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Pakistan’s fielding has been below par in the ongoing World Cup 2023, especially their ground fielding. Against India, it did not turn out to be any different either. Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shaheen Afridi were comical in their attempts to stop boundaries as Indian batters were on the charge in the run chase of 192 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Afridi misfielded in the 20th over of the innings. Rohit played a lap sweep against Shadab Khan. Afridi chased after the ball and put in a slide to push the ball back into play but could not get his other hand away from the ball and dragged it to the boundary line.
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In the next over, Rohit played a square drive against Mohammad Nawaz. Imam who dropped an easy catch of Kusal Mendis in Hyderabad, went after the ball trying to push it back in play. He put in the dive but ended up kicking the boundary line inside and hitting the ball.
Later in the run chase, KL Rahul hit the ball hard down the ground. At long-off, Iftikhar Ahmed put in a slide but overran and the ball slipped past him to go for a boundary.
The poor fielding did not let Pakistan put pressure on Indian batters. Also, it helped India finish off the run chase in the 31st over which had a negative effect on their net run rate (NRR) as well.
Earlier, Babar Azam's Pakistan lost eight wickets for just 36 runs as they got bowled out for 191 from 42.5 overs. Apart from the top four batters, no Pakistan batter could make a mark to give their bowlers a chance to defend.
In the run chase, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli departed after scoring 16 runs each. But Rohit took on Pakistan bowlers right from the start. The opener smashed six sixes and six fours in his 63-ball 86. After Afridi took his wicket, Shreyas Iyer's half-century and Rahul's patient knock took them over the line with 19.3 overs to spare.
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