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Royal Stag Fan
9 June 2024
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The much-awaited match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 took place on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. This high-voltage clash, as expected, went right down to the wire, with India emerging victorious by 6 runs in a thriller.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Indian innings never really got going, as the Pakistani pacers ruled the roost. India were 96/7 at one stage before scraping together 119 in their 20 overs. Rishabh Pant top-scored for India with 42, while Axar Patel chipped in with 20. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah picked up four wickets each.
In response, Pakistan were cruising along at one stage, reaching 80/3 in the 14th over. But the genius of Jasprit Bumrah turned the game on its head in the space of just one over, reducing Pakistan to 90/5 in the 17th over. Bumrah finished with magical figures of 3/14 in his 4 overs. Arshdeep Singh held his nerve in the final over, defending 18 runs as India snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
India was tottering at 19/2 when Axar Patel walked in. With the two openers back in the hut, India desperately needed a substantial partnership. Pant and Axar batted sensibly to take India towards a good score before Axar departed when India’s score was 58. Pant and Axar added a 39-run stand in just 30 balls. Pant’s 42 off 31 balls was worth its weight in gold in the context of the match. He punctuated his innings with crucial singles and 6 boundaries and gave the Indian total some respectability.
Put in to bat first, the pitch had other plans for the Indian batters. In a seaming, overcast condition, India did manage to survive. However, it was still difficult to know the par score on this pitch. Captain Rohit Sharma gave a blistering start in the first over, smashing Shaheen Afridi for a six. But the rain played a spoilsport, pausing the game for another 40 minutes.
It was a difficult track to bat on, but with small cameos from Axar, Pant, and others down the order, India limped to 119 all out in 19 overs. For the Pakistan team, they would have fancied their chances of chasing it down at the halfway stage.But Rohit and Co. had other plans!
Defending just 120, India needed early wickets. Siraj and Arshdeep Singh bowled tight opening spells, giving nothing away to the Pakistani openers. But Babar Azam and Rizwan kept on stealing those cheeky singles and doubles. The introduction of Jasprit Bumrah in the 5th over turned the game upside down.
He produced a magical spell of pace bowling, conceding just 4 runs in his first over while picking up the prized scalp of captain Babar Azam. This stopped Pakistan’s constant singles and the scoreboard before Axar Patel was introduced in the 11th over as he picked the dangerous Usman Khan in his first delivery. The double blow pegged Pakistan back, and the pressure told. Hardik Pandya complemented Bumrah well with 2 wickets of his own as Pakistan fell short by 6 runs.
Apart from the execution of his bowlers, captain Rohit Sharma also deserves credit for some brilliant tactical moves that contributed to India's victory. His attacking fields forced the Pakistani batsmen into errors, and he rotated his bowlers wisely, not allowing any partnerships to flourish.
Introducing Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel at just the right moments was crucial when Siraj and Arshdeep were struggling. By saving Bumrah's overs for the middle overs, Rohit ensured Pakistan couldn't get away at any stage. His captaincy played a big role in India's collective bowling effort to defend a low total.
In the end, the difference between the two teams was the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah. He single-handedly changed the complexion of the match with his world-class spell during the middle overs. His ability to bowl yorkers at the death is unparalleled, and he nailed his yorkers when it mattered the most. The match was over for Pakistan when he knocked off Rizwan.
Bumrah's magic tilted a see-saw contest in India's favour and he showed why he is ranked the best bowler in the world currently. While both teams had plenty of talent, India had the X-factor of Bumrah which proved decisive on the day.
This thrilling India-Pakistan encounter kept fans on the edge of their seats right through until the last ball. India held its nerve better to prevail over its arch-rivals and maintain its magnificent World Cup record against Pakistan. Rohit Sharma’s team now sits on top of the points table and looks a strong contender for the Super 8s.
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