SOUMITRA BOSE

Fakhar Zaman’s maiden ODI hundred (114) and his 128-run opening wicket stand with Azhar Ali helped Pakistan pile on a formidable 338 for four wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy final versus India at the Oval on Sunday.

A classy fifty by Azhar Ali (59), Babar Azam’s 46 and Mohammad Hafeez’s cavalier 57 not out off 37 balls beefed up the Pakistan innings that underlined their tremendous desire to win the Champions Trophy for the first time.

Fakhar Zaman stood out with his cavalier knock after enjoying a huge slice of luck when on 3. He had edged an expansive drive to the keeper, but Jasprit Bumrah had bowled a no ball.

That came to hurt India in a game where the margin of error was virtually nil.

That ‘life’ emboldened the 27-year-old left-hander to launch into the Indian attack that was far less impressive with its line and length on an allimportant day. Fakhar Zaman made India pay.

India chose to field after Virat Kohli called correctly. It looked the right decision considering the fact that the pitch was a new one with a tinge of green and India’s quick bowlers – Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar – had delivered in the previous matches against South Africa and Bangladesh.

Pakistan overcame a jittery start and settled down quickly on a deck where the ball came on nicely to the bat.

Fakhar Zaman, playing his fourth ODI, seemed to have come out with a clear message and did not allow the Indian bowlers to settle down.

India conceded 56 runs in the first 10 overs. This was the first time in this ICC Champions Trophy that India’s bowlers gave away so many runs in the first powerplay.

India conceded 91 runs (five fours and four sixes) in the last