| 0.0 : TOSS - The MCG roars as both captains walk out for the toss. Up goes the coin and it lands in favour of INDIA. THEY WILL BOWL FIRST! |
| Rohit Sharma, the captain of India. He says it looks like a good pitch, there is grass covering but he's not sure how helpful will it be with the overcast conditions, it might swing. Adds the preparation has been good, they have been here for some time and have prepared well. He hopes they can entertain the massive crowd here. Informs about his side. |
| Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan says they wanted to bowl first too but the toss is not in their hands and now they'll try and bat well. Mentions they have prepared well, they had a good series in New Zealand and are looking forward to do well here. Informs about the combination of his side. |
| INDIA (Playing XI) - Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh. |
| PAKISTAN (Playing XI) - Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Shan Masood, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf. |
| Hardik Pandya is up for a chat. He says he is excited and it's fantastic to play under such a crowd. Adds he has fond memories of playing in Australia. Shares that his body is fine and informs he will bowl later. Reckons they are playing international cricket and there are certain standards here. They are ready to face Pakistan. |
| We are just moments away from the action. The match officials walk out. They are followed by the two-set of players. Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam lead their respective team. It will be national anthems first. Pakistan's first followed by India's. |
| 0.1 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, That is a beauty to begin with! Some shape away for Kumar! It is on a length and just outside off. Left alone. |
| 0.2 : Mohammad Rizwan gets hit on his right thumb. He is feeling the pain. The physio is out. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, That is nasty! Rizwan is in pain. That ball has taken off. On a length and around off, this lands and there is extra bounce. Rizwan is hit on the glove as he tries to defend. |
| 0.0 : The look on Rohit's face after the anthem shows what it means to play for the country. This is more than just a game. India versus Pakistan. The stage is all set. The good thing is there is no sign of rain at the moment. The Indian players are out in the middle. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam are the openers for Pakistan. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to find some swing as he will start with the ball. HERE WE GO... |
| 0.3 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, BEATEN! That is loose from Rizwan. That was well away from his body. Too early probably to play something like that! Shorter and outside off, Rizwan goes after it but with no foot movement. He is beaten. |
| 0.4 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, Tidy from Kumar so far! Another one on a length and on off, defended. |
| 0.5 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, Swing and a miss again! Yet again Rizwan plays that well away from his body. This one swings away, it is well outside off. Rizwan slashes but misses. |
| 0.6 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, WIDE! That is outstanding from Dinesh Karthik! Just brilliant. Kumar looks to bring the ball back in but bowls it down the leg side. This swings away even further after going past the batter. Dinesh Karthik dives to his left and stops it brilliantly. Saves four for his side. Pakistan though are underway courtesy the extra. |
| Who will bowl from the other end? It is Arshdeep Singh. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, A superb start by Kumar! Half an appeal on the last ball but turned down! Length and outside off, Rizwan looks to defend by stepping outside the line of off. He misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 1.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Babar Azam, A HUGE APPEAL AND THE FINGER IS RAISED! Babar has a first-baller or does he? He has taken it upstairs but that looks out. Ultra Edge shows no bat and now it is time for Ball Tracking and it shows THREE REDS! OUT! Babar does walk back on the very first ball he faces and the crowd here erupts. That is a body blow for Pakistan. Their skipper walks back for a duck and this is a tremendous start for India and Arshdeep Singh who is playing his first World Cup game. H |
| Shan Masood walks in at number 3. |
| 1.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, BEATEN! That is a beauty! Lovely away shape! It is on a length and around off, moves away. Masood is beaten as he tries to defend. |
| 1.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, Outstanding from Arshdeep Singh and this is very tough for Pakistan. Especially against two bowlers who can swing the ball both the ways! This is on off and he brings it back in this time. It comes in way too much. Masood looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 1.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, BEATEN AGAIN! Now goes back to taking it away. This is a little wider outside off. Masood goes after it but misses. |
| 1.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, Run out chance goes abegging! How did Virat Kohli miss from there? Shan Masood, what were you just doing? Clear signs of nerves. There was never a run there. In the end though, he made it in. On off, this is pushed towards mid off and Masood takes off. Kohli picks the ball up and he is quite close to the stumps. He has a shy but misses. Masood was nowhere in the picture. Kohli probably had more time than he thought. Masood though is off the mark and that shoul |
| 1.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! The last ball releases a little pressure that was building. Nicely played by Rizwan. He is aware about the ball coming back in and hence does not plant his front foot across. Arshdeep Singh goes for the inswinging yorker but ends up bowling a full toss. It is worked down to fine leg for a boundary. First of the game. |
| 2.1 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, WIDE! This is short and wide outside off, swings away furuther. Masood slashes but misses. Wided. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Outstanding bowling! Length and on middle, this one jags back in. Masood looks to flick but misses to get hit high on the pads. |
| 2.2 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Another appeal but turned down! Missing leg probably. This begins around middle and leg and comes back in. Masood looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 2.3 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, That is a jaffa! Well played in the end! A yorker, that tails back in late from off. Masood somehow gets bat on ball, it goes off the inside half down to fine leg for two. Very tough for the batters, the good thing for Pakistan is, the two are surviving for now. |
| 2.4 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Another one hits the pad! On the pads. Masood looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 2.5 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Mix-up but a single in the end! Another yorker on middle, Masood jams it out towards square leg. They think of a run but then stop, eventually go for it and complete it. |
| 2.6 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mohammad Rizwan, Another yes and no situation but no harm done! On the pads, Rizwan looks to flick but misses. It hits the pad and rolls towards mid-wicket. Rizwan wants a run but is sent back. Another testing over comes to an end. |
| 3.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, FOUR! Tickled away nicely! Have to believe Masood will be the apt batter for Pakistan in these conditions having played a lot of cricket in England. He plays this well. Lets the ball come to him, it is on the pads. It is worked fine to the fine leg fence. Welcome boundary. |
| 3.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, Now follows the boundary with one! On the pads, this is worked towards square leg for one. |
| 3.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, BEATEN! This lands on a length, it pitches and then moves away. Rizwan is beaten as he tries to defend. |
| 3.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, BEATEN AGAIN! This is top class pace bowling! Yet again, it begins on middle and then shapes away. Rizwan is beaten as he tries to block. |
| 3.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, In the end... it lands short! On the pads, Rizwan looks to flick, this holds in the surface a touch and it goes off the leading edge towards mid on. Kohli runs in and dives forward but it lands short. |
| 3.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, OUT! TOP EDGE AND TAKEN THIS TIME! Arshdeep Singh is pumped up! He has got two of the best Pakistan batters in this line-up. Really smart bowling, takes Rizwan by surprise by bowling a bumper on middle. It gets big on Rizwan who is probably on the front foot for the fuller ones. He still looks to pull but it goes off the top edge and goes straight to fine leg where Kumar makes no mistake. Pakistan in deep trouble now. |
| 4.1 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Shorter and angling away from off. Masood looks to cut but misses. |
| 0.0 : Iftikhar Ahmed is the new man in. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to continue. |
| 4.2 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Three more! Shorter and on the body, Masood pulls it through square leg, long boundary and hence, does not go all the way. Three taken. |
| 4.3 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Iftikhar Ahmed, Two more! On middle, Iftikhar Ahmed works it through mid-wicket and takes two. He is off the mark. Played that well. Was quick to get the front pad out of the way. |
| 4.4 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Iftikhar Ahmed, Outswinger but outside off, left alone. |
| 4.5 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR! Whacked away! Shorter in length and on middle, Iftikhar Ahmed drags it wide of the fielder at mid on and finds the boundary. Positive start for Iftikhar Ahmed! |
| 4.6 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Iftikhar Ahmed, A dot to end! Good carry for the bowler. Outside off, left alone. |
| Change. Mohammad Shami is into the attack. |
| 5.1 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, Shami angles it back in from 'round the wicket and on middle. Masood is hurried as he keeps it out on the leg side. |
| 5.2 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, On a length and on middle, extra bounce and at good pace as well, at 140 clicks. Shan Masood looks to flick but misses and gets hit high on the pads. |
| 5.3 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, FOUR! Good shot! A loosener from Shami! This is way outside off, on a length. Masood steps across and punches it through point. Quick outfield and it races into the fence. |
| 5.4 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, Three runs! Good running! Good shot as well! Shami again tries to angle in but strays it down the leg side. Masood flicks it past square leg. The square boundaries are big and the fielder chases it down. |
| 5.5 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, Change of pace from Shami! On the hips and Ahmed works it to square leg. |
| 5.6 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, A single to end the over! Length and on middle, Ahmed clips it past square leg for one. At the end of the Powerplay, Pakistan are 32/2. India will be happy off the two at the moment. |
| 6.1 : Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, BEATEN! This is on a nagging length, outside off and gets it to shape a bit away. Ahmed has a poke at it but misses. |
| 6.2 : Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, THREE RUNS! Ahmed pushes hard this time for the third! Short in length and outside off, this is pulled over mid-wicket for three runs. The umpire check for a short run and the batter looks fine. |
| 6.3 : Hardik Pandya to Shan Masood, Sharp work from Pandya! This is on the hips. Masood fends it away on the leg side and looks for a run which was not available. He is clearly sent back. Pandya runs across, collects and hits at the striker's end. Masood looks in and the replay confirms it. Shan Masood calls the physio as he has some trouble with his finger. The extra bounce caused some pain there. |
| 6.4 : Hardik Pandya to Shan Masood, On a length and outside off. Shan dabs it to third man for one. |
| 6.5 : Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, Goes fuller now on middle, Ahmed forces it to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 6.6 : Hardik Pandya to Shan Masood, EDGED AND FOUR! Pandya bangs a bouncer on middle. Masood pulls, it goes off the top edge and wide of the man at fine leg for a boundary. Well played in the end. Shan Masood knew where the fielder was and played it very late. Pakistan are getting a move along. 9 runs off the over. A stand also building. |
| 7.1 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, Wide! Short and down the leg side. Ahmed misses his flick. |
| Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, On a length and outside off. Ahmed chops it back to the keeper. No run this time. |
| 7.2 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, Leg bye! Shami is still getting some swing, this one tails in on the hips, it is flicked to fine leg for a leg bye. |
| Has that been taken? India are celebrating but it has been taken upstairs. SOFT SIGNAL IS OUT! Big moment in the game as this partnership was going along nicely. |
| 7.3 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, NOT OUT! The ball just bounced on the ground before Ashwin takes it. Masood's stay continues. Short ball from Shami from 'round the wicket and angling in. Masood pulls but again fails to hit well. It goes off the top edge to fine leg. Ravichandran Ashwin was a bit late to run forward and as a result, the ball didn't carry there. |
| 7.4 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, On middle, kept out. |
| 7.5 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, On a length and on middle, Ahmed blocks it out. |
| 7.6 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, Lovely delivery! A length ball, outside off and swings away. Ahmed has a feel for it, he looks to push but misses. |
| 8.1 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, Leg bye! Ashwin starts with a carrom ball, flat and on the pads. Shan misses his flick and it goes off the pads to square leg for a leg bye. |
| 8.2 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, Tossed up, outside off. Ahmed punches it to point. |
| 8.3 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, This is full and on middle. Ahmed eases it to long on for a single. |
| 8.4 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, Ashwin flights a bit, this is full and outside off. Masood uses his feet and smashes it to wide of long off for two. |
| 8.5 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, Around off, flat. Masood slaps it through covers for a single. |
| 8.6 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, Touch short and on top of off. Ahmed goes back and cuts it past point for one more. Another tidy over by India. 50 up for Pakistan. They need to change the gears now. |
| 9.1 : Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, Touch fuller and outside off, holds a bit. Ahmed pushes on the up and through point for a couple of runs. |
| 9.2 : Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, Short in length and outside off. Ahmed opens the face of the bat and plays it to third man for a single. |
| 9.3 : Hardik Pandya to Shan Masood, Back of a length and on middle. Masood gets on the front foot to defend but gets an inside edge and the ball rolls away off the pads and a quick single is taken. |
| 9.4 : Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR! A welcome boundary for Pakistan! The stand moves to 43 now. Pandya gives too much room here for Ahmed to free his arms. This is outside off. Ahmed hits it past backward point and the ball races into the fence. |
| 9.5 : Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, Drops it short and on middle. Ahmed pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 9.6 : Hardik Pandya to Shan Masood, Leg bye! On the pads, tickled off the pads to square leg for a leg bye. Pakistan are 60 for 2 at the halfway mark. A bit behind the 8-ball but have done really well after losing both the openers inside the Powerplay. |
| 10.1 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, On the pads, this is worked through mid-wicket for one. |
| 0.0 : DRINKS! Pakistan have recovered well, after losing two early, Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed are taking them to safer shores. Also, they would now look to accelerate with the conditions getting easier to bat. They will be aiming for something around 150. India on the other hand, will know a score around 150 could be a tricky one if the conditions remain the same. They will look to continue the good work after the break. |
| 10.2 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, Was that a chance? Iftikhar Ahmed steps out, this is fired on the pads. He looks to flick but misses, it goes between his legs. The keeper fails to take it cleanly and it goes towards short fine leg. |
| 10.3 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, DROPPED! Not an easy chance though! Iftikhar Ahmed makes room, this is tossed up on off, it is hit towards cover. Rohit leaps but ends up tipping it over. It goes towards long off for two. |
| 10.4 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, On middle, this is pushed to the right of the bowler who stops it well. |
| 10.5 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX! That is a meaty blow! You have to really hit it well if you want to clear the fence here! Iftikhar Ahmed steps out and gets to the pitch of it. He tonks it well over the long on fence for a biggie. Much-needed and it is the first of the game. |
| 10.6 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Iftikhar Ahmed, Good sensible batting! Gets the biggie, now works it towards mid-wicket and takes one. |
| Change. Axar Patel to bowl now. |
| 11.1 : Axar Patel to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX! BANG! Iftikhar Ahmed is in his elements. He is a big hitter and has nailed this one. Welcome into the attack, Axar Patel! He knows Axar does not turn it a lot and hence, plays it with the angle. Plays the slog sweep and clears the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. |
| 11.2 : Axar Patel to Iftikhar Ahmed, Drags his length back and fires it into the pads. Iftikhar Ahmed looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 11.3 : Axar Patel to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX! Over the fence yet again! Iftikhar Ahmed is turning the tide in favor of Pakistan. He is a six-hitter and it is on display here. Another top shot. Steps out, gets to the pitch of it and powers it well over the long on fence for another biggie. Axar under huge pressure now. |
| 11.4 : Axar Patel to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX! That is the three in the over and 4 in the last two. This one is not as long as the last two but still the same amount of runs. This is fired outside off, it is hit towards long off. The connection is not that great. The fielder leaps, takes it but is falling over the ropes. He tries to throw it back in but ends up doing it outside the boundary line. Momentum has shifted completely here. |
| 11.5 : Axar Patel to Iftikhar Ahmed, Now pushes this one through and on the pads. Iftikhar Ahmed looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 11.6 : Axar Patel to Iftikhar Ahmed, Fifty for Iftikhar Ahmed! What a knock and what a time to play this. Pakistan were in deep trouble and he has taken them to safer shores. Needs to continue though. Gets there by cutting this past point, the fielder in the deep runs to his left and keeps it down to three. |
| Mohammad Shami comes back probably for one over. |
| 12.1 : Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, A loud shout but turned down! An inside edge saves Iftikhar Ahmed! Fuller and on middle, Iftikhar Ahmed looks to play it with a straight bat but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 12.2 : Shadab Khan comes in. |
| Mohammad Shami to Iftikhar Ahmed, OUT! THAT IS PLUMB! Fifty and out for Iftikhar Ahmed and that is a welcome wicket for India. They needed as Iftikhar Ahmed was going great guns. This is full and straight, on middle, Iftikhar Ahmed just misses a straight ball to get hit on the pads. A loud appeal and the finger is raised. Can India build from here? |
| 12.3 : Mohammad Shami to Shadab Khan, Around off and on a length, this is guided to point. |
| 12.4 : Mohammad Shami to Shadab Khan, FOUR! SHOT! That is some shot to get off the mark! Pure timing! Fuller and on off, this is timed past mid off and it races away to the fence. |
| 12.5 : Mohammad Shami to Shadab Khan, That is a beauty! Pace, bounce and movement. Good length and on off, this lands and moves away. Khan is beaten as he tries to push at it. |
| 12.6 : Mohammad Shami to Shadab Khan, A single to end a brilliant over from Shami! Just the kind his team needed. Shadab comes down the track and looks to go over mid off but mistimes it towards the fielder there for one. |
| 13.1 : Hardik Pandya to Shadab Khan, BEATEN! Another excellent delivery! A length delivery, it yet again zips off the surface and moves away. Shadab is beaten as he tries to block. |
| 13.2 : Hardik Pandya to Shadab Khan, OUT! TAKEN! That is a really good catch from Suryakumar Yadav! Shadab's stay is a short one and not a good one. He clears his front leg and looks to tonk this length ball over the long on fence. He only manages to hit it high up in the air towards long on. Suryakumar Yadav takes a really good catch. This is a really good passage of play for the Indians. |
| Haider Ali is the new man in. |
| 13.3 : Hardik Pandya to Haider Ali, Another dot! On middle, defended. Things have now gone quiet for Pakistan. |
| 13.4 : Hardik Pandya to Haider Ali, Two! Fuller and on off, Ali lifts it over cover. Two taken. |
| 13.5 : Hardik Pandya to Haider Ali, Back of a length and on middle, defended. |
| 13.6 : Hardik Pandya to Haider Ali, OUT! TAKEN! Haider Ali has gifted his wicket here! Not sure what Pakistan are doing here. This is really poor. They have lost three wickets for hardly any runs. On a length and around middle, Haider Ali looks to heave it across the line but just like Shadab, he hits it high up in the air. Suryakumar Yadav takes it nicely at deep mid-wicket. |
| Mohammad Nawaz comes in. |
| 14.1 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, Shorter and outside off, this is slapped past cover for one. |
| 14.2 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Mohammad Nawaz, WIDE! Down the leg side. Wided. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin to Mohammad Nawaz, On middle, defended. |
| 14.3 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Mohammad Nawaz, On the pads, this is worked through square leg for one. |
| 14.4 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, PUT DOWN! Harsh to call it a drop though! Good effort from Ashwin! Masood steps out and hits it hard and back towards the right of the bowler. Ashwin sticks his right hand out, it hits the hand and goes towards cover. Two taken. |
| 14.5 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, Two more! Outside off, this is guided past point for two. |
| 14.6 : Ravichandran Ashwin to Shan Masood, Just the single to end! Fuller and on the pads, it is hit down to long on for one. |
| 15.1 : Hardik Pandya to Shan Masood, Length and on middle. Shan Masood pulls it to deep square leg for one. |
| 15.2 : Hardik Pandya to Mohammad Nawaz, FOUR! Nawaz read the field! He anticipated a short ball and stays on the back foot. This is outside off and Nawaz ramps it over backward point for a boundary. |
| 15.3 : Hardik Pandya to Mohammad Nawaz, On a length and on middle. Blocked out. |
| 15.4 : Hardik Pandya to Mohammad Nawaz, FOUR! Nawaz will be the aggressor now, clearly! This is full and around off. Nawaz makes room for himself and powers it to deep extra-cover for a boundary. |
| 15.5 : Hardik Pandya to Mohammad Nawaz, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Nawaz's stay is over! What a comeback from Pandya! his third wicket and this is really good bowling from him! Nawaz stays on the back foot and again looks for a short ball but Hardik cramps him and pushes his length further. This is on middle. Nawaz tries to play the upper cut but gets a faint edge and Dinesh Karthik makes no mistake. |
| 15.6 : Hardik Pandya to Asif Ali, This is full and on middle, Ali pushes it to mid on for a single. Excellent spell from Pandya. Just four overs remaining now and Shan Masood plays a key role as Pakistan look for 150 from here. |
| 16.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Asif Ali, Touch fuller and on off. Ali knocks it to point for one. |
| 16.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, On middle, fuller. Masood guides it uppishly to deep point for a couple. |
| 16.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, Tad short and on middle. Masood plays it to point again. He looks for one more but Virat Kohli is quick to the ball and keeps it down to one. |
| 16.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Asif Ali, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Asif Ali goes now! What a night Arshdeep Singh is having! One to remeber for a while! Singh bangs it short and on middle, the ball does not much much. Ali tries to duck but keeps his bat hanging in front of him. The ball hits the gloves and goes behind for Dinesh Karthik to take it. |
| 16.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, On the pads, this is flicked behind square leg for a brace. |
| 16.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, Wide! A yorker but just straying down the leg side. Afridi misses his flick. That was very close to the pole. |
| Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, This is full and outside off. Afridi hits it past cover for a couple of runs. 150 still possible for Pakistan as Shan Masood is still out. He is out for a long time and needs to make the most of it. |
| 17.1 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, This is full and just around leg. Masood shuffles in his crease looking to scoop it away on the leg side but misses. |
| 17.2 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, FOUR! Fourtunate one! Masood won't mind though! On a length and on leg. Masood makes room to drive but gets an outside edge and it races to the third man fence. |
| 17.3 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, FOUR! JUST WIDE OF MID ON! Well timed! This is full and angling on middle. Masood flicks on the up, Ravichandran Ashwin dives to his left but it goes away from him and into the fence. |
| 17.4 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, Drops it short and on middle. Shan backs away to ramp it but misses. |
| 17.5 : Mohammad Shami to Shan Masood, Way down the leg side, Shan helps it to fine leg for a single. Shaheen Afridi has a free hit here. He will look to go big. |
| 17.6 : Mohammad Shami to Shaheen Afridi, Only a single! Length and on the pads. Afridi flicks it behind square leg for a single. He will keep the strike. |
| 18.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, Short in length and on off. Afridi splices his push to third man for a single. |
| 18.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, Short of a length and on off. Masood taps it to backward point for on. Fifty for Masood. That is a top effort by him. He made his comeback recently into the Pakistan side, has not had the best of times recetly after being picked in the XI but what a time to come back to form. A big game, his side was in deep trouble when he walked out and he has bailed them out of it and taken them to a good score. Needs to stay there till the end though. |
| 18.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, SIX! Where has this come from? Afridi with a biggie. Short in length and on off, sits nicely for Afridi who pulls it hard and over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. |
| 18.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, FOUR! Six and now four! The Pakistani fans get their voice back. This is full and outside off. Afridi thumps it straight down past mid off for four runs. |
| 18.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, Leg bye! A yorker, angling down. It goes through the legs of Afridi who looks to whip. Dinesh Karthik gets a big hand on it as he dives to his right and removes the pace from it. One run. |
| 18.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Shan Masood, On the pads, clipped behind square on the leg side for one. 14 runs off the over. Not the end Arshdeep Singh wanted but still a brilliant spell. 150 up! |
| 19.1 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Wide! Starts with a delivery way outside off. Masood leaves it. A wide to start the final over. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shan Masood, Full and outside off. Masood pushes it to mid off for a single. Masood is betting on Afridi to hit some lusty blows. |
| 19.2 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shaheen Afridi, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Now what Masood expected! Afridi goes after playing a decent cameo. Short of a length and on middle. Afridi opens his body up as he looks to pull but miscues it completely and it goes off the leading edge back for Kumar who takes a simple catch. Haris Rauf will be on the strike. |
| 19.3 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Haris Rauf, SIX! FIRST BALL SIX! What a shot! Pakistan eyeing 165 probably now! On a length and on the pads. Rauf whacks it high over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. |
| 19.4 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Haris Rauf, DOT BALL! This is full and outside off. Rauf swings across the line and misses. |
| 19.5 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Haris Rauf, Two dots! Well done Kumar! Good comeback! Kumar bowls it outside off again. Rauf is swinging everything but fails to connect again. |
| 19.6 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Haris Rauf, TWO BYES! This is full and outside off. Rauf swings and misses. Masood runs across. The keeper throws it to Kumar who has a shy at his side but misses. The ball rolls to long off and another single is taken. Two to end. PAKISTAN END WITH 159. |
| That is a brilliant recovery from Pakistan and they will surely be the happier of the two sides in the break! They really have to be thankful to Shan Masood who played an absolutely brilliant knock. Yes, he did not go at a very high strike rate but hung in there when needed and is the main reason for his side to get to a total which can be considered par. |
| When Shan Masood walked in, it wasn't easy to bat. They had lost Babar early and the new ball was doing a lot. Rizwan also followed soon and Pakistan were 2 down for 15. Iftikhar Ahmed and Shan Masood then weathered the storm and once they got their eye in, started scoring fluently. Iftikhar Ahmed changed the momentum and the tide in the space of 7 balls but once he fell, there was a procession. From 91 for 2, they ended up being 120 for 7. However, Masood who got a fine half ton up and along wi |
| Arshdeep Singh is down for a chat. He says he just enjoyed the moment as he feels it may not come again. Adds they targeted the wickets and the pads as the square boundaries were big. Hopes they will chase it down. |
| The target is a stiff one! Pakistan have a brilliant bowling attack but India have a star-studded batting line-up. What will be interesting is, will the Pakistan bowlers get the same amount of movement as the Indian bowlers got earlier on? If they do, their pacers can be deadly. Stay tuned for what could be an amazing second half. |
| ...THE CHASE... |
| India were absolutely brilliant with the new ball! Especially Arshdeep Singh who was easily the pick of the bowlers. He was well supported by Kumar first and then Shami. However, the Indian spinners just weren't upto the mark. They let the pressure off in the middle overs. India did manage to pull it back well though courtesy Hardik and but they will feel they gave a little too many runs towards the end. They would have loved to have kept Pakistan to below 150 but the death bowling was once agai |
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