After losing the toss Pakistan bat first and set a total of 160 on the board for the Indian cricket team, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya held their nerves firm to steer India to a thrilling victory by four wickets in a nerve-wracking clash against arch-rivals Pakistan of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, here on Sunday.
India had a horrible start to their run chase as the side lost four wickets for a mere 31 runs in the seventh over.
Also Read : Pakistan Cricket Team Captain Babar Azam dropped to 3rd Position in ICC T20 Ranking
Following the slump, India’s veteran batter Kohli and all-rounder Pandya stitched an astounding 113-run partnership for the fifth wicket and anchored the run chase.
Kohli was the primary aggressor in that 78-ball partnership and brought up his half-century in the 18th Over.
He then took on Pakistan’s one of best death-over bowlers Haris Rauf for 15 runs in the 19th Over to push Pakistan on the back foot.
Mohammad Nawaz’s final over got off to a dramatic start as he removed the set batter, Pandya, on the first delivery. He scored 40 off 37 balls, laced with a boundary and two sixes.
The dramatic final over entered a tense stage as a waist-line no ball from Nawaz on the third delivery was powered by Kohli out of the ground and India then needed six off three. After bowling a wide on the free hit, Nawaz castled Kohli but the Indian batters stole three runs from the deflection.
Left-arm spinner Nawaz then deceived India’s Dinesh Karthik on the second-last delivery and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan ran him out.
The nail-biter came to the final delivery with India needing just one run and Ashwin held his nerves calm to work the ball over the in-ring fielder and sealed the victory for India.
Kohli top-scored for India and remained unbeaten with his masterclass knock of 82 off just 53 with the help of six boundaries and four sixes.
For Pakistan, Nawaz and Haris picked up two wickets each, while Naseem Shah struck out a batter.
Remember that the Pakistani team going to play its second match against Zimbabwe on 27th October 2022.
