Strategically superior Pakistan caught India completely off-guard with a punt from Mohammad Nawaz in a thrilling Super 4 match of the Asia Cup here on Sunday as they took sweet revenge with a five-wicket win.
Chasing a tough target of 182, the always dependable Mohammad Rizwan (71 off 51 balls) led Pakistan’s innings, but it was left-handed batsman Nawaz, who is more known for his conservative left-arm spin. Who played the decisive innings of the match.
His 42 off 20 balls was something India didn’t notice and had no gameplan for as Khushdil Shah and Iftikhar Ali completed a deserved win with a ball to spare.
Rizwan-Nawaz’s 73-run partnership in just 6.5 overs in the middle leg of the innings left the Indians stunned.
Yuzvendra Chahal (1/4 in four overs) and Hardik Pandya (1/4 in four overs), two bowlers who were brilliant last Sunday, were on foot that day as Nawaz took both to the cleaners.
His cumulative 87 runs in eight overs turned the match in Pakistan’s favor as Nawaz hit six fours and two sixes.
While Pandya’s short-ball strategy failed, Chahal was taken to the cleaners by both Rizwan and Nawaz as the crease on Rohit Sharma’s forehead grew with each passing over.
By the time Nawaz was deep out off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, he had done a lot of damage to the psyche of the Indian attack.
India’s chances were also hampered by the absence of Avesh Khan as a substitute fast bowler in the main team, although to be fair to Ravi Bishnoi (1/26 in 4 overs), he gave it his all.
In the end, it all came to an end when Bhuvneshwar conceded 19 runs with only seven in Arshdeep’s final over in the 19th over, with Pakistan with a ball to spare.
Earlier, the much-awaited top-order batsmen finally showed what they are capable of as India posted 181 for 7 after batting.
Captains Rohit Sharma (28) and KL Rahul (28) were excellent in the powerplays, while Virat Kohli (60) played one of his most spectacular innings in recent times to take India to a more than respectable total. gave a glimpse of
What everyone wanted from India’s top order was a change of mindset and strike rates of 175 (Rohit), 140 (Rahul) and 136 (Kohli) were proof of that.
Kohli deserves most of the credit for the total India achieved against the Pakistan spinners, especially leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2/31 in four overs), who took the crucial wickets of Rahul and Rishabh Pant (14).
His innings included four fours and a six, as well as his signature running between the wickets, where he effortlessly converted two boundaries.
After being bullied for his slow-paced approach in the Powerplays, skipper Rohit signaled his intention in the very first over when he charged Naseem Shah and got a one-bounce-four over cover point. After this the signature pull-shot hit a six.
Rahul, who had been suppressed against Hong Kong, picked up the cue beautifully in Naseem’s next over when he read it for a slow six to deposit it at long-off, but the innings shot was off the last ball. . It was a helicopter shot that was a pure reactionary action from the vice-captain of India.
As the two settled down well, Rohit launched Haris Rauf for 50 in the fifth over and India went out of the block for the first time in the last three matches against Pakistan at this venue.
The grammar of T20 cricket has changed and Rohit’s 28 off 16 balls and Rahul’s 28 off 20 balls had the right intentions and impact which is required in high pressure games.
Though Rohit made a slow mistake from Rauf and Rahul failed to clear Shadab’s long-on fence, he had provided the necessary platform for Kohli to settle well in a groove before he could start playing his shots.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam cleverly used his spinners Shadab and Mohammad Nawaz (4-0-25-1) to stop the flow of runs within the first 10 overs and his move was only partially successful.
Thanks to Kohli and his positive attitude, Pant got some breathing space before Hasnain freed himself with a pull.
Naseem had another cover drive as the former captain would repeatedly come down to sabotage the bowlers’ rhythm while at the other end he lost his teammates.
Kohli’s 50 came off 36 balls when Hasnain was deposited in the mid-wicket stand.
Fakhar Zaman made back-to-back outfield bloopers to give Ravi Bishnoi some lucky boundaries at the fag end.
