Rain forces cancellation of high-stakes encounter, granting Pakistan a spot in the next stage.
The group stage match between cricket arch-rivals India and Pakistan was brought to a premature end due to persistent rain. The rain interruption led to both teams sharing a point each, ultimately resulting in Pakistan securing a berth in the Super Four stage. The clash of titans was poised to be a spectacle, but Mother Nature had other plans.
With this outcome, Pakistan has solidified its position in the tournament, amassing a total of three points from two matches. Their previous victory against Nepal had already earned them two points, making their qualification for the Super Four stage a reality. On the other hand, India now finds itself with just a solitary point and must triumph over Nepal in their upcoming match on September 4th to secure their passage to the next round.
India Batting Figures
Pakistan Bowling Figures
The rain played the role of an unexpected game-changer, preventing the players from showcasing their skills on the field. After setting a target of 266/10 in 48.5 overs, India’s bowlers, including the return of the formidable pacer Jasprit Bumrah, were left without the opportunity to test their mettle against Pakistan’s batting lineup. The inclement weather dashed hopes of a thrilling contest that fans had eagerly anticipated.
Notably, India’s innings were buoyed by Ishan Kishan’s explosive knock of 82 and Hardik Pandya’s aggressive batting display, which contributed to the team’s total of 266. The partnership between Kishan and Pandya, accumulating 138 runs off 140 balls, served as the foundation for India’s score. Pakistan’s potent pacer attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, dealt decisive blows to India’s top order, taking crucial wickets including those of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah also made significant contributions, each securing three-wicket hauls.
The rain-induced delays hampered the momentum of the match, with multiple stoppages disrupting the flow of play. The contest began with Pakistan captain Babar Azam entrusting the new ball to Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose almost instant impact nearly resulted in a breakthrough. However, a dropped catch allowed Indian captain Rohit Sharma to escape early trouble.
As play resumed after the initial rain delay, India’s batting order struggled to withstand the relentless assault from Shaheen Shah Afridi’s in-swinging deliveries. The dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early on rattled India’s top-order, leaving them at 30-2 after 7 overs. Shreyas Iyer attempted to stabilize the innings, but eventually fell victim to Haris Rauf’s precision.
Despite the setbacks, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya mounted a spirited counterattack, steering India’s innings past the 100-run mark. Their partnership was characterized by aggressive strokeplay and smart strike rotation. Kishan’s fearless approach bore fruit as he notched up a half-century, while Pandya joined the scoring spree with a well-earned fifty of his own.
The partnership of Pandya and Kishan, which exceeded 100 runs, showcased India’s resilience against Pakistan’s formidable pace attack. However, Pakistan’s bowlers managed to break the partnership when Rauf dismissed Kishan for a valiant 82. Subsequent wickets fell at crucial junctures, with Afridi and Naseem Shah continuing their impactful spells to peg back the Indian batting order.
As the match approached its conclusion, Jasprit Bumrah displayed a spirited counterattack against Pakistan’s pace bowlers, but the relentless efforts of Naseem Shah led to India being bowled out for 266 in 48.5 overs.