Match Blog: Virat’s 51-Ball 49 Ensures a Five Wicket Win For India
Click here for all the latest updates, pictures and reactions from the Indo-Pak T20 Asia Cup game.
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- India beat Pakistan by five wickets in the Asia Cup at Mirpur.
- Virat Kohli top scored for India with 49.
- Mohammad Amir picked up figures of 3/18.
- India’s Hardik Pandya took three wickets for eight runs.
Virat Kohli steered India to a five-wicket victory. Mohammad Amir had India on the mat when he removed Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina within the first three overs. But then, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh steadied the ship.
Yuvraj clogged one end, whereas Virat Kohli got his eye in and started accumulating the runs.
Pandya’s see-ball hit-ball method has failed today. He flashes at a ball outside the off-stump and presents a catch to Hafeez.
Dhoni walks in.
Kohli has played the innings of his life. He will certainly relish this effort for the rest of his life. He came in, weathered the storm and got on top of the bowling attack on a green wicket.
An Unfortunate way to go though, replay shows that Virat inside-edged the ball onto his pads.
But, anyway he has done his job. India are just eight runs away from victory.
Kohli and Yuvraj Take the Match Away
Virat Kohli is playing a gem of an innings at Mirpur. He has been playing very straight and has hardly made any mistakes in his 34-ball 32 innings so far. And Yuvraj Singh is applying all the experience he has. This match certainly proves that the Indian batting is in good hands.
Yuvraj and Virat have strung a partnership of 45 runs. India need 31 runs from 60 balls.
Yuvraj and Virat Steady Things
After Mohammad Amir ripped apart India’s top order, experienced batsmen Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli have steadied the ship. They are watching the ball very well and are sending the loose balls to the boundary.
India: 21/3 after six.
Well, well, wickets continue to tumble at Mirpur. 84 seems very far away right now with Amir bowling incredibly. India still have Virat Kohli though, he will need to stick around to ensure a win for India.
India: 9/3 after 3.
Amir had got the ball to hit Rohit’s toes in the first ball as well but the umpire ruled it not out. So, Amir bowled a better ball to dismiss the in-form opener.
India: 2/2 after one.
Pakistan’s batting performance is beyond anybody’s imagination. They have an inexperienced batting line-up but a score of 83 certainly doesn’t sit appropriately next to their name. The Indians are going to finish it off in no time.
Sarfraz smashed three fours in his innings of 25 runs from 24 balls. Jadeja bowled the quicker one and Sarfraz got cramped for room while trying to play a cut shot.
Pakistan: 70/8 after 15.1 overs.
Riaz was looking to sweep Jadeja but missed the ball completely. No single Indian bowler is taking the honours tonight, all bowlers have picked up a wicket.
Well well, Pakistan have lost six wickets in the space of eight overs. All the big guns are back in the hut. Apart from losing points, Pakistan’s net run rate will also take a major hit.
Pakistan: 43/6 after 9.
What is happening! This was supposed to be a high octane match but India is running away with the game. Shoaib Malik tried to drive one but helped along the ball to Dhoni instead and Akmal misjudged the line and was trapped in front of the stumps.
A direct hit from Kohli sends Manzoor back for 10. Again there was a boundary (leg byes) off the first ball and a wicket some time later. Pakistan are pretty clear about their format.
Pakistan are reeling at 32/3.
Wrong Decision, The Heat Rises!
Nehra could have scalped another when Khurram Manzoor gloved one to Dhoni, but the umpire failed to sight it.
Dhoni and company appealed immediately once the catch was taken but was turned down unfortunately. Any ideas what Virat Kohli might have said!
At the moment, Pakistan are following a format of four-wicket-four-wicket. They will need st least one decent partnership to post a respectable score.
Hafeez played a spectacular square drive to guide the ball to the boundary off Nehra’s second ball, but in the fourth ball, the Pakistani batsman got a bit surprised with the extra bounce and nicked it to Dhoni.
Right, so India draws first blood!
Pakistan: 4/1.
Toss
India have won the toss and elect to bowl first. Shikhar Dhawan has a niggle and therefore he has been replaced by Ajinkya Rahane.
Squads
India Squad: RG Sharma, AM Rahane, V Kohli, SK Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni*, HH Pandya, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, A Nehra.
Pakistan Squad: Khurram Manzoor, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi*, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan.
Good evening!
Welcome to the coverage of the most anticipated cricket match of the year - India v Pakistan at Mirpur. The last time the arch rivals met was in the 2015 World Cup, where India trounced their neighbours by 76 runs.
India will be high on confidence after beating Bangladesh by 45 runs on a tricky wicket. The Men in Blue will be up against a good Pakistan bowling attack which has Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and the comeback man Mohammad Amir.
Pakistan will be looking for a good start in the Asia Cup, if they go on to beat India today, they will gain a lot of momentum which can make them dangerous for the rest of the competition.
Here’s what Virat Kohli had to say about Mohammad Amir’s return.