New York: In a nail-biting low-scoring match, India emerged victorious by a margin of 6 runs as they successfully defended a modest total against arch-rivals Pakistan, restricting them to 113/7, in an exciting T20 World Cup match here on Sunday.Pakistan, chasing a target of 120 runs, faced an early setback when their opener Babar Azam fell victim to a spectacular catch by Suryakumar Yadav off Jasprit Bumrah's bowling.
Despite a promising start from Babar, who managed to score 13 runs, Pakistan's batting struggled to gain momentum against India's disciplined bowling attack.The Indian bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj and Bumrah, applied consistent pressure on the Pakistani batsmen, making scoring difficult on a challenging pitch. Although Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan displayed grit with a valiant knock of 31 runs, his efforts weren't enough to steer his team to victory.
Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel also made significant contributions with the ball, claiming crucial wickets at crucial junctures of the match. Pandya's tactical brilliance was on display as he outfoxed Fakhar Zaman, who fell for 13 runs, failing to capitalise on his aggressive intent.
Despite a late flourish from Pakistan's lower order, highlighted by Iftikhar Ahmed's brief resistance, India maintained their composure to secure a hard-fought win. Arshdeep Singh's clinical bowling in the final over, which included the dismissal of Imad Wasim, sealed the victory for India.
Earlier, Pakistan had stunned India by restricting them to their lowest-ever T20 World Cup total of 119 runs. Pakistan's bowlers, spearheaded by Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, showcased exceptional skills to dismantle India's batting lineup and set the stage for a thrilling chase.The dramatic turn of events unfolded as Pakistan's bowlers showcased exceptional skills, leaving India reeling and facing an uphill battle.
Pakistan's resurgence began after a promising start from India's openers. Rohit Sharma's (13) masterful batting against Shaheen Afridi initially hinted at a formidable Indian innings. However, Afridi's persistence paid off as he dismissed Rohit, triggering a series of setbacks for the Indian batting lineup.Despite brief sparks of aggression from Indian batsmen like Virat Kohli (4) and Axar Patel (20), Pakistan's bowlers, led by Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, maintained relentless pressure.
Shah's impressive spell, claiming three crucial wickets, destabilised India's middle order, while Rauf's precision accounted for three key dismissals, including that of Rishabh Pant.Pant's valiant effort, amassing 42 runs, offered some respite to India amidst the onslaught from Pakistan's bowling attack. However, his departure, followed by quick dismissals of Ravindra Jadeja (0), Hardik Pandya (7), and others, cemented Pakistan's dominance in the match.
Rauf's consistency in picking wickets at crucial intervals further bolstered Pakistan's position, leaving India struggling to build momentum. As the innings progressed, Pakistan tightened their grip on the game, eventually bowling out India for a modest 119 runs in 19 overs.
With this victory, India reaffirmed their status as contenders in the tournament, while Pakistan will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats and regroup ahead of their upcoming matches.(UNI)
