IND vs PAK Review: Pakistan prevail in a nail-biting thriller
Pakistan exacted revenge on India by winning the Super 4 clash against the arch-rivals in another riveting contest at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. The Men in Green prevailed in a thriller, winning by five wickets with just a delivery to spare.
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who were a hot topic in the media for their indifferent form with the bat of late, shut the critics in spectacular fashion as they punished the Pakistani pacers in their highest powerplay score against the arch-rivals in T20Is after India were put in to bat first by the toss winning skipper Babar Azam.
India’s blistering start was halted in the final over the powerplay after the Indian skipper miscued his shot off Haris Rauf. The opening wicket was followed by the dismissal of Rohit’s opening partner KL Rahul in the next over, in Shadab Khan’s first over of the match. Rahul’s dismissal brought in Suryakumar Yadav, fresh off his trailblazing knock against Hong Kong, to the crease.
Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who scored a much-needed half-century in the previous encounter, looked at his fluent best after a long time. The batting ace kept the scoreboard ticking even after the dismissals of Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant, who fell to questionable shots in the middle overs as Pakistan wrestled back the momentum via their slower bowlers.
But a defiant Kohli registered his second consecutive half-century in trademark style, launching a massive six over the midwicket fence. He succumbed to a brilliant piece of fielding in the final over of the Indian innings before Ravi Bishnoi hit two fortuitous boundaries to take India’s total to a competitive 181/7 after 20 overs.
Pakistan in contrast to India had a stuttering start to their innings after losing skipper Babar Azam cheaply for a third consecutive time in the tournament. But Mohammad Rizwan switched gears after the dismissal of his captain, launching a counterattack against the Indian pacers.
India were in the driver’s seat after the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman, who had a miserable outing on the day. But the promotion of Mohammad Nawaz up the batting order did wonders for the Men in Green as the southpaw played a blinder to give his side the ascendency in a match-deciding partnership with Rizwan.
The finishing touch was then added by Asif Ali and Khusdil Shah as the pair put Pakistan on the brink of victory in a dramatic final few overs.
Top Performers of the game
Mohammad Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz plays primarily as a spinner for the Pakistani team, but it was his swashbuckling innings that got Pakistan close to the Indian target. The Southpaw scored a blistering 42 off just 20 deliveries against hapless Indian bowlers, especially against Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Ravi Bishnoi
Playing just his first game of the tournament against the arch-rivals Pakistan, young Indian leggie Ravi Bishnoi showed tremendous character in an excellent display of spin bowling. He conceded just 26 runs in his four overs and scalped the crucial wicket of Babar Azam.
