sport-vn.com

IN PICS: India's top-order shines in win over Pakistan

Sport360 staff 23:00 04/06/2017

India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 124 runs (via D/L/S method) in their ICC Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Sunday.

After being put into bat, Rohit Sharma (91 from 119 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (68 from 65 balls) set a brilliant platform for India as they put on a 136-run partnership for the opening wicket. Rohit was unfortunate to miss out on a century as he was run-out in the nineties.

Virat Kohli (81* from 68 balls) wasn’t timing the ball very well during the initial part of his innings but came into his own by the end. But it was Yuvraj Singh who gave the Indian innings the impetus it needed.

The left-handed batsman scored 53 from just 32 deliveries in a knock which included eight fours and one six. Kohli and him added 93 runs in just 58 balls for the third wicket.

Kohli managed some big hits at the end of the innings and with Hardik Pandya (20* from 6 balls) hitting three successive sixes in the final over, India managed to get to 319-3 in 48 overs.

In a match that saw multiple delays due to rain, Pakistan were set a revised target of 289 in 41 overs. The openers Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad built a 47-run partnership for the first wicket, but after Shehzad was dismissed for 12 (from 22 deliveries), Pakistan were never really in the game as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Azhar Ali made a fighting 50 from 65 deliveries, but it was far from enough as Pakistan were bowled out for just 164 (with Wahab Riaz not coming out to bat due to injury).

Umesh Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking three wickets and conceding 30 runs in 7.4 overs. He was well supported by Ravindra Jadeja and Pandya, who picked up two wickets each.

BRIEF SCORES

India 319-3, 48 overs [Rohit 91, Kohli 81*, Shadab 1-52] beat Pakistan 164 all out, 33.4 overs (Target – 289 in 41 overs) [Ali 50, Hafeez 33, Umesh 3-30] by 124 runs (D/L/S method).

Player of the Match – Yuvraj Singh.

Recommended