As dramatic as an India vs Pakistan clash can be. It was a game to be remembered for ages. Virat Kohli played his best T20I knock in a tricky run chase at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) whereas Pakistan’s inexperience led to mistakes in the slog overs that cost them the match. Rohit Sharma-led India won the game by four wickets off the final ball of the match.
Dreadful powerplay overs
Indian openers disappointed in the run chase. KL Rahul got bowled as the ball took an inside edge off his bat. Rahul could score just four runs before getting out in the second over. In his first over, Haris got the wicket of Indian skipper by forcing an outside edge that carried to first slip fielder.
India lost another wicket in the powerplay overs in the form of Suryakumar Yadav (15). Suryakumar tried to play it fine but could manage only an outside edge off the bat. India had 31/3 on the board after powerplay overs. Axar Patel was sent ahead of Hardik Pandya but it did not go as per the plan as he got run out trying to sneak a non-existent single.
Coming back in the game
At halfway stage, India were 45/4 and the required run rate was getting closer to 12 runs per over. It was Nawaz's over that turned out to be the game changer. Hardik hit two whereas Kohli hit one six off the over to bring India back in the game. The boundaries started coming in but Haris Rauf bowled well in the slog overs. Meanwhile, Kohli got to his half-century from 43 deliveries after struggling initially. The hallmark of the partnership was the running between the wickets as the two kept Pakistan fielders on their toes.
Dramatic final two overs
In the penultimate over, Kohli took on Rauf hitting him for two consecutive sixes off the final two deliveries. In the final over, India needed 16 runs to win. Nawaz was given the responsibility to do the tough job. Pandya got caught trying to hit a big shot. The all-rounder scored 40 runs from 37 deliveries including one four and two sixes.
India needed 13 off three deliveries but then Nawaz threw the wicket away by bowling an above waist height no ball. Kohli hit a six to get the game in control. It was followed by a wide and three byes which came after he got bowled off the free hit delivery. With two runs needed off the final two deliveries. Karthik tried the sweep shot but could not get bat on it and got run out. Ashwin came into the middle and Nawaz bowled a wide down the leg side. Ashwin held on to his nerves and got a single off the final ball with a lofted shot over mid off to finish the game.
Kohli remained not out for 82 off 53 deliveries. His unbeaten 82 was laced with six fours and four sixes.
Swing duo stump Pakistan openers
Earlier, Rohit won the toss and opted to field first. Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep made full use of the swinging conditions against Pakistan bowlers. Arshdeep struck with his first ball. Babar was beaten by the full-pitched inswinger as he got trapped in front of the wickets. This was Babar's third golden duck in the format.
Rizwan's struggle against swing bowling continued as well and it was the surprise bouncer that got the better of him. Arshdeep pitched it short and Rizwan mistimed the pull shot which landed in fine leg fielder Bhuvneshwar’s hands. The wicketkeeper-batter scored just four runs from 12 deliveries.
Game-stabilising partnership
Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed stabilised the innings but could not utilise the powerplay overs. Pakistan had 32/2 on the board after six overs. At the halfway stage, Pakistan were 60/2. Iftikhar started accelerating in the 11th over with a massive hit for six off Ashwin.
Iftikhar's acceleration
He punished Axar in the next over hitting him for three sixes in four balls. He got to his half-century from 32 deliveries. Shami got the breakthrough for India with the wicket of Iftikhar. The 32-year-old scored 51 runs from 34 deliveries including two fours and four sixes. In the next over, Pandya struck twice to dismiss Shadab and Haider Ali. All of a sudden, Pakistan found themselves 98/5.
Hardik struck again before the death overs. Mohammad Nawaz (9) hit two boundaries off Pandya but became his third victim. Arshdeep returned in the slog overs and dismissed Pakistan's designated finisher Asif Ali (2).
Pakistan gain momentum
Masood got a couple of boundaries in Shami's last over. In the penultimate over, he got to his half-century from 40 deliveries. Afridi decided to take the aggressive approach and hit Arshdeep for a six and a four. In the final over, Bhuvneshwar ended Afridi's cameo. The tailender scored 16 runs from just eight deliveries.
Despite the wicket, 10 runs came off the final over as Haris Rauf hit a six off the first ball he faced. On the other end, Masood remained unbeaten for 52 off 42 deliveries including five fours.
