In a highly anticipated encounter at the grandeur of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India secured a resounding victory over arch-rivals Pakistan by chasing down a target of 192 with seven wickets to spare. The Pakistan innings concluded at 191 in the 43rd over, as their batting lineup faltered against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.
The situation in the match remained tense even after the dismissals of key players, such as Shubman Gill, the powerhouse Virat Kohli, and the indomitable Rohit Sharma. However, the Indian chase exhibited unwavering intent and confidence, combined with skillful prowess, attributes notably absent from Pakistan’s batting effort. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul led the charge, ultimately securing India’s victory with seven wickets in hand.
Indian Innings Overview
In a comprehensive display of dominance, the Indian team successfully chased down the 192-run target in the 31st over. Iyer reached his half-century with a well-timed boundary, sealing the victory for India by seven wickets in style.
The 30th over witnessed a sublime straight drive by KL Rahul, resulting in his second boundary of the match. India needed just six more runs to clinch victory, and their determination was evident as they accrued four runs from Hasan Ali’s sixth over.
The 29th over saw Rahul asserting his authority by dispatching Nawaz straight down the ground for a boundary. An error in fielding by Iftikhar added to Pakistan’s woes, bringing India closer to their target with just 10 runs required. The Indian chase was clearly on track.
By the 28th over, the Indian batters were efficiently guiding their team to victory, accumulating six runs in the 27th over. With 16 runs needed from 22 overs and seven wickets in hand, the finish line was within reach for India.
In the 27th over, two more runs were added, lowering the required run rate to less than one run per over. The Indian chase stood at 170 for the loss of three wickets after 27 overs.
Iyer and Rahul steadily gathered runs, securing three in the 25th over. As Nawaz completed his sixth over, India required 27 runs from the remaining 150 deliveries.
In the 24th over, Shaheen Afridi took the wicket of Rohit Sharma after an inside edge on a slower delivery lifted the ball to Iftikhar within the circle. Rohit’s commendable innings contributed 86 runs from 63 deliveries. The 22nd over concluded with three singles, positioning India’s chase at 157, with a loss of three wickets.
21st over
Iyer aggressively targeted Nawaz, launching the first delivery for a six straight over the bowler’s head. Subsequently, the Indian skipper dispatched Nawaz through the covers, propelling the Indian chase past the 150-run milestone. A productive over yielded 12 runs, reducing the required run rate to under 1.5 runs per over.
20th over
In the 20th over, Sharma unleashed his attacking prowess, launching Shadab for a colossal six towards midwicket. Coupled with a boundary from the preceding delivery and an additional three runs, the over concluded Shadab’s fourth, propelling India to 142 with two wickets down in their chase.
Pakistan’s Innings Review
In the 43rd over, Pakistan’s innings concluded at 191 after a successful review by Ravindra Jadeja resulted in the dismissal of Haris. This left India with a very attainable target of 192.
Key Moments in the Pakistan Innings
In the 9th over, Haris Rauf was introduced into the attack, and Pakistan’s partnership crossed the 50-run mark. Rohit Sharma, displaying sheer dominance, dispatched Rauf for two soaring sixes, accumulating a total of 14 runs from the over.
In the 6th over, Hasan Ali delivered a tight over, aiming to build pressure on the Indian batters. With five dot balls and a single, the over concluded, leaving India’s chase at 39 for the loss of one wicket.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam approached the much-anticipated match with a focus on the present, not dwelling on past records. Pakistan has yet to defeat India in a World Cup match, but Babar expressed his determination to change that narrative, stating, “All records are meant to be broken, and we’ll try to break this record.”
As the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams battled it out in this thrilling encounter, the atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium was electric. Fans from both nations had eagerly awaited this match, making it a true spectacle for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Pakistan’s innings began steadily, with opener Abdullah Shafique displaying composure and watchfulness against the fiery pace of Jasprit Bumrah. However, Shafique found his rhythm and flicked Bumrah for a boundary on the final delivery of the first over.
In the 4th over, Abdullah Shafique showcased his potential by expertly dispatching Mohammed Siraj for a boundary through the covers. The openers appeared to be settling in well, with the pitch proving to be batsman-friendly.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah applied pressure on the Pakistani openers, delivering five dot balls before Shafique flicked the last ball for a boundary. However, there appeared to be limited early swing available for the bowlers.
Line-ups
Pakistan captain Babar Azam revealed that he would have chosen to bowl first had he won the toss. Pakistan’s lineup remained unchanged for this high-stakes clash.
India made one change to their lineup, with Shubman Gill replacing Ishan Kishan.
Key Statistics
India maintained their perfect record against Pakistan in ODI World Cup encounters, extending their unbeaten streak to 7-0.
Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, looked to break the jinx against India, focusing on the future and disregarding past records.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad witnessed an electric atmosphere as fans from both nations passionately supported their teams.
In this much-anticipated World Cup clash, India displayed exceptional skill, determination, and confidence to secure a convincing victory over their arch-rivals, Pakistan.
