The openers Babar Azam and Rizwan Khan unbeatable partnership propelled Pakistan to thrash India by 10 wickets.
The pair has scored a stunning 152 first wicket partnership to chase down India’s total. Muhammad Rizwan scored 79 where as Babar scored 68.
Perhaps for the first time in their six T20 WC encounters, Pakistan surely seemed to have had complete control over India.
A sizzling opening spell from Shaheen Afridi – the man of the match, ripped apart India’s premier openers in a flash. Rohit had no clue against that searing yorker, nor did KL stand a chance against the fiery inswing. The mantle once again fell on Kohli and under soaring pressure, he withstood the opposition once again. The slow fifty wouldn’t have helped India’s case for a big finish but it has ended up with a total that could just about make this a stiff chase. Can India dislodge the in-form Babar and Rizwan early to put the pressure back on Pakistan.
Kohli paired with aggressive Risabh Pant for 53-run stand as India recovered well after the powerplay. Pant dominated briefly, hitting two sixes off Hasan but leg-spinner Shadab Khan sent him packing as he tried to accelerate. He fall for well-made 30-ball 39.
Pakistan kept Kohli quiet and things were under control after Pant’s dismissal. Ravindra Jadeja only managed to score run-a-ball 13 while Kohli reached fifty. He was dismissed in the 19th over by Shaheen for 57. He hit five fours and a six in 49-ball innings.
India pushed past the scored to150 after some floppy piece of fielding in the last two overs by Pakistan. Shaheen bagged figures of 3 for 31 while Hasan conceded 44 for his two wickets. Haris Rauf impressed in the last overs, finishing with figures of 1/25.
In return, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and Babar batted flawlessly from the start. The duo dominated the opposition with brilliant stroke-play and steered the run-chase without any trouble.
Babar reached to his fifty with a six off Varun Chakravarthy while Rizwan pulled Jasprit Bumrah for a four to reach the half-century. The total was chased down in the 18th over, bowled by Mohammad Shami.
Rizwan was the fierce one among the two, batting at a strike rate of 143.63 for his 55-ball 79. He strokes six fours and three sixes while Babar hit six fours and two maximums for his 68.
Virat Kohli’s India came into the contest with an unbeaten 5-0 record in the tournament and left the pitch in despair.
Men in Green will now take on New Zealand on October 26 at the Sharjah International Stadium.
Earlier Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said, “records are meant to be broken” and the fans had echoed their captain’s sentiments and Azam proved it on the pitch.
