T20 World Cup highlights, IND vs PAK: India win by six runs vs Pakistan

Right then, end of a fabulous Sunday in the ICC 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup as India pull off another classic win against arch-rivals Pakistan in New York and Scotland aboslutely dismantle Oman across the Atlantic in Antigua. That is all from the weekend but it is a new week next up and it begins with a bang as South Africa take on Bangaldesh at this very venue on Monday, 10 June at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT). You can join us much sooner for the build-up as usual but until then, take care and goodbye!

The captain of India, Rohit Sharma says that they did not bat well enough and fell 15-20 runs short. Adds that they needed to string partnerships which they did not. Tells that they were aiming for 140 but he is happy that the bowlers came in and did the job. Feels that there was enough in the pitch for the bowlers and it is a good one as compared to the other games. Adds that everyone showed up with the ball. Lauds Jasprit Bumrah for his effort and says that he is a genius with the ball. States the crowd was superb and they did not disappoint. Ends by saying that there is still a long way to go in the tournament and it is important to stay focused.

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan says that they bowled well after the first 10 overs and would have taken 120 at the start. Adds that with the bat they started well but lost wickets and took a few too many balls to get going. Mentions that the plan was to plan simple cricket, pick up a boundary and get 5-6 runs but they played a few too many dot balls and the pressure got on the tailenders. Reckons that they weren’t up to the mark in the Powerplay and made the same mistakes after 10 overs and says that the pitch was a bit slow and much better in general. Ends by saying that they will reflect on these two games and are looking forward to the next two games.

Jasprit Bumrah is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his game-changing spell. He says that it feels really good to get the win. Adds that they were little under par and that the wicket got better to bat under the sun. Shares that the key was to keep things simple and tried to focus on the execution. Further says that the ball was coming out of his hand nicely. When asked about the crowd support, he replies that it felt like they were playing in India and the fans supporting them gave them energy on the field. Says that going ahead, it will be important to focus on the present and will try to get as much confidence as they can.

The Presentation ceremony…

Earlier in the game, we had a delayed start due to rain and Babar Azam put India into bat. Pakistan started off well and got rid of Virat Kohli before sending back Rohit Sharma as well. Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant played attacking shots and got a few streaky boundaries away as well. Pant in particular was pretty lucky but did get crucial runs. There was a big collpase though in the latter part of the innings as the middle order crumbled and India sluggisghly made their way to 119. The Pakistani pacers were on it in this game as they generally are but it was Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah who bowled really well. Shaheen Afridi got a wicket and Haris Rauf did the damage at the back end but it was Amir and Naseem who certainly stood out. 

Pakistan in general love chaos and a lot of time chaos loves them back, especially after an uncanny loss but this time around, they have let back-to-back games slip out of their grasp. At the halfway mark in the chase Pakistan looked comfortable but they weren’t looking to go after the bowlers and just looked to tick along which was a fatal mistake. Babar Azam started on the front foot but was dismissed and then Mohammad Rizwan who was well settled and had started decently, just went into a shell and was even struck multiple times on the gloves. Fakhar Zaman was another one who came in, showed intent, got a couple of hits away but gave away his wicket. Once they lost wickets just before the death overs, the middle order seemed completely under pressure and even the bad balls weren’t put away. They are now on the brink of getting dumped out of the competition and even if they win their remaining two games, it might not be enough to save their campaign.

Defending just 119 runs, India needed their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah to step up and he didn’t disappoint one bit. Bumrah had read the pitch really well and every over that he bowled kept on turning the tide in India’s favor. He finished with 3 for 14 with 15 dot balls and won the game for his side. Apart from him, the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya and even Axar Patel bowled well at different stages of the game. That sedate over from Axar that was snuck in just after the 15th over did have an impact as well. Siraj bowled brilliantly up top and Pandya got crucial wickets whilst remaining fairly economical. All in all, Rohit Sharma and co didn’t lose hope and took full advantage of their opportunities and now go top of their group.

A COMEBACK OF EPIC PORPORTIONS AND THE MEN IN BLUE HAVE DONE IT! Absolute elation in the blue corner and heartbreak in the green corner as Pakistan have gone from being firm favorites to being handed their second-successive loss. India meanhwile just kept chipping away with concedings just 4-5 runs in an over and got it to a point from where they could pile on the pressure, and boy, they did it extremely well. Never a dull day when it is a India vs Pakistan clash and even after all the rain and the long wait times, we have witnessed an enthralling contest.

Arshdeep Singh to Naseem Shah, FOUR! A boundary but it will not be enough for Pakistan. That should do it for India and now, Arshdeep Singh needs to ensure that he does not concede any extras here. Angling away, fuller as well, Naseem Shah slices it in the air towards deep point where Virat Kohli sprints and puts in a dive to his right but the ball evades him.

Arshdeep Singh to Naseem Shah, FOUR! Innovative and effective! Keeps Pakistan in the game does Naseem. Arshdeep goes searching for the yorker but misses his mark slightly, low full toss, on off, Naseem Shah moves to the off side and plays the scoop over short fine leg for a boundary.

Arshdeep Singh to Shaheen Afridi, Leg bye! Nearly sneaked through! A searing yorker from over the wicket, aimed at the toes, Shaheen Afridi fails to get his bat down in time and gets hit on the toes. The ball rolls off his toes and the batters cross over.

Arshdeep Singh to Naseem Shah, Hurls it full and straight, on off, Naseem Shah clears his front leg and drills it along the carpet to long off. Singles won’t hurt India.

Naseem Shah is the new batter in.

What happened there? A lot of confusion and drama out in the middle and eventually, it is a review taken by Imad Wasim for a caught behind decision. It was given OUT onfield quite late and there were a couple of run out chances involved as well but UltraEdge does show that there was an inside edge. Wasim walks back to the hut as well.

Arshdeep Singh to Imad Wasim, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Expertly held by Rishabh Pant and India could not have asked for a better start to the final over. Arshdeep slips in a yorker from over the wicket, angling in, at the toes, Imad Wasim gets cramped for room as he looks to jam it out. Gets an inside edge on it but Pant is equal to the task as he dives low to his right to take it. Imad takes the review more in hope than anything. There is a clear spike on the UltraEdge and this is a body blow to Pakistan.

Right then, 18 needed off the final over. Arshdeep Singh has been handed the ball by Rohit Sharma and will look to defend 17 runs here. Shaheen Afridi walks out to bat will be at the non-striker’s end.

Jasprit Bumrah to Imad Wasim, Casual running from Imad Wasim but he gets away with it! Angling away, on a nagging length, on off, Imad Wasim slaps it straight to extra cover on the ring. Rohit Sharma fires in a slightly wayward throw at the bowling end but Bumrah does well to flick back onto the stumps. Wasim does not stretch forward nor does he drag his bat but his bat is just inside the crease when the bails lit up.

Jasprit Bumrah to Iftikhar Ahmed, Leg bye! Iftikhar Ahmed missed out there big time! A pacy full toss from Bumrah, on the pads, Iftikhar Ahmed gets beaten for pace as he swings to help it away on the leg side. The ball rolls his pads to backward square leg for a leg bye.

Jasprit Bumrah to Iftikhar Ahmed, Swing and a miss! At pace and lands it on a hard length, outside off, Iftikhar Ahmed stays rooted in his crease and goes for a wild heave across the line but connects with thin air.

Jasprit Bumrah to Iftikhar Ahmed, Clever, very clever! Being able to bowl with such control is tremendous from Bumrah. Slips in a slower bumper, on off, Iftikhar Ahmed hops but he is not sure what to do with it. Drops his wrists and lets the ball go through. The ball passes well below his head and it is dot.

Jasprit Bumrah to Imad Wasim, Starts from over the wicket and takes all the pace off as he goes into the turf, on middle and leg. Imad Wasim hops to keep it out with a straight bat but the ball grips in the surface and catches the outer half of the bat. It rolls wide of backward point and the batters cross for one.

Jasprit Bumrah (3-0-12-2) is back on to bowl that crucial penultimate over.

Mohammed Siraj to Iftikhar Ahmed, Honing in around middle, on a hard length, Iftikhar Ahmed dabs it in the vacant mid-wicket region for a single as Siraj cuts it off. Can Siraj close out the over well here?

Mohammed Siraj to Iftikhar Ahmed, WIDE! Siraj seems to be trying to be a bit too much and needs to keep it simple. Digs it in short but the line is down leg, Iftikhar Ahmed cleverly gets inside the line of the ball and lets it go for a wide.

Mohammed Siraj to Imad Wasim, Angling away, on a fullish length, outside off, Imad Wasim drills it along the carpet to deep cover for one.

Mohammed Siraj to Iftikhar Ahmed, Lands it on a back of a length and it is around off, Iftikhar Ahmed makes room and dabs it in front of backward point for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Iftikhar Ahmed, Gets away with it does Siraj! Goes searching for the yorker but it comes out as a full toss, on off, Iftikhar Ahmed mistimes the hit to the right of deep point for a couple of runs.

Mohammed Siraj to Iftikhar Ahmed, NO BALL! Oh, no! India cannot afford this. Mohammed Siraj has overstepped. Pitches it right up, on middle, Iftikhar Ahmed drives it a bit too straight and it hits the stumps at the bowling end. Free Hit coming up.

Mohammed Siraj to Imad Wasim, Steams in from over the wicket and bashes it in on a hard length, over middle, Imad Wasim moves leg side and chops it down to deep point for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Imad Wasim, Beats the bat does Hardik! This is on a hard length, over off and middle, Imad Wasim creates room by moving to the leg side and tries to slap it square on the off side but the ball zips through to go over the bat.

Hardik Pandya to Iftikhar Ahmed, Bangs it into the deck again and it is outside off, Iftikhar Ahmed stands tall and cuts it along the ground to deep point for a single to open his account.

Iftikhar Ahmed walks in with Pakistan in a spot of bother.

Hardik Pandya to Shadab Khan, OUT! GONE! Hardik Pandya strikes again! Another well-directed bumper from the Indian all-rounder and he gets the reward. Shadab Khan shows his cards early as he backs away to the leg side to access the off side. Hardik reacts by banging into the deck and aims it at the batter. Shadab is unable to free his arms but still tries to take the short ball on. Gets big on him and it lobs off the splice of the bat behind the wicket. The keeper, Rishabh Pant runs to his left and takes it safely near the short fine leg region.

Hardik Pandya to Shadab Khan, Smart batting! Hardik sees the batter make room and follows him with a heavy delivery, Shadab Khan calmly tucks it in the vacant mid-wicket region and comes back for the second run.

Hardik Pandya to Imad Wasim, Starts with a slower delivery and it is on a good length, around leg, Imad Wasim backs away and hacks it off the inner half of the bat to wide long on for a run.

Axar Patel to Imad Wasim, And again! Much closer to the off-stump line and it is quicker as well, on off, Imad Wasim gets beaten for pace as he looks to use the pace and play it fine on the off side.

Axar Patel to Imad Wasim, Another one that slides through with a round-arm action, on a short length, Imad Wasim gets rushed as he goes for the cut and he misses.

Axar Patel to Imad Wasim, Beaten! Angles it across from around the wicket, flatter and shorter, on off, Imad Wasim slashes at the delivery but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Axar Patel to Shadab Khan, Tosses it up and it is full as well, on middle, a bit slower, Shadab Khan gets on the front foot and plays it with a straight bat to long off for one.

Axar Patel to Shadab Khan, Comes in from around the wicket and spears it in, on a length, on off and middle, Shadab Khan lunges and taps it wide of cover. Shadab sets off for the run but gets sent back by his partner.

Jasprit Bumrah to Imad Wasim, On a hard length over off stump and just angling across at 140 clicks, Imad Wasim stands tall and waits well before just guiding the ball away well wide of third man for a couple of runs.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shadab Khan, Full and looking to attack the pads, turns out to be a low full toss, Shadab Khan with a mistimed shot straight to mid on and he sets off for the single. The fielder has a shy at the bowler’s end but misses as Shadab dives in to make his ground.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shadab Khan, That nagging length again, keeping it in the channel around off and at 141.2 clicks, Shadab Khan plays tentatively at it and gets an outside edge to a wide first slip.