Dubai, Oct 24 (FN Agency) Riding on Mohammad Rizwan’s 79 and Babar Azam’s 68, Pakistan finally broke the jinx of beating India in the ICC World Cup. The Green Caps beat Men in Blue by 10 wickets in the T20 World Cup’s Super 12 encounter here on Sunday. Pakistan first bowled well and then batted magnificently to chase down 152 runs target set by India, after the Virat Kohli-led side were restricted to 151 for 7. This was Pakistan’s first win in any ICC World Cup against their neighbour. Previously, they were trounced by India in five consecutive matches in T20 World Cup before they pulled off the sixth in Dubai. India have defeated Pakistan in all the seven matches played between the neighbours in ODI World Cup.
India had defeated Pakistan in 2016, 2014, 2012 and twice in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Pakistan openers hogged the limelight by their imperious batting display, taking the Indian bowlers out of the park by taking calculated risks. Mohammad Rizwan scored an unbeaten 79 off 55 balls with six boundaries and three sixes, while skipper Babar Azam made an unconquered 68 off 52 balls, a knock that was decorated with six boundaries and two sixes. Both the openers led a strong reply in the 152-run chase. They smacked crisp boundaries and big ones to lay the platform for the final swot. However, Azam and Rizwan played pretty sensibly and did not take risks against spinner Varun Chakravarthy and left-arm bowler Ravindra Jadeja early on.
Earlier, Kohli scored a brilliant half-century to push India to 151 for 7. Kohli whacked 57 off 49 balls, a knock which was studded with five boundaries and a six. The Indian captain steadied the ship for India after the initial burst from the Pakistan pacers. He held the fort for the team and gave India a final flourish in the company of Jadeja. Sent into bat, India got off to a disastrous start. Rohit Sharma was plumb in front off Shaheen Afridi for zero in the first over. In his next over, Afridi sent back KL Rahul (3) by disturbing his timber. Suryakuamr Yadav walked in at No.4 and played some extravagant shots and got the scorecard ticking, but in the sixth over, Hasan Ali dismissed him. Soon India were tottering at 36 for three after the Powerplay. Rishabh Pant was greeted with a loud appeal for caught behind off Mohammad Hafeez as Pakistan reviewed in vain.
After early jitters, Kohli and Pant (39 off 30) put on a crucial 53 runs partnership for the fourth wicket, and just when India started to recover, Pakistani leggie Shadab Khan put the brakes on them. He sent back Pant after he played a good innings after Shadab looped a slower one, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman looked to sweep and was caught and bowled by Shadab. India at that stage were 87 for 4 after 13 overs. Hardik Pandya (11) failed to get going in the death overs but India managed to surpass the psychological 150-run mark. Afridi bagged three wickets, while Ali picked two, besides Khan and Haris Rauf scalped one each .