Leading News Service: No one expected Pakistan to perform well against India in the Twenty20 World Cup after suffering a humiliating defeat against the US. But, their bowlers gave everyone an unexpected shock. He justified Babar Azam's decision to bowl by winning the toss. All except Rishabh Pant from India threw their canoes. The toss was delayed due to rain. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl. But even then it rained. Indian batting was going to be tested due to rainy weather and Pakistan's fast batting in front. Rohit Sharma had raised the expectations of the Indian fans by hitting a six in the first over.
After the completion of the first over, it started raining and all the players had to go back to the dugout. The rain stopped at 9.15. The game started after rain, but Virat Kohli's run of failure continued for the second consecutive match and Virat (4) was the first in the history of the Twenty20 World Cup to go back to single runs in two consecutive matches. After that, Shaheen Afridi set a trap and caught Rohit on the same ball. Rohit scored 13 runs. Both India's openers returned for 19 runs in 2.4 overs.
Akshar Patel (20), who was promoted to number four, showed his strength and added 39 runs with Rishabh. Naseem dismissed him. It was Rishabh's day and he missed 3 catches. Taking advantage of it, he crushed the Pakistani bowlers.
Rishabh hit Harris Rauf for three consecutive fours in the 10th over to take the team to 81 for 3. It became difficult for Pakistan to contain Rishabh as he played his cross-cut shots with ease and rained runs. But, Suryakumar Yadav (7) was caught off the bowling of Rauf. Shivam Dube (3) got a chance to bat, but was cut and bowled by Naseem Shah on a slower delivery. Mohammad Amir shook the Indians in the 15th over. Rishabh pulls an aggressive shot off Amir's bowling, but this time he is caught. Rishabh returned to 42 runs off 31 balls with the help of 6 fours. On the very next ball, Ravindra Jadeja returned to give an easy catch to Imad Wasim at short mid-off.
India was 97 for 7. Arshdeep stopped Aamir's hat-trick. Naseem Shah bowled an amazing spell of 4-0-21-3. Expectations were high from Hardik Pandya (7) in the final over, but Iftikhar Ahmed took a brilliant catch. Harris Rauf sent Jasprit Bumrah back on the stumps for the second ball in a row. Arshdeep (9) finally runs out. India were all out for 119 runs in 19 overs. Rauf took 3 wickets for 21 runs.
