Pakistan may have recently occupied the no.1 ODI spot or broken the record for the highest-ever run chase in the World Cup earlier this week, but they are far from adopting modern-day cricket. While teams like England are not afraid to take the aerial route and maximise the fielding restrictions, Pakistan batters have not hit a six in the first 10 overs this year despite playing plenty of ODI cricket.
Pakistan batters have faced a total of 1,080 balls this year in the first 10 overs and have not hit a maximum. Since 2005, the previous best record belonged to Pakistan as well. In the year 2012, a total of 1,058 balls were faced without hitting a boundary in the first 10 overs. On the other hand, Indian batters have hit 36 sixes in the first 10 overs in ODIs in this calendar year.
After Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field first, Pakistan got off to a decent start at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq managed to hit nine fours in total but did not hit a six. Skipper Babar Azam walked out to bat but hit just one four.
The centurion of the previous game, Shafique was the first to depart as Mohammed Siraj trapped him in front of the stumps in the eighth over. After 10 overs, Pakistan had 49/1 on the board.
Earlier in the World Cup, in the opening encounter, England's Jonny Bairstow hit a six off the second ball he faced. In the run chase, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra hit a couple of sixes.
Pakistan batters were ineffective against India. Skipper Babar was the top scorer for his side with 50 runs from 58 balls. Mohammad Rizwan scored 49 runs as Pakistan suffered a massing batting collapse and lost eight wickets for 36 runs. They ended up getting bowled out for 191 from 43 overs. Not a single six was hit in Pakistan’s innings.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each. Only Shardul Thakur who bowled just two overs remained wicketless.
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