NEW YORK – In a pulsating encounter at a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, India emerged victorious over arch-rivals Pakistan by a slender margin of six runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The match, marked by exhilarating batting displays and disciplined bowling performances, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final ball.
India’s Batting Resilience
Electing to field first after winning the toss, Pakistan aimed to capitalize on the early conditions. India’s openers, Rohit Sharma (13 runs) and Virat Kohli (4 runs), provided a brisk start before falling in quick succession. However, Rishabh Pant stepped up with a sublime knock of 42 runs, anchoring the innings and guiding India through the middle overs.
Valuable contributions from Axar Patel (20 runs) and Suryakumar Yadav (7 runs) helped India post a competitive total of 119 runs before being bowled out in the penultimate over.
Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Afridi (1/29), Naseem Shah (3/21), and Haris Rauf (3/21) proved effective, sharing six wickets between them.
Pakistan’s Faltering Chase
Chasing 120 for victory, Pakistan’s openers, Mohammad Rizwan (31 runs) and Babar Azam (13 runs), laid a solid foundation. However, a flurry of wickets in the middle overs derailed their chase. The Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) and Hardik Pandya (2/24), applied the brakes, restricting the flow of runs and picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals.
Imad Wasim’s fighting knock of 15 runs and a late cameo from Naseem Shah (10 runs) kept Pakistan’s hopes alive, but the target proved just out of reach.
Bumrah’s Masterclass
Jasprit Bumrah’s spell was a masterclass in T20 bowling. His ability to swing the ball both ways and nail yorkers at will proved too much for Pakistan’s batsmen. His three wickets in the middle overs tilted the match decisively in India’s favor.
Scorecard Summary:
- India: 119 all out (19 overs)
- Rishabh Pant 42 (31)
- Axar Patel 20 (18)
- Naseem Shah 3/21 (4 overs)
- Haris Rauf 3/21 (4 overs)
- Pakistan: 113 all out (20 overs)
- Mohammad Rizwan 31 (44)
- Imad Wasim 15 (23)
- Jasprit Bumrah 3/14 (4 overs)
- Hardik Pandya 2/24 (4 overs)
Result: India won by 6 runs.
Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah
A Rivalry Renewed
This thrilling encounter lived up to the billing of an India-Pakistan clash, with high stakes and intense emotions. The match showcased the depth of talent on both sides and served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. India’s victory will undoubtedly bolster their confidence as they progress in the tournament, while Pakistan will look to regroup and analyze their shortcomings.
Detailed Scorecard:
Did not bat: Fall of wickets: 12-1 (Kohli, 1.3), 19-2 (Rohit, 2.4), 58-3 (Axar, 7.4), 89-4 (Suryakumar Yadav, 11.2), 95-5 (Shivam Dube, 13.2), 96-6 (Pant, 14.1), 96-7 (Ravindra Jadeja, 14.2), 112-8 (Hardik Pandya, 17.4), 112-9 (Bumrah, 17.5), 119-10 (Arshdeep Singh, 19.0)
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Detailed Scorecard:
Did not bat: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir Fall of wickets: 26-1 (Babar Azam, 4.4), 57-2 (Usman Khan, 10.1), 73-3 (Fakhar Zaman, 12.2), 80-4 (Mohammad Rizwan, 14.1), 88-5 (Shadab Khan, 16.3), 102-6 (Iftikhar Ahmed, 18.6), 102-7 (Imad Wasim, 19.1)
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