*Pakistan choke with victory insight (Match 19)
By Dwayne Ferreira
India shocked the world last night, defending a low total of 119 against their arch-rivals Pakistan. A skillful bit of bowling under pressure by Jasprit Bumrah and the men in blue saw Pakistan crumble on the biggest stage of them all.
The match, which saw a slight delay due to inclement weather, turned out to be a gripping contest that kept a packed stadium of New York fans on the edge of their seats.
India were put into bat after losing the toss and immediately had a shaky start to the contest, with Pakistan’s pacers exploiting the conditions effectively. Early dismissals of key batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma by Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah left India reeling.
However, Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant provided some respite with aggressive strokes and streaky boundaries, but a collapse in the middle and lower order saw India finished, bundled out for a paltry total of 119.
Chasing only 120, Pakistan initially appeared in control, but were unable to get themselves over the finish line.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan provided a solid start, but India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, had other plans. At the halfway mark, Pakistan seemed comfortable, but fell into the trap of not accelerating when required. Babar’s dismissal initiated a domino effect, and Rizwan, despite being well-set, went into a defensive shell, which eventually cost his wicket.
Defending a low total, India needed their star bowlers to deliver, and Bumrah did just that. His extraordinary spell of 3 for 14, including 15 dot balls, was instrumental in turning the game around. Bumrah’s discipline and ability to bowl under pressure shone through, as he removed key players, including Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, at crucial moments.
While Bumrah was the star, the supporting cast played their roles to perfection too. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel bowled crucial overs, with Pandya’s short-of-length deliveries and Axar’s tight over after the 15th making significant impacts. Pandya’s dismissals of Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan further dented Pakistan’s chase, leading to an incredible six run victory for the team in blue.
With this win, India climbed to the top of their group, showcasing resilience and strategic brilliance.
For Pakistan, this loss marked their second successive defeat, putting them on the brink of an early exit from the tournament. They must win their remaining games and hope for favorable outcomes to stay in contention.
The India vs Pakistan match once again lived up to its hype, delivering high drama and intense cricket.
Chief Scores :-
India – 119 for 10 in 19 overs (Rishabh Pant 42, Axar Patel 20, Rohit Sharma 13, Naseem Shah 3 for 21, Haris Rauf 3 for 21)
Pakistan – 113 for 7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 31, Imad Wasim 15, Fakhar Zaman 13, Jasprit Bumrah 3 for 14, Hardik Pandya 2 for 24)
Player of the Match – Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 14)
