman. Almost goes out of the pitch after swinging but umpire Erasmus gives the benefit of doubt to the bowler. |
| 1.6 : U Khan to R Sharma, Good ball, lovely shot, excellent fielding. Full and outside off, swinging in, RS watches it closely, plays it late, pushes it back down the ground and starts running. But then mid off comes across quickly and puts in a full length dive to his right to stop the ball. Rohit has to go back. Good cricket all around. |
| 2.1 : M Amir to S Dhawan, On a length outside off, coming in a touch, Dhawan lets it go. |
| 2.2 : M Amir to S Dhawan, The batsman has played it to the point region. |
| 2.3 : M Amir to S Dhawan, FOUR! GORGEOUS! No swing and the fuller length comes as a sweet dish for Indian batsmen. After the rough tour of England, this will come as a nice feeling. Full and outside off, Dhawan leans and drives it through the covers for a boundary. |
| 2.4 : M Amir to S Dhawan, Poor fielding, excellent running. Dhawan works this wide of mid on and Shoaib Malik, one of Pakistan's best fielders, gives it a chase. However, he prefers not to put in a dive and allows the ball to go through. He chases it all the way to the boundary and the batsmen take that opportunity to come back for the third. 149 more needed. |
| 2.5 : M Amir to R Sharma, Outside off, a play and a miss. |
| 2.6 : M Amir to R Sharma, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 3.1 : U Khan to S Dhawan, Ooohhh... bizarre. Normally one gets an edge when the ball does something. Nothing much of that here. The ball comes in and somehow Dhawan misses his flick. A leading edge is induced which does not carry to cover. |
| 3.2 : U Khan to S Dhawan, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 3.3 : U Khan to S Dhawan, Stays back in his crease and blocks. |
| 3.4 : U Khan to S Dhawan, A length outside off, SD slashes hard but misses. |
| 3.5 : U Khan to S Dhawan, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 3.6 : U Khan to S Dhawan, Outside off, Dhawan waits and steers it to third man for a run. |
| 4.1 : M Amir to S Dhawan, Full and outside off, Dhawan pushes and starts to run but Rohit sends him back on seeing the cover fielder charge in. |
| 4.2 : M Amir to S Dhawan, That one bounced from nowhere, pitched on a length, Shikhar looked to defend but then got squared up because of the ball shooting. Somehow managed to fend it to the off side. |
| 4.3 : M Amir to S Dhawan, This one nips back a long way, SD looks to work it to the leg side but misses and gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. Amir screams his lungs out for an LBW appeal but well... |
| 4.4 : M Amir to S Dhawan, Full and outside off, the southpaw comes forward and drives it with the full face of the bat towards cover. |
| 4.5 : M Amir to S Dhawan, Good line and length, just around off, tightly defended. |
| 4.6 : M Amir to S Dhawan, Very full, almost a yorker outside off, well dug out. Pakistan's first MAIDEN. |
| 5.1 : U Khan to R Sharma, On a length around off, watchfully defended towards point. |
| 5.2 : U Khan to R Sharma, Similar line and length, pushed towards mid off. |
| 5.3 : U Khan to R Sharma, A bit edgy. A length ball, Rohit looks to force it through the off side but ends up slicing it uppishly, behind point towards third man. A single taken. |
| 5.4 : U Khan to S Dhawan, A short ball, pulled straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 5.5 : U Khan to S Dhawan, On middle and leg, helped through square leg for a run. |
| 5.6 : U Khan to R Sharma, Another length ball, a bit of extra bounce, punched towards cover. |
| A bit of a delay. Shikhar Dhawan is not happy with the disturbance behind the sightscreen. The members are taking their own sweet time to get their dinner or snacks to their seat and are not even sitting down. Busy chatting with the others around, till they are politely informed that the game has been stalled. All ready now. |
| 6.1 : M Amir to S Dhawan, Risky run. Dhawan works it towards mid on and calls for a quick single. The fielder comes charging in but then slips while diving and his throw bounces awkwardly past the stumps at the non-striker's end. Now had he not slipped, Dhawan could have been in trouble. |
| 6.2 : M Amir to R Sharma, THE CROWD COMES TO LIFE. This is what they want to see. Banter. Amir bows this on a length outside off and Rohit calmly defends. The bowler finishes his followthrough, then walks a few steps and chides Rohit. The response from the Indian skipper is first a smile, then perhaps an indication that you do your job, I shall do mine. Amir walks back like an obedient fellow and then smiles while looking at the umpire. The crowd cheers both players. They want more... |
| 6.3 : M Amir to R Sharma, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 6.4 : M Amir to R Sharma, FOUR! BOOM! Fractionally short outside off, Rohit lashes out the cut and gets it behind point. Third man starts to run, continues to run but eventually cannot even get close to the ball. Rohit moves to 10 with his second boundary. |
| 6.5 : M Amir to R Sharma, FOUR! After the power, comes the placement. Amir overcompensates for the short ball bowled previously and delivers an overpitched one. Rohit leans and exhibits a delightful cover drive. Treat to watch. 137 more to win. |
| 6.6 : M Amir to R Sharma, Waits for the ball to come to him and dabs it pretty late, almost through the vacant slip cordon to third man for a run. 10 from the over. |
| 7.1 : U Khan to R Sharma, On middle and leg, flicked towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 7.2 : U Khan to S Dhawan, This is outside off, steered towards third man for a run. 'I think it is time Sarfraz starts to look at other options', quips Aamer Sohail on air. |
| 7.3 : U Khan to R Sharma, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 7.4 : U Khan to R Sharma, TOP EDGE, SIX! Fine leg was inside the circle and Usman, for some reason, dug it in short. Rohit did not need a second invitation. He instinctively went for the hook but the quickness on the ball did him in. However, the pace also helped him as the ball travelled over the fine leg fence in a flash. 128 more to win. |
| 7.5 : U Khan to R Sharma, NO BALL, FOUR! First, a mistake. Then a crime. Again, with fine leg up, Usman drops it short. Once more, he is pulled away, this time with authority, behind square leg. Then, the umpire raises his right hand sideways to indicate more misery to Usman, Sarfraz and Pakistan. |
| FREE HIT TIME! |
| U Khan to R Sharma, SIX! Rubbish bowling. Forget where the fine leg is, Usman is not correcting his length at all. Short, six. Short, four. Short, now six. Rohit swivels and pulls it massively over mid-wicket. That nearly hit the roof. |
| 7.6 : U Khan to R Sharma, Outside off, played towards point. 19 from that over. But a look at Usman's figures - 4-0-27-0 - one will realize that it has been one bad over that has spoilt his spell. |
| Hasan Ali now. |
| 8.1 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Outside off, played towards point. |
| 8.2 : H Ali to S Dhawan, On middle and leg, flicked towards square leg for a single. |
| 8.3 : H Ali to R Sharma, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 8.4 : H Ali to R Sharma, FOUR! Easy peasy. The length is short, the line is outside leg, the body reaction is the swivel, the stance is head high, the ball direction behind square leg and the final destination - boundary. 50 UP FOR INDIA! |
| 8.5 : H Ali to R Sharma, Taps it behind point and scampers through for a quick single. |
| 8.6 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Full on leg, chipped uppishly towards mid on. The ball nearly went all the way to the fielder. Dhawan initially wanted a single but then sent Rohit back. |
| Double change. Faheem Ashraf to bowl from the other end. |
| 9.1 : F Ashraf to R Sharma, Outside off, dabbed towards third man for a single. |
| 9.2 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, A bit slower, outside off, angling away, Dhawan looks to guide it towards third man but misses. |
| 9.3 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, Excellent fielding! Babar Azam the hero. Full and outside off, Dhawan drives it through the covers and seems to thread the gap but Babar dives to his right and stops the ball. Brilliant. |
| 9.4 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, FOUR! GLORIOUS! If Babar's dive was brilliant, Dhawan's drive is ultra-brilliant. A length ball outside off, Dhawan creams this through point and this time no one is stopping that. |
| 9.5 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 9.6 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, WIDE. Slips this down the leg side, Shikhar misses his flick. |
| F Ashraf to S Dhawan, Full and around middle, pushed towards cover. |
| 10.1 : H Ali to R Sharma, Outside off, pushed towards cover for a quick single. |
| 10.2 : H Ali to S Dhawan, SIX! Up, up and away! A short ball, Pakistan seem to be defiant to learn. Keep on peppering the Indian batsmen and keep pulled over the ropes. This one's gone over deep square leg. There is a man in the deep but he has no chance. Just 98 needed now. |
| 10.3 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Around off, watchfully defended. |
| 10.4 : H Ali to S Dhawan, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 10.5 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Outside off, steered to third man for a run. |
| 10.6 : H Ali to R Sharma, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 11.1 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, ANOTHER NO BALL. Faheem walks back with a furious look on his face to have a check on where his foot landed. Reminds me of the recently completed Asian games where athletes used to check where their foot landed after making a long jump attempt. Sarfraz has his mouth covered by his gloves - not quite sure whether he is muttering something or not. The fans cannot bear to watch. Oh Pakistan, so Pakistan with the bat. But they have simply not turned up with the ball. Rega |
| 0.0 : FREE HIT TIME... |
| 11.1 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, Nothing on the Free Hit. Full and outside off, pushed towards mid off. |
| 11.2 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, The batsman drives the ball straight down the ground. One run added to the total. |
| 11.3 : F Ashraf to R Sharma, Full and outside off, driven towards mid off for a run. |
| 11.4 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 11.5 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, FOUR! What a shot. Full on middle, Dhawan whips it over mid-wicket and gets a boundary. |
| 11.6 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 12.1 : H Ali to R Sharma, SIX! BOSH! I am reminded of my student days when my teacher used to tell me, 'Son, if you don't learn, you will get punished.' Seems like India are telling that to Pakistan at the moment. The short stuff is being hammered with disdain but the bowling side still continues to bowl. Pulled over mid-wicket. |
| 12.2 : H Ali to R Sharma, The batsman guides it to third man. They pick up a single. |
| 12.3 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Down the leg side, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 12.4 : H Ali to R Sharma, FOUR! What a fine way to get to your half century. A half century outside off, Rohit leans and chips it over cover for a boundary. His 35th ODI Fifty. |
| 12.5 : H Ali to R Sharma, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 12.6 : H Ali to R Sharma, Full and outside off, pushed towards cover for a single. |
| Shadab time. |
| 13.1 : S Khan to R Sharma, OUT! Through the gate! Shadab comes into the attack and produces the desired result for Pakistan immediately. A leg spinner landing on the leg stump. Rohit is forward to play at it, probably with the spin, but it goes straight on, beats his bat, brushes his back pad a bit and then lights the bails. The Green team is delighted but a wicket too late one would say. 77 needed more off 221 balls. |
| 0.0 : Drinks break. Pakistan will be relieved to see Rohit's back but he has already done the damage. Their bowlers now will have to force a collapse from him to make a match out of it. Ambati Rayudu has joined Dhawan in the attack now. |
| 13.2 : S Khan to A Rayudu, Flighted full ball on off, it's driven down through mid off for a single. Rayudu is off the mark first ball. |
| 13.3 : S Khan to S Dhawan, Turning back into the batsman from around off, a bit on the shorter side which allows Dhawan to go back and defend. |
| 13.4 : S Khan to S Dhawan, FOUR! A very lazy fielding inside the ring and Sarfraz's face says it all. Floated delivery by Shadab, too full and outside off, Dhawan drills it through the line and the cover fielder lets it through. No protection in the deep and it's a boundary. |
| 13.5 : S Khan to S Dhawan, Khan shortens his length and bowls it outside off, Dhawan cuts but finds the point fielder. Shadab gets away with a bad one. |
| 13.6 : S Khan to S Dhawan, Tossed up ball on middle, Dhawan leans forward and forces it through mid on for one. End of a successful over for Pakistan but they need wickets in a cluster. |
| 14.1 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Hasan steams in from around the wicket and angles in a good length delivery on off, Dhawan defends it off his back foot. |
| 14.2 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Another delivery angling into the batsman from outside off, Dhawan stays back to push it out on the off side. |
| 14.3 : H Ali to S Dhawan, FOUR! No stopping this one. It's hit well and hit in the gap. Shortish length ball outside off, Dhawan stays back and whacks it square of the wicket on the off side. It beats the point fielder and races through. The third fielder sprints across to his left to cut it off but fails. |
| 14.4 : H Ali to S Dhawan, Back of a length delivery on off, a back foot punch this time by Dhawan. It rolls through in front of square this time and travels to the deep cover region. A single taken. |
| 14.5 : H Ali to A Rayudu, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 14.6 : H Ali to A Rayudu, Ali switches to over the wicket for the right-hander and delivers a short ball. Rayudu stands tall to pull it to fine leg for a single. |
| 15.1 : S Khan to A Rayudu, Tossed up ball on off, an attempted leg spinner, Rayudu is forward in defense. |
| 15.2 : S Khan to A Rayudu, Very full on this occasion, outside off, it's driven through the line but straight to covers. |
| 15.3 : S Khan to A Rayudu, Probably a top spinner this time. It skids in from around off, Rayudu draws forward to push through the line but it takes the inside half of the bat and rolls to mid-wicket. |
| What happened there? Shadab Khan is feeling some discomfort after delivering the last ball. Maybe, issues with his hip muscles. Sarfraz has a chat with him and the leggie is now seen going off the field. Not a good sight for Pakistan. Earlier in the day, Hardik Pandya left the field on a stretcher. Wishing a speedy recovery to both the players. Fakhar Zaman, in the meantime, will complete the over. |
| 15.4 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Tossed up ball on off, driven off the front foot to covers. |
| 15.5 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Another drive off the front foot by Rayudu and this time he manages to find the gap through covers. A single taken. |
| 15.6 : F Zaman to S Dhawan, Fullish and around leg, Dhawan sweeps it behind square leg and brings up India's 100 with a single. 63 more needed now. |
| Faheem Ashraf to bowl. |
| 16.1 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, FOUR! Wrong line to start this spell by Ashraf. He bowls a full ball on the leg stump line. Dhawan picks it off his pads and neatly deflects it down to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 16.2 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, Bowls it on a length and outside off, Dhawan goes hard at it as he tries to force it through covers. Fails to find any timing and bottom edges it near the surface. |
| 16.3 : F Ashraf to S Dhawan, OUT! A soft dismissal, have to say. Ashraf is very lucky to get a wicket by bowling a boundary ball. Short and wide outside off, slower in pace, Dhawan rocks back to slap it square of the wicket on the off side but fails to keep it down. Babar Azam at backward point makes no mistake. A smiling Dhawan returns. Although India are in a cruise control. |
| Dinesh Karthik is the new batsman. |
| 16.4 : F Ashraf to D Karthik, Full and angling into the batsman, Karthik plays it off his pads to mid on. |
| 16.5 : F Ashraf to D Karthik, A little bit of width on offer outside off, Karthik taps it down to third man for a single. Gets off the mark. |
| 16.6 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, On a good length and closer to the off stump line, Rayudu pushes it with an angled bat wide of backward point. The fielder moves across to his right to stop the ball and the batsmen cross for a run. |
| 17.1 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Too full and around leg, forced down to long on for a run. |
| 17.2 : F Zaman to D Karthik, SIX! That has gone all the way! Zaman drops it short and on middle, Karthik goes deep inside the crease and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie. A bit strange from Sarfraz to continue with a part-timer when we all can sense that this game won't last more than 35 overs. Maybe, he is now looking to rest his main bowlers. |
| 17.3 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Karthik has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 17.4 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Stifled appeal for an lbw! A slider landing around middle, skidding down, Karthik fails to put bat on ball and is hit on the pads. Missing leg. |
| 17.5 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Another delivery skidding back in from around middle, DK tries defending but it takes the inner half of the bat and rolls behind to fine leg. A single taken. |
| 17.6 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 18.1 : F Ashraf to D Karthik, Good length delivery outside off, Karthik plays it down from the crease to third man for a run. |
| 18.2 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, Lands it on a length around off, Rayudu defends it off his back foot to the off side. |
| 18.3 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, Bouncer and around off, Rayudu drops his wrists and allows it through to the keeper. Called a wide for height. |
| F Ashraf to A Rayudu, Full and angling into the batsman, Rayudu tries flicking this time but closes the face of the bat early. It pops out from the leading edge and goes aerially but in the gap at cover-point. A single taken. |
| 18.4 : F Ashraf to D Karthik, A cracking cover drive by Karthik this time. He finds the middle of the bat but fails to beat the fielder inside the ring. |
| 18.5 : F Ashraf to D Karthik, Well done. Full and around off, angling in, Karthik taps it down on the off side and steals a single. |
| 18.6 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, Now Rayudu tries to tap a length ball on the off side and run but Karthik sends him back. 45 more needed and it seems only a formality is left in this match now. |
| 19.1 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Gets on the front foot and pushes it firmly towards the cover fielder. |
| 19.2 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Short and outside off, cut off the back foot but straight to the point fielder this time. |
| 19.3 : F Zaman to D Karthik, This time Karthik rocks back and slaps it to sweeper cover for one. |
| 19.4 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Use of the feet by Rayudu and he caresses it down through mid off for a run. |
| 19.5 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Tossed up ball on off, DK defends it by pressing forward. |
| 19.6 : F Zaman to D Karthik, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 20.1 : F Ashraf to D Karthik, Good length ball on off, Karthik plays it late and guides it down to third man for a run. |
| 20.2 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, A length ball angling down the leg side, Rayudu moves across the stumps a bit and helps it in the gap at mid-wicket for a single. Doing it with ease, India. |
| 20.3 : F Ashraf to D Karthik, A touch short in length outside off, Karthik opens the face of the bat and dabs it down to third man for another single in this over. |
| 20.4 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, Shortish and around off, Rayudu plays it down towards covers and steps out. Karthik responds and comes running down but only to be sent back. He returns as the fielder misses his shy at the non-striker's end. The mid on fielder does well to back up that throw by putting his body on the line. |
| 20.5 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, FOUR! Well played! An innocuous delivery, short and outside off, Rayudu shuffles a bit and steers it past the left side of the backward point fielder. It speeds away and third man has no chance of stopping it. |
| 20.6 : F Ashraf to A Rayudu, On a length outside off, quietly played down to third man for one. 8 from the over, 34 more needed. |
| 21.1 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Slower through the air, full and landing on middle, Rayudu pushes it off his front foot to mid off. 'Ye achcha hai', says Sarfraz from behind the stumps. It's rare to hear him praising his bowlers. |
| 21.2 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Rayudu has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 21.3 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Full and on middle, Rayudu presses forward and pushes it down to mid on. |
| 21.4 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Gets on the front foot to a full ball and blocks it. |
| 21.5 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Strides forward to a full ball and drives it with the spin to long off for a run. |
| 21.6 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Slightly quicker this time, full and outside off, DK plays an open-faced drive but finds the short third man fielder. |
| Mohammad Amir is back into the attack. |
| 22.1 : M Amir to A Rayudu, Good length delivery angling away from the batsman from around off, Rayudu defends it from the back foot. |
| 22.2 : M Amir to A Rayudu, On a length around middle and leg, Rayudu gets behind the line and defends it back. |
| 22.3 : M Amir to A Rayudu, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 22.4 : M Amir to A Rayudu, Bowls a length ball in line of the stumps, Rayudu moves back to make some space and then taps it down towards covers. He sprints down the track in search of a run but Karthik sends him back. Ambati returns as the fielder misses his shy at the keeper's end. No one backing up the throw and now they cross for an overthrow. |
| 22.5 : M Amir to D Karthik, A loose and lazy shot. Amir delivers it full and outside off, probably a slower one, Karthik is early into the drive and hence fails to control his shot. Ends up chipping it in the air but is lucky that it goes over the infield on the off side. A single taken as the sweeper cover fielder cuts it off in the deep. |
| 22.6 : M Amir to A Rayudu, Sharp delivery around leg and angling down, Rayudu is beaten for pace as he fails to flick. He is hit on the pads, Amir lets out an appeal but to no avail. |
| 23.1 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Full and flighted on off, pushed back to the bowler. |
| 23.2 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Slower this time, full and around off, it goes straight on after landing as Karthik pushes inside the line and misses. Not too far that from the off pole. |
| 23.3 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Loopy full ball on off, Karthik drives it off his front foot to long off for a single. |
| 23.4 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Steps down the track to a full ball and plays it back towards the bowler. |
| 23.5 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Again Ambati uses his feet to reach the pitch of the delivery and drives it through covers for one. |
| 23.6 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Fakhar drops it short on middle and DK pulls it with ease to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 24.1 : M Amir to D Karthik, A length ball angling away from the batsman, Rayudu plays it down with soft hands to covers and scampers across for a single. The fielder scores a direct hit at the striker's end but Rayudu was safely in by then. |
| 24.2 : M Amir to A Rayudu, Too full in length on middle, Rayudu whips it across the line but finds the mid on fielder. That was a forceful hit by AR. |
| 24.3 : M Amir to A Rayudu, Digs in a short ball around off, angling away, Rayudu leans back and lets it through to the keeper. |
| 24.4 : M Amir to A Rayudu, Amir lets out a grunt and bowls a length ball on off, Rayudu stays back and at the last minute runs it down to third man for a run. |
| 24.5 : M Amir to D Karthik, Hits the yorker mark around off, Karthik digs it out from the inner half of the bat to mid-wicket. |
| 24.6 : M Amir to D Karthik, Very full and on middle, DK keeps it out safely once again towards mid-wicket. |
| 25.1 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Flatter and shorter on off, Rayudu advances down the track and punches it to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 25.2 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Slower full ball around off, Karthik gets on the front foot and defends it back to the bowler. |
| 25.3 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Full and around off, once again pushed back to the bowler off the front foot. |
| 25.4 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Another delivery fired in around off, Karthik defends it from the crease to the off side. |
| 25.5 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Short this time outside off, DK goes back and cuts it through cover-point for a couple of runs. |
| 25.6 : F Zaman to D Karthik, Lunges to a full ball and pushes it to the off side, straight to the cover fielder. |
| Shoaib Malik is into the attack now. |
| 26.1 : S Malik to A Rayudu, A low full toss on the pads, Rayudu tickles it through backward square leg for a run. |
| 26.2 : S Malik to D Karthik, Tossed up ball on middle, Karthik turns it towards square leg and takes a single. |
| 26.3 : S Malik to A Rayudu, A juicy full toss again by Malik. Down the leg side and Rayudu sweeps it through backward square leg. It beats the diving fielder stationed there and they cross for a run. |
| 26.4 : S Malik to D Karthik, FOUR! Malik fires a full ball down the leg side again, Karthik kneels and nails his sweep shot wide of short fine leg for a boundary. It has come after a gap of 34 balls, the longest period for India in this chase. |
| 26.5 : S Malik to D Karthik, Shortish and pulled through square leg for a run. |
| 26.6 : S Malik to A Rayudu, Full and once again down the leg side, swept behind square leg for one. 9 from the over. |
| 27.1 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Dances down the track and does well to block the ball. |
| 27.2 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, FOUR! Swift footwork shown by Rayudu. He speeds down to the pitch of the delivery and lifts it easily over mid off for a boundary. 10 needed more. |
| 27.3 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Quicker and flatter on middle, Rayudu pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 27.4 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Dropped by Sarfraz! Flatter and around off, Rayudu steps forward and across to defend but seems to get an inside edge (going by the bowler's reaction) onto the pads. It lobs in the air, Sarfraz moves forward quickly but fails to grab the ball. |
| 27.5 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, Goes on the back foot and punches it straight to the cover fielder. |
| 27.6 : F Zaman to A Rayudu, A mishit! Once again Rayudu comes down the track and lofts it over covers. Not timed quite well but a run taken. |
| 28.1 : S Malik to A Rayudu, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single. |
| 28.2 : S Malik to D Karthik, Flighted and on middle, swept straight to short fine leg. |
| 28.3 : S Malik to D Karthik, A full toss on middle, flicked on the leg side but straight to mid-wicket. |
| 28.4 : S Malik to D Karthik, FOUR! Connects and connects well. Flighted on middle and leg, Karthik goes down on one knee and sweeps it with the turn to the fine leg fence. Malik showing special affinity to the leg stump line here. India a boundary away now. |
| 28.5 : S Malik to D Karthik, Floated ball on middle, Karthik nudges it through square leg for a run. |
| 28.6 : S Malik to A Rayudu, FOUR! INDIA WIN BY 8 WICKETS WITH 126 BALLS REMAINING! Shoaib Malik serves a long hop on middle, Rayudu goes back and pulls it thunderously square leg for a boundary. All done, an easy win for the Men in Blue. |
| A walk in the park for India! So much build-up was given to this game but it failed to live up to the expectations. It was a flop show from the Pakistan batting as they managed a paltry total on the board and after that they never stood a chance to be honest. The Indian openers provided a flying start and that in itself nearly sealed the deal. Rohit Sharma, in particular, looked in scintillating form and notched up a fifty. Shikhar Dhawan also stroked a valiant 46 to back up his century yesterda |
| Defending a below par total, Pakistan needed their star fast bowlers to pick some quick wickets with the new ball but that didn't happen. After that their bowling looked quite ordinary and the injury to Shadab Khan didn't help their cause much. Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik spent quality time in the middle to hand India a comprehensive win. |
| Earlier in the day, Pakistan elected to bat but lost their in-form openers very cheaply. Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam steadied the innings with an 82-run stand but post that they experienced a collapse. Kedar Jadhav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up three wickets apiece and never allowed their rivals to get back on their feet. All in all, they managed to outclass Pakistan in all the facets of the game. |
| Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed says that their start was poor and after a partnership between Azam and Malik they again lost wickets in clumps. Admits that it was a bad outing for them with the bat with plenty of soft dismissals, barring Babar Azam. Smiles and says that they prepared for the Indian spinners but ended up giving their wickets away to the other bowlers. Considers it as a wake-up call for his team and expects to bounce back in the next match. |
| Victorious Indian captain Rohit Sharma says that India were very disciplined right from the start, learning from the mistakes in the previous game. Praises his bowling unit for doing exceedingly well in extreme conditions. Stresses further that the spinners kept it tight in the middle overs after the seamers picked up wickets in the opening overs. Feels that it was important to take the wicket of the Pakistan openers as the team has been relying heavily on them and the seamers' immaculate stump- |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Says that it is always important to pick wickets to win any game. Praises Kedar Jadhav for bowling well in the absence of Hardik Pandya. On the line and length, Bhuvi states that on flat tracks like these, where the ball does not swing, the bowlers do not have any option than to stick to lines and lengths. Admits that the conditions are very difficult for players and hence the reason for Hardik getting injured. |
| Done with this one-sided game. Our focus now shifts to Afghanistan vs Bangladesh encounter on Thursday which promises to be an exciting one. Both teams defeated Sri Lanka quite easily and will be high on confidence. Don't miss this Group B fixture starting at 1530 local (1130 GMT). Until then, it's goodbye and cheers! |
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