DUBAI: Indian batters began innings to chase a modest 242-run target against Pakistan, a do-or-die match for the latter in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 being played at Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India scored 168/2 after the completion of 31 overs.
Currently, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer are driving India’s chase after departure of opening batters, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Sharma and Gill gave a flying start to India’s innings before Afridi removed the Indian skipper (20) in the fifth over.
Later, Abrar Ahmed sent Gill (46) packing in 18th over. However, these two dismissals did not provide any ease to Pakistan and India kept their run rate up to mark.
Indias Rohit Sharma walks after losing his wicket, bowled out by Pakistans Shaheen Shah Afridi. — Reuters
India’s Rohit Sharma walks after losing his wicket, bowled out by Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi. — Reuters
Kohli has achieved a new feat by completing his 14,000 runs in ODI format, becoming the third batter after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumara Sangakkara.
He also became the fastest to achieve this milestone in 287 innings, leaving behind Tendulkar who accomplished the figure in 350 and Sangakkara in 378 innings.
Earlier, Pakistan’s batting firepower has faltered again as they set a modest target of 242 runs against India with Saud Shakeel only batter to score a half-century.
Opting to bat first, the hosts could accumulate 241 runs before getting bowled out in the final over despite an anchoring half-century by Saud Shakeel.
Pakistan’s new opening pair of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq looked in fine touch as they added 33 runs before Hardik Pandya provided a much-needed breakthrough to India by getting the former caught behind.
Babar scored 23 off 26 deliveries, smashing five boundaries in the process.
Making his return to the national team, Imam could not convert a cautious start into a big knock as he was run out by Axar Patel in the next over, resulting in Pakistan slipping to 47/2 in 9.2 overs.
Following the back-to-back blows, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud partnered to force recovery.
The pair batted sensibly to add an important 104 runs for the third wicket until Rizwan was cleaned up by Axar Patel in the 34th over.
The Pakistan captain mustered 46 runs from 77 balls with the help of three fours.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan (left) and Saud Shakeel build third-wicket partnership of 104 runs. — Facebook/@PakistanCricketBoard
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan (left) and Saud Shakeel build third-wicket partnership of 104 runs. — Facebook/@PakistanCricketBoard
Pakistan’s batting mainstay Saud followed suit just eight deliveries later, walking back after top-scoring with a 76-ball 62, comprised of five fours.
Experienced Ravindra Jadeja then strengthened India’s command by cleaning up Tayyab Tahir (four) and reduced Pakistan to 165/5 in 36.1 overs.
Pakistan vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah then forged a 35-run partnership to take their team’s total to the 200-run mark but Kuldeep Yadav denied them a comeback by striking twice on consecutive deliveries.
Khushdil then took the reins of Pakistan’s batting expedition and scored 38 off 39 deliveries with the help of two sixes.
He was also involved in brief partnerships with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who made 14 and eight respectively.
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking three wickets, followed by Pandya with two, while Harshit Rana, Jadeja and Patel made one scalp apiece.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Pavindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav.
