INDIA UNPUTDOWNABLE
A clinical performance by Team India sealed a 124-run victory (D/L Method) crushing arch rivals Pakistan here at Edgbaston on Sunday in a rain drenched match. Vetran Yuvraj Singh who gave the final thurst to the Indian innings was adjudged Man of the Match.
India scored 319/3 in 48 overs, after they were put into bat. This target was revised to 324 of 48 overs for Pakistan. But rain again started during Pakistan innings after just 4.5 overs. This break further revised the target to 289 in 41 overs for Pakistan. Barring opener Azhar Ali (50) others could not get starts or convert the starts they got. Though Indian fielding was not up to the mark, the bowlers continued to put the in-experianced Pakistani batsmen under pressure. In the test of nerves, Pakistan were counting on experienced Shoaib Malik. But the brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja as a fielder simply was too much for Malik. Jadeja picked up a ball which was travelling, turned and hit the stumps in a flash to caught Malik short of ground. From there on India tightned the screws and ensured they won the game in style.
Earlier, Brilliant batting display by the top-order helped India post a challenging 319/3 in a Group B match. Top-order batsmen Rohit Sharma (91 runs in 119 balls), skipper Virat Kohli (81 not out), Shikhar Dhawan (68 runs in 65 balls) and Yuvraj Singh (53 runs in 32 balls) were the major contributors to India's cause.
In an innings affected by rain, consequently shortened to 48 overs against the normal 50, India were superior throughout. The defending champions forged the crucial partnerships, played the ball to its merit and post-rain, when it was more difficult to bat with the same concentration, the batsman applied themselves to the English conditions and displayed temperament. Apart from the top order, all-rounder Hardik Pandya's (20 runs in six balls) cameo at the end also allowed India post a challenging total.
World No.8 Pakistan, on the other hand, were seen struggling throughout the innings. Their fielders dropped several catches and their bowlers bowled poor length which resulted in their now having to chase a huge total.
With India put in to bat, Rohit and Shikhar started on a cautious note as Pakistani pacers were right on the coin in the first hour. And just when both the batsmen seemed to be settling in the middle, rain played the spoilsport.
After almost a 40-minute holdup, with the scoreboard reading 46 runs in 9.5 overs, India regrouped their strategy and started counter-attacking. Rohit and Dhawan displayed some brilliant shots in order to boost the run rate. In the process, Rohit, who was struggling initially, got to his half-century in the 19th over with a pull-shot that went for a six at the mid-wicket. Soon, in the very next over, Dhawan also brought up his 50 with a fine shot at backward point.
After scoring 110 runs in 20 overs, both batsmen wanted to exploit the batting conditions and some poor fielding from the Pakistani players. But while doing so, Dhawan was caught at deep mid-wicket by Azhar Ali off Shadab Khan in the 25th over. While trying to go over the top, the Delhi batsman stepped down the crease but failed to make full contact which resulted in a simple catch and hence the 136-run partnership was broken.