Welcome to live coverage of the T20 World Cup Super 12 match between India and Pakistan at the MCG.
Pakistan was in all sorts from the start. But after an impressive comeback, they are now on top after dismissing India’s top two, leaving Virat Kohli to try and steer them home.
But as long as Kohli is in the middle, there is hope for India.
The star batsman has started to find his groove and find a batting partner with him in Hardik Pandya.
In a match full of twists and turns, the match lives up to the billing with Pakistan taking 9-159 to set their Asian rivals a huge chase in front of a packed MCG.
India lost KL Rahul (4) and captain Rohit Sharma (4) inside the first four overs in the chase, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf quick.
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The in-form Suryakumar Yadav was next out, trailing for 15 before Kohli finished off Axar Patel for two in what was a terrible mix-up, leaving India 4-31.
Both men departed before Kohli sent Patel back. The all-rounder almost got home after Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan fired the ball, but the third umpire deemed that the ball cleared the bails at the same time, or before, the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
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Sharma won the toss and sent Pakistan into bat, India struck early and struck a double blow by taking the crucial wickets of Azam and Rizwan.
Shan Masood (52 not out) and Ahmed (51) put on 76 for the third wicket before Mohammed Shami received the ball and caught the right-hander in front.
The wicket led to a mini-collapse, with India taking 3-7 as all-rounder Hardik Pandya took three quick wickets to see Pakistan slump to 5-98.
It could have been worse as Ravi Ashwin managed to catch Masood at fine leg.
Spinner Ashwin, who is often in a controversial situation, claimed a catch in the field but replays showed the ball hitting the ground after Shan held on.
Later in the 15th over, Masood had a bit more fortune when he skied a ball in front of Ashwin, but it hit the spider and fell safely.
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Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed hits a six against India at the MCG. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
After winning the toss and dispatching Pakistan, star batsman Rizwan was hit on the thumb early by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and required medical attention.
The moment set the tone for India’s early attack, with their relentless quicks on one wicket doing a lot.
Singh backed it up by catching star batsman Azam first ball of the second over, with the Pakistan captain forced to hunt for a golden duck to leave them 1-1.
Pakistan should have been 2-1 but Virat Kohli failed to hit the stumps from yards out after Masood hit and ran to mid-on in an attempt to get off the mark.
Rizwan’s (4) 12-ball horror show ended when the right-hander was caught at fine leg as he failed to get past a short ball from Singh. His dismissal left Pakistan 2-15 after four overs.
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Arshdeep Singh appeals for the wicket of Babar Azam at the MCG on October 23, 2022 in Melbourne. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Pakistan managed to stay in the contest and eventually the runs started to flow.
The key came in the 12th over as Ahmed, having listened to batting coach Hayden during the cup break, pointedly told the Pakistani duo to pick their bowler and attackman. And they did mount an attack, as Ahmed smashed Patel for 21, hitting three big sixes off the left-arm spinner.
Some late batting from Shaheen Shah Afridi (16 off 8) and Haris Rauf (6 off 4) saw Pakistan post a competitive total.
Singh was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-32, while Kumar (1-22) and Shami (1-25) were also excellent up front with the new ball. Pandya’s medium pace was also effective, taking 3-30 through the middle overs.
Spinners Ashwin (0-23) and Patel (0-21) combined for just four overs.
When the two nations met last year, Pakistan stunned India in the most dramatic fashion as Rizwan (79 not out) and Azam (68 off 52) led their nation to a massive victory of 10 points after chasing 7-151 after just 17.5 overs. .
The win, however, was set up by Afridi, who took 3-31 and dismissed India’s top two off his opening seven balls before removing Kohli.
Pakistan reached the semi-finals before brilliance from Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis saw them eliminated by Australia, while India failed to reach the knockout stage.
Both nations are considered strong contenders to lift the World Cup while India enter the tournament as Ricky Ponting’s pick to reach the final.
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Ponting named Suryakumar Yadav as his breakout star for the World Cup, with the experienced batsman now a mainstay in India’s short-form side.
India lead Pakistan 12-1 in the World Cup and India great Sunil Gavaskar believes it is because his nation can “absorb the pressure much better”.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
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