Pakistan opened their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign in a disappointing manner as they suffered a heartbreaking four-wicket defeat at the hands of India at MCG on Sunday (October 23).
Invited to bat first, Pakistan posted 159/8 in their allotted 20 overs on the back of Shan Masood’s 52 not out off 42 balls and Iftikhar Ahmed’s 34-ball 51.
Hardik Pandya (3-30) and Arshdeep Singh (3-32) were pick of the bowlers for India, picking three wickets each. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-22) and Mohammad Shami (1-25) also bowled economically and returned with one scalp each.
In reply, the Men in Blue overhauled the target on the last delivery as the match went to the wire. At one stage, India were tottering at 31/4 but Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya produced a 113-run partnership for the fifth wicket to keep the hopes alive.
In the last over, India needed 16 off left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz. While Hardik (40 off 37 balls) lost his wicket on the first delivery, Kohli didn’t lose his composure and smashed Nawaz for a six and then ran three to put his team on the brink of victory.
On the fifth ball, Dinesh Karthik got out stumped but then Nawaz ended up bowling wide which tied the game while R Ashwin hit the last delivery for a four to seal the deal for India.
In the end, Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls (6 fours and 4 sixes). While his knock broke the heart of many Pakistan, Kohli was lauded for his match-winning prowess by the Pakistan cricket fraternity on Twitter.
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