London (june 18, 2017) Pakistan beat arch rival India by 180 runs for the first time in the final of ICC Champions Trophy at the Oval today and became Champion of Champions.
Chasing the target of 339 India were all out in 31st over.
Fakhar Zaman was declared Man of the Match who remained highest scorer for Pakistan with 114 runs.
Muhammad Amir and Hassan Ali secured three wickets each and restricted India to a minor total.
Pakistan Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has congratulated the nation for historical victory in the final match of ICC Champion Trophy.
Talking at prize distribution ceremony, he said we have played for victory and all bowlers and batsmen have played their due role in the match as per strategy.
Indian Cricket Team Captain Virat Kohli also congratulated Pakistan for winning of ICC Champion Trophy 2017.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have congratulated the national cricket team over this historic victory after a long time.
In their separate messages, they commended the high morale and best play of all players displaying unity and sportsman spirit.
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar ,Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa have also congratulated Pakistan team winning Champions Trophy title.
Congratulations Pakistan! #2017Champions🍾👍🏿🏆
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) June 18, 2017
Pakistan beat India by 180 runs
A pasting. Glorious stuff. 338/4 plays 158/10 (33.3 overs) and Pakistan are the winners of the Champions Trophy 2017. Congratulations to them.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur
“It’s been an up and down ride for us but I’m so proud of the boys. The whole group kept believing, we knew we were better than what we showed in the first game against India.
“That was an aberration. We want to be more consistent as a team. We will work really hard to keep this momentum going.”
OVER30
A couple off Junaid. A heave, an edge, a steepler, and Pakistan think they have it for a second… but the ball lands safely. Kumar lives to fight another day, I guess.
OVER29
Bumrah gamely survives the rest of the over but it’s just delaying what will be one HECK of a celebration.
OVER28
Big boys back at both ends now, as Junaid sorts out the lacklustre Jadeja in a two-run, one-wicket over.
This performance will be remembered long by both Indian and Pakistani fans 🙂 Pakistan ‘ve made this #CT17 truly memorable
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 18, 2017
OVER27
Sarfraz returns to his quicks, it’s Hasan Ali. And it brings about a wicket, although India very much the architects of their own downfall .A complete mix-up, awful for India, and the real worst of it is that the dangerman Pandya is the one who has to go. Both batsmen running to the same end, total #headsgone, and that really surely is the end.
Jadeja struck it into the covers, set off for a couple of paces, didn’t seem to call as far as I could tell. Couple of strides, then he stopped. Jadeja, as the striker, surely the culprit. Anyway. Amatuerish really, and a shame, because Pandya was keeping this alive as a contest. Just. But surely no more. FOW 152/7
OVER26
And now Sarfraz has cause to regret letting it ride on Fakhar Zaman! Pandya has brutalised him for two consecutive sixes. Bang! Bang! The second one especially was a monster. Into the advertising hoardings between the second and third teir. Walloped that.
OVER25
Showing faith in the leggie, Sarfraz asks Shadab to continue. This over goes not for 23, but for just three. Pakistan are getting through these overs.
202 runs required from 25 overs, so that’s a click over eight an over. BUT while this partnership is together -woth 66 at eight an over… well, you never know.
OVER24
But still Sarfraz resists the temptation to return to his fast bowlers. And again, Fakhar Zaman, having a day of days, delivers for the skip.
OVER23
How about a 23-run over? Reckon that’ll help? He’s mashed the leg-spinner for three sixes. Cow corner, long on, and then another slog for six. A fifty for him, the fastest in an ICC final I believe.
OVER22
Sarfraz feels confident enough to indulge Fakhar Zaman/himself with another over from Fakhar Zaman. And hey presto, it goes for just three.
What can India do from here? It feels like a 1,000-1 shot… but these two can bat, no question.
OVER21
Pandya whacks a four off Shadab. He’s not ready to shake hands on this yet.
OVER20
Imad Wasim comes on with his left-armers… and then has to come off after three balls. Oh dear. He’s limping off. Not too sure what happened there, one assumes an aggravation of the leg injury he had in the semi v England. The batting hero Fakhar comes on to finish the over. Some nondescript SLA, a round arm. Just a couple of it.
India still 66 short of follow-on with three wickets in hand. #CT17Final#INDvPAK
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 18, 2017
OVER19
Lofting a languid six down the ground, Pandya becomes the top scorer of the innings. There are nine off the Shadab over.
OVER18
Well, the first thing he can do is stand and have a rest at the non-striker’s end as Pandya takes the fight to Pakistan. Picks up a brace of twos with glides through off, now helps a short one over the cordon for four.
OVER17
It’s only a matter of time now. That wicket, the second for the 18-y-o leggie, comes off the last ball of the over.
WICKET! Jadhav c Sarfraz b Shadab 9
Ripping legbreak, Jadhav goes big… but he’s going home. Heaves across the line, top edge, miles up in the air. Gloveman Sarfraz screams for it and does the necessary. FOW 72/6
OVER16
Quality contest, Hassan digging it in at proper pace. Jadhav rides the storm and then picks a ball to get involved with. Crisp, dismissive pull.
The Indian fans think it is all over, but nobody has told Jadhav.
Indian fans queuing to leave the ground. pic.twitter.com/AQGNsZhqKx
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) June 18, 2017
OVER15
Jadhav cracks Shadab for a four.
OVER14
No greater front-runner in world sport than the Pakistan cricket team, they are absolutely at it and the Boys In Green are playing like supermen right now. Pandya crushes the ball through backward point, and young Shadab produces a world-class bit of fielding to deny him a run.
OVER13
Worth making the point that the ball before, Shadab had given him the googly, and Yuvi had failed to pick it, the ball sliding across his pad.
You little beauty @TheAmirOfficiaI reminded me of my days .
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) June 18, 2017
OVER12
The Hafeez eggsberryment did not work, so here is Hassan Ali. Nice to be able to bring on the best bowler of the tournament second change, right? Dhoni very much taking his time, that’s ten balls now for one run.
OVER11
Sarfraz decides to squeeze another over out of Amir and is rewarded with a maiden, Dhoni taking no liberties as he digs in.
OVER10
If you’re Yuvi, who do you want to face here? The hostile pace of Junaid… or the occasional off-spin of Mo Hafeez. Sarfraz may have got the wrong answer to this question. Yuvi in his element, down the pitch to crunch a four. Uses the feet again to manufacture a full toss, and a four. Feasts on a short ball for a third boundary and that’s a welcome momentum-shifter for India.
OVER9
But Amir keeps on coming. The first two wickets came from length, this one comes when he gets one to climb. The complete bowler. Cross seam delivery, bounces, Dhawan tried to glide it down to third man but he got the edge and skipper did the rest. FOW 33/3
OVER8
Two poor balls from Junaid, perhaps the first two of the innings. Short, wide, slap, four to Dhawan. Short, wide, slap, four to Dhawan.
OVER7
Amir superb again. Quick, dangerous. Accurate. Just a leg-bye off this over. And that rate is starting to climb..
OVER6
Thrilling contest. Yuvi’s touch not in yet, his feet not moving. But he has heart and he has experience. He goes at a hook, top edges it, gets four. Junaid whistles one past him. Wheels.
Image 1: Mickey Arthur after the Kohli drop
Image 2: Mickey Arthur after the Kohli catch https://t.co/dsHUbaRW4U#CT17Finalpic.twitter.com/ttzO15Bn4K— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) June 18, 2017
OVER5
Dhawan flicks off the pad. Yuvi turns down an easy single. Dhawan gives him A Look. But now India begin the long, long fightback. Amir with the short ball, smashed away defiantly by Dhawan. The same batsman now picks the slower ball next delivery, and slots that through the covers.Another four. Now the flashing blade, and a ball flies just over young Shadab at backward point.
OVER4
Junaid doing a super job as the foil. Quick, no nonsense, he has got Yuvi pinned back and there’s nowhere for the veteran to go in this maiden over.
There is a saying “Old is Gold” I feel something special will come from 2 of our legends @msdhoni & @YUVSTRONG12#optimist#CTFinal#indvpak
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) June 18, 2017
OVER3
That is only half the story, though. Third ball of the over, Amir had produced an absolute pearler, it’s edged to Azhar Ali at first slip… and he has put down a sitter, a shocker.
“How important will that be?” is the inevitable response from the commentator.
And then next ball, Virat spanks it to point.
Nasser Hussain: “Not very important at all! That is Pakistan cricket at its best. Down one minute, up the next.”
Wonderful scenes. India are on the ropes, their greatest enemy rampant, their leader fallen. What can this talented Indian team produce from here? Mohammad Amir, back in the side after missing the semi, back in the city of his disgrace, shows his utter class with two superlative overs of left-arm fast-bowling.
OVER2
Brilliant from Amir. And his fellow left-armer Junaid Khan keeps the pressure on with a probing, tight over. If any batsman can claim to have Virat’s number it is Junaid. He has bowled 22 balls to the great man in ODIs and has had his wicket THREE times for just two runs scored.
Told you all Pakistan would Win …. !!!!!!!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 18, 2017
OVER1
Oh he’s got him! Vintage Mo Amir, Vintage left-arm over the wicket, moving viciously back into the right hander. The great Wasim himself could not have improved upon that one. Full, quick, moving late. Rohit considers a review for some time, but eventually the clock runs out. FOW 0/1
Well batted team Pakistan 🇵🇰 half job done by the batters now bowlers has the ball in hands and shud continue what they been doing #CT17
— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) June 18, 2017
Scorecard
| Pakistan innings (50 overs maximum) | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Azhar Ali | run out (Bumrah/†Dhoni) | 59 | 71 | 6 | 1 | 83.09 |
|
Fakhar Zaman | c Jadeja b Pandya | 114 | 106 | 12 | 3 | 107.54 |
|
Babar Azam | c Yuvraj Singh b Jadhav | 46 | 52 | 4 | 0 | 88.46 |
|
Shoaib Malik | c Jadhav b Kumar | 12 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | not out | 57 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 154.05 | |
| Imad Wasim | not out | 25 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 119.04 | |
| Extras | (lb 9, w 13, nb 3) | 25 | |||||
| Total | (4 wickets; 50 overs) | 338 | (6.76 runs per over) | ||||
To batSarfraz Ahmed*†, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | 0s | 4s | 6s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
B Kumar | 10 | 2 | 44 | 1 | 4.40 | 34 | 2 | 2 | (1w) |
| JJ Bumrah | 9 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 7.55 | 22 | 8 | 0 | (3nb, 5w) | |
| R Ashwin | 10 | 0 | 70 | 0 | 7.00 | 25 | 4 | 3 | (4w) | |
|
HH Pandya | 10 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 5.30 | 28 | 5 | 0 | (1w) |
| RA Jadeja | 8 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 8.37 | 16 | 8 | 2 | ||
|
KM Jadhav | 3 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 9.00 | 3 | 0 | 2 | (2w) |
OVER50
Ball one: excellent yorker. Stabbed for one by Imad.
Ball two: full, wide, Hafeez can only play it back to the bowler.
Ball three: Nailed! Hello! Back down the ground for six.
Ball four: Smeared for a single.
Ball five: Imad cannot do anything with a bouncer.
Ball six: Dug in, tennis shot over his head for just one.
All in all, there are nine off the over. Well done, Bhuvi Kumar. Fine, fine bowling today, finishes with 1/44 off his ten with two maidens.
OVER49
24 off the last three overs. There are 12 balls left. Pakistan need a minimum of a run a ball. Fifty stand is up, in a warm order – but not quite the total assault Pakistan would have fancied. Imad Wasim backs away a country mile and Bumrah follows him. Just a leg bye. Bumrah now with a yorker, Hafeez jams the bat down. The ball rolls back and hits the stumps. Like, really hard. The bail leaps in the air and then settles back in the groove. Well I never.
OVER48
Classy death bowling, this, from B Kumar. Working the blockhole for Imad Wasim. After four singles, Wasim attempts a reverse pull against a short ball, and gets just a clang on his head and a leg by for his troubles. That leaves Hafeez on strike, and he can do nothing with the slower ball. A priceless dot. Just five off the over and that is really a first-rate effort from Kumar.
OVER47
Jasprit Bumrha. A trio of singles. Bumrah mixing it well. Now the slower ball – and Imad has smashed it. Pandya only had ten yards to move at straight hit and he was never even close to it. Annoyingly, Imad now tries a rinky-dinky reverse sweep and misses. Never mind about that. Just muller it lad!
Hum Hain Pakistani Hum Jeetain Gay (stuck in my head from the olden days) https://t.co/aZYgjbrH0j
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) June 18, 2017
OVER46
And now BhuKu is getting the treatment! Length ball has gone the full distance. Six. That forms the centrepiece of an 11 run over. Some iffy Pakistan running, again.
OVER45
Grown greedy from that spawny Jadhav wicket, Kohli risks another circuit around the dining room with the sweet trolley – and this time Hafeez gets tucked in to Jadav’s right-arm whatever-it-is. Six down the ground! Wasim also helps himself, getting his front leg out the way, launches it for another maximum.
OVER44
Bumrah. Hafeez wanders languidly across his stumps and whips it for four through the legside. What a talent. A frustrating talent, sure, but what a player he can be.
OVER43
And still Sarfraz keeps himself back. Instead sends in Imad, I guess hoping that Imad can wallop a few.
OVER42
If India win this, B Kumar should be in for man of the match, no matter what the batting does. Six overs two maidens one for 11 so far, the pick of the bowlers by a country mile.
If he can produce four more good overs, Pakistan will not feel they have enough.
BUT Hafeez has nailed him here! Only the second boundary off Kumar, swatted through midwicket. No further heavy metal though in that over, nine off it in total.
OVER41
Warnie: “Pakistan will need to just knock it around for a couple of overs, they cannot go yet.”
Hafeez smashes his first ball for four.
Warnie: “Or just whack it!”
Jadeja on, Hafeez down the track to slam it for four. Now Ravi too straight, Mo laps that for four. Another pre-planned sweep a ball later. A ten-run over.
OVER40
A very useful over for India, to say the least. A run and a wicket.
OVER39
And here is Kedar Jadhav. Extraordinary stuff, military medium bowled with a flat, round arm. Like a baseball submarine pitcher, or as Shane Warne has it, “right arm under”. Couple of wides in there, a few singles. But Shoaib slaps a pie straight to the cover fielder – that should have been out of the park. All in all, seven off the over is far from a disaster.
OVER38
Pandya to complete his spell. Not such a good over, this has put a dent in his figures. Short and wide. Crunched behind point. Short and a bit legside. Four behind square leg. Babar the man both times. A wide, some ones and twos, and that’s a handy 12-run over.
OVER37
Jadeja returns, not too sure why Bumrah only for the one there. A regrettable interlude on Sky Sports 2 while some golf man comes on and tells us about golf. Dear me no. Golf is common, and certainly should not be interrupting cricket.I think it was a production error as he is suddenly, mercifully cut off in mid description of an eagle, or a birdie, or an off-colour joke that someone just said on the 19th hole or whatever it is that they do.
Anyway. Shoaib Malik down the track to wallop Jadeja! Yes Shoaib!.
OVER36
Babar starting to get going, and he needs to, as he clatters the impressive Pandya for four. Nothing wrong with the ball. Your guess is as good as mine as to what constitutes a good score.
OVER35
Jasprit Bumrah comes on, and is soon feeling the icy wrath of Kohli when the skipper gives him a slip, and Bumrah promptly tries a yorker that comes out as a full toss. Babar cashes in. Three singles to go with it.
OVER34
Shoaib Malik comes in, promoted up the card. And this is a key moment in the match. 101 balls left as the veteran Malik comes in. Pakistan need a run off each of them at the bare minimum. Neither Shoaib, nor the becalmed Babar, can get any action going in this over.
WICKET! Fakhar c Jadeja b Pandya 114
Ah, and that is what now! Fakhar slogs, slices, and it is an absolutely exceptional catch from Ravi Jadeja running back at point and catching it as it drops over his shoulder. What a fielder that guy is. Minerals. FOW 200/2
OVER33
Ashwin. So attacking, so relentlessly aggressive in Tests. But he’s not really looking to turn it today – he has hardly used his off-break. Only really trying flight and length to ask questions, not laterally movement. Tosses it up to Fakhar and he pings it for six! Three singles to go with it.
What now for India?
OVER32
Some wild and not especially well controlled swinging in that Pandya over, but *nick Knight voice* you just sense that things might just be going Pakistan’s way. Edges landing safe, etc.
OVER31
Fakhar sweeps Ashwin, down early, had a plan, executed it. And it brings up one of the most exciting, pumped, hundreds you will ever see. Caught off a no ball on 7, ran out his partner, and has also flayed the ball hither and yon with some outrageous, unconventional hitting.
Lofts the ball over cover for two now, and then gets another stroke of luck when he Harrow drives the ball past his stumps. Ooof. Let’s all gather ourselves over drinks.
OVER30
Babar has faced 11 of the last 15 deliveries, and that inequality of opportunity has put the handbrake on the growth rate. Pandya with another tidy over, three runs. 19 balls Babar has used for his eight runs so far. Not a problem if he now kicks on, but…
OVER29
Lucky for Ashwin, he gets to bowl four balls at the new man Babar. Just one run off the over.
OVER28
Kohli needs to stem the flow here. He managed to get six overs out of Kedar Jadhav for just 22 runs against Bangladesh but he dare not risk his part-timer/sixth bowler against Fakhar. Instead, he turns back to Pandya. Short ball. Fakhar is a compulsive, although not accomplished, hooker and he has gloved it over the keeper for four. Pandya beats Babar outside off. Eight off the over, comparative calm.
Chuk k rakho…. you r the greatest …you r the champions inshallah
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) June 18, 2017
OVER27
And now R Ashwin feels the wrath of Fakhar. Down the pitch and plays an outrageous slash back over the bowler, not one you’ll find in the coaching manual but by god he got his eye on it. Six! Now he carves the ball through third man for four and that’s 33 runs off the last 12 balls. Woof.
OVER26
Fakhar Zaman has come back at India though with a magnificent assault. Down the track to Jadeja – this chap uses his feet very well against the spinners – and he larups him for six. Next ball, Jadeja hustles the ball quicker and shorter, and Zaman sees that coming too, clumps it behind point. Four. Later in the over, he again plays the big shot, not fully timed, but no man out at cover so it is just a matter of clearing the infield. He does, that’s four, that’s 16 off the over, and that’s 150 up. He owes his side a few after having run out his opening partner, but Fakhar is doing everything he can to pay off that debt.
OVER25
Ashwin suddenly looking more threatening. India at it with their fielding. Pakistan are in danger here.
OVER24
Just one run off the over. India sense a chance to turn the screw. Jadeja so quick through this one run over.
OVER23
AZHAR ALI RUN OUT 59
I hate to say it, but it’s a classic self-inflicted wound. Awful. So stupid.
Azhar turns the ball through midwicket and there’s an easy one there. Azhar sets off, but Fakhar is ball-watching at the non-striker’s end. He just stands there as the man at midwicket, Bumrah, gathers, slowly and clumsily, but he has time to throw to Dhoni who does the rest. Fakhar doesn’t do the decent thing, and Azhar is the man who has to go. Shot in foot. FOW 128/1
OVER22
This pair are starting to look commanding, they rotate the strike well here off Pandya. A very long way to go, but there is cause for optimism for the Boys In Green.
OVER20
Fakhar has played two very clever, very neat shots in that over. Backs away to give himself room for a cut four. And now he pings another cut, read the length very well. Yuvraj makes a horlicks of the fielding at backward point. That gives him a well-earned fifty. And his partner has also passed that landmark in this over.
OVER19
Pandya bowling well. Snakes it past the outside edge of Fakhar’s bat. Short wide one, Fakhar leaves it, expecting a wide call. None comes. Just three off the over.
OVER18
Fakhar not afraid to use those feet, down the track to smear the ball for four through cow. That’s the ton up! Sir Jadeja the bowler, and this is now Pakistan’s best opening stand v India in an ICC tournament.
OVER17
Azhar Ali down the track, gamboling like a spring lamb, gambling on the big shot over the top. Gets it off the splice, or at least the sticker, and it thuds safely just 25 yards from the bat with fielders converging. Bowler AndyaPandya laughs mirthlessly at the batsman’s fortune.
And that takes us to drinks, a hugely entertaining fixture so far, with adrenaline playing every much as big a role as skill. Some big shots, some stupid running, a ‘wicket’ off a no ball.
OVER16
And Sir Jadeja is a nice man to be able to call upon for Virat. So much talent throughout this team. A more, conventional, you might say over as this pair work him calmly for singles, the fielding is good, the bowling tidy.
OVER15
A change of bowling, Pandya into the attack, and it very nearly pays off right away. Decent pill shaping back in, no inside edge, and that’s a really tight (and, IMHO, good) decision from the umpire to give that not out. All hail Richard Kettleborough.
OVER14
Four runs off the Ashwin over. He has dispensed with the slip, who was a waste of space because RavAsh wasn’t making any effort to turn it, or bowl that line.
OVER13
Pakistan continue to tickle the feet of the God of Run Outs. This time, it’s Azhar knocking the ball towards Yuvraj and setting off. Powderpuff throw from Yuvi is well wide. Next delivery, Fakhar gives HH Pandya a chance to have a go, but AndyaPandya is not troubling the scorers either. Oh, Pakistan. Never change.
OVER12
Pakistan flirting with an idiotic runout here. There’s one out to the man in the deep, but then the openers set off, hesitate, yes, no, wait. They get back on this occasion but I have to say, it feels like calamity is waiting in the wings. But this is more like it! Fakhar down the pitch and he absolutely butchers this through midwicket. Shot!
OVER11
Bumrah returns. Kohli cannot risk a part-timer here, Pakistan could really get away. Talking of risk, this is a suicidal run from Azhar. Hits it straight to Rohit Sharma at midwicket and he has all the time you could ask for to set himself and throw at the bowler’s end stumps. Misses. India have had a couple of run out chances.
Fakhar celebrates the team’s reprieve with a drive down the ground for four.
OVER10
Azhar nails a sweep, Ashwin not yet at his brilliant best. In Ponting’s words, “both teams will be fairly happy so far” and I can see what he means. Good lines have kept Fakhar quiet, no room to free his hands. Kumar parsimonious. On the other hand, Ashwin not quite at his best, and ten overs without loss for 56 represents a perfectly acceptable start having been put in.
OVER9
B Kumar is bowling some classy, classy stuff. Fakhar hasnae got a scooby-do about that bouncer. The pay-off delivery, the full one on off-stump, draws a murmur of appreciation from commentator RT Ponting. This is a classy maiden. Kumar five overs two maiden no wicket for ten. Can’t say fairer than that.
OVER8
R Ashwin on. Good move I think. Signs of nerves from the batters, and the dangerous off-spinner could well rattle them into a blunder. But this is not a good over from the boy Ashwin. Two wides in it. And now Azhar slots him over long off for a thumping six!
OVER7
Azhar again with that baseball shot, but this back at the bowler. And Kumar does his own fielding a couple of deliveries later when Fakhar Zaman crunches a straight drive to him. Just a couple off the over.
OVER6
Both sides struggling with the pressure? Bumrah too wide, and Azhar slashes it away through third man. Now a dreadful heave-and-a-miss. Lucky to survive. A wide. A legside ball, sent on its way to fine leg for four. This is frantic, exciting, error-filled stuff so far.
OVER5
Both sides struggling with the pressure? Bumrah too wide, and Azhar slashes it away through third man. Now a dreadful heave-and-a-miss. Lucky to survive. A wide. A legside ball, sent on its way to fine leg for four. This is frantic, exciting, low quality cricket so far.
OVER 4
Awful shot from Fakhar Zaman, slashing giddily, and he’s easily caught. But they check the front foot, and that is a no ball.
Lady in the crowd enjoyed it greatly.
OVER 3
Suggestions of jitters in this Pakistan opening pair. Azhar Ali edges wide of the second slip, didn’t play that especially well. Now Fakhar drops and goes! This is a mad run! Would have been curtains with a direct hit from Jadhav. Another tight, but this time legit, single. Nerves are jangling.
OVER 2
Jasprit Burmrah takes the other new ball, his distinctive ramrod straight arm, at a very low angle. Unique. Gets good seam position and some swing. Hits Fakhar on the pads with an inswinging full toss first ball but makes a fool of himself with an LBW appeal – it would have missed leg stump by ten inches. Wide next ball down leg. Gradually gets the radar going. Couple of singles.
OVER 1
Azhar to face. Kumar is pitching it up, looking for swing. Azhar gets an inside edge into his pads second ball. Unable to line up the bowler. Manages to connect with a couple but picks out men in the cover. It’s a maiden to start with!
