ISLAMABAD: The Indian spin and pace attack managed to restrict Pakistan to a low total of 191 runs all out in the 42.5 overs in the high-voltage ICC contest being played at Ahmadabad, India, on Saturday. Despite having a decent start by openers Abdullah Shafiq and Imam-ul-Haq, assisted by Babar Azam and Rizwan, Pakistan’s middle order shattered. At one stage, Pakistan were 150 for two, but the Indian bowlers came back into the game and removed the rest of the players very quickly.
Earlier, winning the toss, India invited Pakistan to bat first. Both openers took a solid start and took the score to 40 in the first 7 overs. However, at 41, Pakistan lost their first wicket when Abdullah Shafiq was dismissed on 20. Imam was joined by Babar Azam, and both the players drove the inning forward. Both batters managed to accelerate the inning with a run rate of about 5 runs per over. However, Indian bowlers managed to get rid of Imam in the 13th over of the game. Imam scored 36 runs off 38 balls. Babar was joined by inform Muhammad Rizwan. Both batters consolidated the innings and took their side to 150 in the 29th over. Babar Azam also completed his half-century, but in the next over, he was removed by Muhammad Siraj.
The dismissal of Babar Azam was the turning point in the Pakistani innings. After Babar, Pakistan lost quick wickets in a couple of overs as Indian bowlers succeeded in taking wickets almost in every over from over number 30 to 36. At this stage, Pakistan lost the wickets of Saud Shakil, Iftikhar, Muhammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, and Hasan Ali. Rizwan was the second leading scorer after Babar and added 47 runs to the total.
In a couple of overs later, the whole team went to the pavilion on 191 in 42.5 overs.
Indian Bowling Against Pakistan
On a flat track, Indian bowlers managed to restrict Pakistan to a low total. Despite a decent start from Pakistan, the Indian bowlers managed to introduce their plan B, and they started to ball in the middle of the wicket. The strategy worked out; they took wickets with intervals. As a result, they dismissed the opponent in 42.5 over. From India, Bumra, Sira, Pandiya, Jadeja, and Yadav took two wickets each.
Pakistan Team: Abdullah Shafiq, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Muhammad Rizwan, Saud Shaikl, Iftikhar Ahmad, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi.
India Team: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul †, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
