In an exhilarating encounter at the Twenty20 World Cup, India managed to defend a modest total of 119 runs to clinch a six-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. This triumph not only highlighted India's bowling prowess but also ensured they maintained an impeccable record in the tournament.
The match, held at Long Island's Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, was marred by rain delays, pushing the start by approximately 50 minutes. Pakistan, reeling from their unexpected Super Over loss to co-host USA in Dallas, bounced back strongly. They posted a competitive total of 113-7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a commendable innings by Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 31 runs.
However, it was India's skipper, Rohit Sharma, who shone in the bowling department. Leading a formidable pace attack, Jasprit Bumrah delivered a match-winning performance, finishing with figures of 3-14 in four overs. Sharma praised Bumrah, stating, \"Bumrah is going from strength to strength. We want him to maintain this mindset till the end of the World Cup; he's a genius with the ball.\"
Pakistan seemed on course to post a stronger total, cruising at 80-3 in the 14th over. But Bumrah's skillful bowling led to the dismissal of key players, including Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, who was bowled off the last ball of a particularly tight spell. The pressure mounted in the death overs, restricting Pakistan to just two boundaries in their final six overs.
In the final over, Pakistan needed 18 runs but were thwarted by Naseem Shah's aggressive batting, which resulted in two boundaries. Emotional moments unfolded as Shah left the field in tears, supported by his batting partner Shaheen Shah Afridi, marking Pakistan's second consecutive loss in Group A.
India, buoyed by this win, also secured an eight-wicket victory against Ireland in their opening match at the same venue. With both India and the USA holding four points, India currently leads Group A, thanks to a superior net run rate. Pakistan now faces the challenge of winning their remaining matches against Canada and Ireland, hoping that other group game results swing in their favor to advance to the tournament's second stage.
Reflecting on the match, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam commented, \"We played too many dot balls and the pressure was on us. You can't expect too much from tailenders. We were not up to the mark in the first six overs; we had targeted 40-45 runs, but we couldn't capitalize properly.\"
Reference(s):
India defend 119 in low-scoring win over Pakistan at T20 World Cup
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