The Indian men’s cricket team achieved an incredible turnaround, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by six runs in their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Group A match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday.
India Struggles in Batting First
Early Setbacks
Sent in to bat first by Pakistan, India faced immediate challenges. The innings began on a shaky note with early dismissals. Both Rohit Sharma (13) and Virat Kohli (4) departed early, leaving India in a precarious position at 19/2. The damp pitch, a result of preceding showers, offered significant assistance to the bowlers, complicating the batting conditions.
Middle-Order Woes
Rishabh Pant emerged as the lone warrior in India’s lineup, scoring a resilient 42 off 31 balls. However, he received little support from the other end. Axar Patel (20 off 18) attempted to steady the ship alongside Pant, but their partnership was short-lived as Naseem Shah dismissed Axar. Following this, Suryakumar Yadav (7) and Shivam Dube (3) fell in quick succession, further crippling India’s innings.
Lower-Order Collapse
The Indian innings saw a dramatic collapse as Mohammad Amir dismissed Pant and Ravindra Jadeja (0) in successive deliveries. The lower order, including Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, failed to mount a late surge, and India was bundled out for 119 in 19 overs.
Pakistan’s Chase and India’s Bowling Brilliance
Initial Phase of the Chase
Chasing a modest total, Pakistan looked in control, especially after Jasprit Bumrah provided an early breakthrough by removing Azam (13) in the fifth over. Usman Khan (13) and Mohammad Rizwan then took Pakistan past the 50-run mark, setting a solid foundation. However, Axar Patel trapped Usman LBW, and the match started to tilt.
Turning Points
A spectacular catch by Rishabh Pant off Hardik Pandya’s delivery to dismiss Fakhar Zaman opened a window of opportunity for India. Bumrah’s reintroduction in the 15th over proved pivotal as he bowled Rizwan, further intensifying the pressure on Pakistan.
Nail-Biting Finish
With 37 runs required from the final five overs, Pakistan still had a slight edge due to their remaining wickets. However, a tight over from Axar Patel, yielding only three runs, tightened the screws on Pakistan. Hardik Pandya capitalized on this momentum by dismissing Shadab Khan (4).
As the required run rate climbed, Pakistan found it increasingly difficult to break free from the stranglehold imposed by the Indian bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional figures of 3/14 in his four overs were instrumental in restricting Pakistan to 113/7, leading India to a sensational six-run victory. This match marked the lowest total ever defended by India in a T20I match.
Group Standings and Future Matches
This victory propelled India to the top of Group A with four points from two matches. On the other hand, Pakistan, having lost their second consecutive match, found themselves in a challenging position.
India is set to play their next Group A T20 World Cup match against the United States at the same venue on Wednesday, seeking to continue their winning streak.
Brief Scores
India: 119/10 in 19 overs (Rishabh Pant 42; Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf 3/21)
Pakistan: 113/7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 31; Jasprit Bumrah 3/14)
Result: India won by six runs.
India’s resilient performance, marked by exceptional death bowling and crucial breakthroughs, scripted a memorable victory, reinforcing their status as strong contenders in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Conclusion
