India versus Pakistan was finally here, amidst a lot of talk about the weather and rain prospects surrounding it. India are the defending champions and will be defending their title they won back in 2013. The match is being played at Edgbaston. Pakistan won the toss and to everyone’s surprise opted to bowl first, considering the placid batting wicket it was. India got off to a sedate start with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. They finally upped the ante and shifted gears after rain stopped play for a brief period. Dhawan finally fell for a well-made 68 off 65 balls and set it up, India was on 136. Rohit then upped the flow of runs when Virat Kohli joined him, but the there was a rain delay again. Rohit was approaching a ton when he was run out on 91, to a call which is debatable. Rohit, one could say was a bit slow in getting the runs, 91 off 119 balls.
Yuvraj Singh came in and capitalised big he scored a belligerent 50 of 29 balls and soon departed. Virat Kohli who looked itchy to get going was not allowed till Wahab Riaz came and gave freebies to the master, who remained not out on 81 off 68 balls. Pandya came in really late but made the most of what he got, he hit a hattrick of sixes, Virat Kohli remained not out on 81 and all the top four of the Indian cricket team got to 50’s.
WATCH the crowd’s reaction the moment @imVkohli reached his fifty! #INDvPAK #CT17 pic.twitter.com/FhqyaNhsLL
— ICC (@ICC) June 4, 2017
The Pakistani fielding was woeful, their main bowlers, Mohammad Aamir, Wahab Riaz wen’t out due to injury, just showed how unfit they are.
vs Pak #CT17 – @imVkohli & @YUVSTRONG12 complete their fifties, #TeamIndia 284-2 after 45.4 overs (48 overs) #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/I3OJhw71J6
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 4, 2017
India are not playing Ravichandran Ashwin but Pandya has just shown what damage can be done if you have wickets and the firepower at the backend. India finally put up 318 in 48 overs setting 320 for Pakistan to get on a not-so-easy pitch to bat on. India still have a job to complete when they come out to bowl and we could see Virat Kohli going for broke with a Test-match like field.
If India win this encounter, which they should, India should cement their chances to make the semis, winning quick would be quick as rain may play spoilsport. Pakistan need 324 in 48 overs.
