Crucial T20 Clash
NEW YORK: In a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024, India narrowly defeated Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring match held at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday.
The match, eagerly anticipated by fans around the world, saw Pakistan falling short while chasing a modest target set by India.
India, after being put to bat first by Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam, managed to post 119 runs before being bowled out in 19 overs. Pakistan’s pace bowlers dominated the Indian batting lineup from the outset.
Virat Kohli was the first to depart, scoring just four runs off three balls before being dismissed by Naseem Shah in the second over. The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, soon followed, falling to Shaheen Afridi after scoring 13 runs off 12 deliveries while attempting a big shot.
Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel tried to stabilize the innings, pushing the total to 58 runs in 7.3 overs. However, Patel’s dismissal by Naseem Shah in the eighth over triggered a middle-order collapse.
India lost Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya in quick succession. Pant was the top scorer for India with 42 runs off 31 deliveries, but seven Indian batters failed to reach double digits.
Pakistan’s bowlers were exceptional, with Naseem Shah leading the attack. He took three wickets for 21 runs in his four overs.
Haris Rauf also claimed three wickets, conceding 21 runs in his three-over spell. Mohammad Amir contributed with two wickets for 23 runs in four overs, while Shaheen Afridi took one wicket in his four-over spell.
Chasing a target of 120 runs, Pakistan faced early setbacks and struggled to build momentum. Mohammad Rizwan was the top scorer for Pakistan with 31 runs off 44 balls.
Captain Babar Azam was dismissed for 13 runs off 10 balls, and the team managed to score only 113 runs for the loss of seven wickets, falling short by six runs.
The match experienced multiple interruptions due to rain, adding to the tension. Initially, the game was delayed, and after the first over, it had to be stopped again due to a downpour. Once the rain subsided, play resumed, but the disruptions had a noticeable impact on the rhythm of both teams.
Pakistan’s playing XI included Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Amir.
India’s squad comprised Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammad Siraj.
The defeat was a significant blow for Pakistan in this crucial match, while India celebrated a hard-fought victory, showcasing the intense rivalry and high stakes typical of encounters between these two cricketing giants.
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