In order to lead India to a nail-biting victory over Pakistan with two balls remaining, Hardik Pandya broke the game up with both bat and ball. He used the short ball expertly on a pitch with high bounce to bowl with pace and venom, returning figures of 4-0-25-3, and limiting Pakistan to 147. Till Hardik blasted three boundaries in the 19th over on a sluggish pitch, India had not really separated themselves from Pakistan. Mohammad Nawaz even brought it to six needed off three in the twentieth. However, Hardik sealed it with a flat six over long-on to finish with 33 off 17.
This tiresome game was played in stifling heat and humidity. Both teams had trouble keeping pace as a result, and they both received penalties for slow over-rate. While Hardik's wickets in the middle overs ensured that Pakistan couldn't really take advantage of the fact that there were only four fielders in the deep instead of the usual five, he was also there to capitalise with the bat.
The cramping of two of Pakistan's crucial death bowlers, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, made matters worse. Nawaz ended up bowling the final over because India promoted Ravindra Jadeja after the two spinners had India in a chokehold in the middle overs by both spinning the ball away from right-handed hitters. Nawaz was immediately smashed for a six and a four by Jadeja, forcing them to postpone his final over. The fact that India knew they still had that over meant the asking rate never reached them. As it turned out, the ball was bowled with an extra fielder in the circle.
Dig the ball hard on pitch, if it doesn't swing.
The toss was crucial for India to win since there was grass on the field and because of Dubai's history. No swing materialised despite their expectations. Bhuvneshwar Kumar unexpectedly bounced Babar Azam's delivery while there was still seam movement available. Although third and fine leg were both inside the circle, it was a courageous change-up, and Babar had to collect it because of the line's width. He only succeeded in catching a top edge that was short and fine.
Avesh Khan recovered from a six and a four with another short ball that took the top edge from a Fakhar Zaman cut, just as Pakistan tried to maximise the last powerplay over. Pakistan had already fallen behind the game when they were 43 for 2.
Mohammad Rizwan was trailing by a run for every ball because he simply couldn't adapt to the field. He had trouble timing any of his big-hit attempts. Even though it was not his strong suit to bat against spinners, Iftikhar Ahmed still managed to score 28 runs off of 22 in a 45-run partnership.
Pakistan needed to move quickly with eight overs left in the innings. At this point, Hardik returned and began to bowl with enormous speed and bounce. Iftikhar took a top edge on the hook with the first ball because it was simply too high and fast for him. Rizwan and Khushdil Shah were both eliminated by Hardik with a short ball in the 15th over, bringing the score to 103 for 5.
Dahani, Rauf score some crucial runs at backend of the game.
Bhuvneshwar's pinpoint knuckle balls then reduced Pakistan to 128 for 9, but Shahnawaz Dahani and Rauf still managed to score 29 runs off 13 balls combined. Dahani hit a hook to a slower bouncer and two beautiful sixes, one over long-on and the other over midwicket.
Impressive display of bowling from inexperienced Pakistani fast bowlers.
India's innings went off to a chaotic start. With the second ball of his T20I career, Naseem had KL Rahul chopped on to the wickets. At second slip, Virat Kohli was then dropped for a duck. Edges crossed over the wicket. Rohit Sharma had the slowest powerplay of a T20I match as he kept getting outmuscled on the outside edge. While the ball continued to bounce around, Kohli produced a beautiful front-foot draw over wide mid-on and a back-foot punch in between. When the powerplay finished at 38 for 1, Pakistan were right in the game.
Spinners keep Pakistan in the game.
Playing D Karthik ahead of Rishabh Pant, the lone left-handed batsman in the top seven, was a risky move by India. Particularly when Rohit and Kohli were batting together against spin, it becomes challenging for India. They didn't mess around, which is some solace. They went for it, but Nawaz was skilled enough on this surface to catch them on the boundary with the final ball of the eighth over and the first ball of the tenth.
India improvised and placed Jadeja at No. 4 between those two wickets. There are two goals behind that action. They learn how effective Jadeja can be when given greater responsibility in the batting order, and they also pressure Pakistan to adjust. Of course, all of this would matter unless Jadeja could improve upon his dismal record against spin, which he did by using his feet to hit those boundaries against Nawaz and force Pakistan to keep his final over.
Both sides were equally in the game.
Jadeja has since ceased taking chances. Suryakumar Yadav made an attempt, but Nasem's seam movement flattened his off stump. Then, Hardik and Jadeja chose safe runs to see how long Pakistan could postpone Nawaz's arrival. Particularly Hardik was competent enough to build up at a respectable rate. The bowlers started to have cramps. India practised the art of patience. 32 off of three overs seemed easier than it should have because even Pakistan was found to be three overs short.
H Pandya overpowered Naseem's heroics.
It was evident that Pakistan was going to try their best bets first when Naseem started the 18th. But Naseem's cramps got so bad they were incapacitating. Despite hardly being able to charge in, he only allowed five runs off the first four balls. He was almost successful in getting Jadeja out LBW, but he successfully takes a review. When Jadeja timed him over long-on for a six, it was the decisive blow.
Then, rather than muscling them, Hardik employed the extra fielder to set his boundaries. India needed just seven runs to win in Nawaz's over after three fours in the 19th over. Jadeja was bowled while attempting to play the slog-sweep in the final twist, which reduced the number of runs needed to six off the final three. Karthik has an average record against spin, so Pakistan had a chance if they could keep Hardik off the strike. To win the match for India, Hardik calmly struck a flat six over wide long-on.
Match Summary:
India 148 for 5 (Kohli 35, Jadeja 35, Hardik 33*, Nawaz 3-33, Naseem 2-27) beat Pakistan 147 all out (Rizwan 43, Iftikhar 28, Dahani 16*, Bhuvneshwar 4-26, Hardik 3-25) by five wickets
Scorecard:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1327270.html
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