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In a nail-biting T20 World Cup encounter at New York, Team India held their nerve to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan by a narrow six-run margin. Despite being dismissed for a modest 119 with an over to spare, India's bowlers staged a remarkable fightback, restricting Pakistan to a paltry 113/7 in their allotted 20 overs. This victory marked India's second consecutive win in the tournament. India's batting faltered, with Rishabh Pant's 42 being the top score. However, Pakistan's chase started promisingly, reaching 57/1 at the halfway stage. The tide turned dramatically thanks to exceptional bowling spells from Jasprit Bumrah (3/14), Hardik Pandya (2/24), and Axar Patel (1/11), who orchestrated a magnificent Indian comeback.
Gavaskar lambasts Mohammed Siraj after no-ball blunder
Player of the Match Jasprit Bumrah struck a crucial blow for India by dismissing the in-form Mohammad Rizwan in the 15th over, stalling Pakistan's momentum. This dismissal significantly hampered Pakistan's chase. However, India's own nerves were briefly tested when Mohammed Siraj overstepped during a critical moment in the 17th over. This no-ball, with Pakistan needing 29 runs off 17 balls, offered a lifeline to the newly-arrived batsman Iftikhar Ahmed. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, commentating on the match, expressed his disapproval of Siraj's mistake.
Despite Siraj's no-ball, the damage was minimal as he only conceded two extra runs. He finished the over with figures of 0/19 in his four overs, the only bowler to bowl the full quota without a wicket. Ravindra Jadeja, who bowled just two overs for 10 runs, was the other bowler without a wicket.
"Unforgivable. Professional cricketers, whatever you are, you cannot bowl a no-ball. It is in your control. Wide balls are not always in your control but no-ball is. Unprofessional, unacceptable at this level. No excuses whatsoever," an irate Gavaskar said on air.
Jasprit Bumrah's performance was instrumental in restricting Pakistan in New York. However, Captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the desire for Bumrah to maintain this level of excellence throughout the T20 World Cup. Bumrah was exceptional in India's narrow win. His bowling figures of 3/14 in four overs included a remarkable 15 dot balls, a crucial factor in defending India's modest total of 119 – the lowest ever defended in a T20 World Cup. This victory extends India's dominance over Pakistan in T20 World Cups to a staggering 7-1 record.
Now, both teams look ahead to their remaining fixtures. India will take on USA on June 12 and then Canada on June 15, while Pakistan will face Canada on June 11 followed by a match against Ireland on June 16.
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