India take on Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday. Click here to listen to radio commentary.
Amir, Fakhar lead Pakistan to Champions Trophy triumph
Mohammad Amir removed all of India's top three as Pakistan stunned their arch-rivals with a remarkable 180-run win in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval on Sunday.
Title-holders India, set 339 to win, collapsed to 33 for three and 54 for five against a Pakistan side they had thrashed by 124 runs in their tournament opener at Edgbaston on June 4.
They were eventually dismissed for 158, with 19.3 overs to spare.
Amir finished with three for 16 in six overs and Hasan Ali, who kick-started Pakistan's revival in their group-win over top-ranked South Africa, ended the match when he had Jasprit Bumrah caught by gleeful captain and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Left-arm fast bowler Amir, whose career was almost ended on the other side of London's River Thames by a ban and jail term he received for his part in a spot-fixing scam during a 2010 Test against England at Lord's, finished with three for 16.
He dismissed Rohit Sharma (nought), India captain Virat Kohli (five) and Shikhar Dhawan (21) in a stunning new-ball spell.
Earlier, Pakistan made 338 for four after losing the toss with opener Fakhar Zaman's 114 his maiden one-day international hundred in just his fourth match at this level.
Final wicket!
The final wicket was taken by Hasan, with Bumrah bounced out.
Pakistan beat India by 180 runs to win the ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval, London.
Wicket! India 156-9 (Ashwin c Sarfraz b Hasan 1)
And Hasan has another - Ashwin fishes at a sharp lifter from Hasan and edges through to Sarfraz.
Wicket! India 156-8 (Jadeja c Babar b Junaid 15)
Pakistan are closing in as Jadeja dabbles at the new bowler Junaid and edges to slip, where Babar takes a sharp catch.
Wicket! 152-7 (pandya run out 76)
Pandya is furious! Jadeja pushes the ball into the cover, Pandya sets off from the non-striker's end but Jadeja is unmoved. With both batsmen at the same end, Hafeez threw to Hasan to complete a run-out at the non-strikers end.
Wicket! India 72-6 (Jadhav c Sarfraz b Shadab 9)
Jadhav tries to pull a large leg-break, Sarfraz charges round take the catch.
Wicket! Indian 54-5 (Dhoni c Imad b Hassan 4)
And another one! Hassan banged it in short, Dhoni obliged with the pull, and the fielder snaffled it up.
Wicket! India 54-4 (Yuvraj LBW b Shadab 21)
Shadab strikes in his first over as he successfully convinces Sarfraz to review a 'not out' lbw decision, convinced it's pad first. Replay shows it was hitting halfway up.
Wicket! India 33-3 (Dhawan c Sarfraz b Amir 21)
Amir keeps on coming. Cross seam delivery, bounces, Dhawan tried to flide down to third man but got the edge and skipper did the rest. FOW 33/3
Wicket! India 6-2 (Kohli c Shadab b Amir 3)
Brilliant bowling from Amir, forcing Kohli to play across his body, and the leading edge went flying towards point, where Shadab grabbed the ball! Pakistan go wheeling off in celebration!
Wicket! India 0-1 (Rohit LBW b Amir 0)
Rohit has gone third ball, LBW to a beautiful inswinger.
India set 339 to win Champions Trophy final
Title-holders India were set a target of 339 to win the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan at The Oval on Sunday.
Sent in to bat by India captain Virat Kohli, Pakistan made 338 for four, with Fakhar Zaman's 114 his maiden one-day international hundred.
Pakistan end their innings 338/4 in 50 overs
50th over: Bhuvneshwar bowls his and the innings’ final over. Hafeez smites a slower ball from Kumar back over his head for six. India have the stronger batting on paper, so it’s still anyone’s game.
Wicket! Babar c Yuvraj b Jadhav 46
Kohli goes back to Jadhav and a ploy that looked desperate turns out to be inspired, as Babar lofts him to long-off. Pakistan are 267-4 and India are hanging in there.
Pakistan 247/3 (39.5 ov)
- 39.5 Kumar to Babar Azam, no run
- 39.4 Kumar to Shoaib Malik, out, and he wins over the distance, too! Malik swats an ungainly shot high out towards deep cover for a simple catch
- Shoaib Malik c Jadhav b Kumar 12 (16b 0x4 1x6) SR: 75.00
- 39.3 Kumar to Shoaib Malik, no run, Bhuvi wins the mini-battle, short of a length and quick, rising through to the keeper as Malik swings hard and misses
Fakhar marches on to Champions Trophy hundred
Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman responded to the pressure of opening against arch-rivals India in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval on Sunday with a brilliant maiden one-day international hundred before falling for 114.
Fakhar, might have been out on three when caught behind but Jasprit Bumrah was denied a wicket by a no-ball after replays showed the pace bowler had over-stepped.
Fakhar went on to play a series of fine strokes and completed a 92-ball hundred including two sixes when he swept off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for his 12th four.
He was, however, partly responsible for the run out of Azhar Ali (59) when his failure to respond to his partner's call for a single ended an opening stand of 128.
The 27-year-old left-hander was eventually out when he sliced paceman Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, running back from point, held a well-judged catch.
Pakistan, however, were well-placed to set a challenging total at 200 for two off 33.1 overs after a second-wicket stand of 72 between Fakhar and Babar Azam.
Pakistan 179-1 after 30 overs
- Fakhar Zaman 96 no (91 balls, 11x4, 2x6)
- Babar Azam 8 no (19 balls)
- Azhar Ali run out for 59 after mix-up with Fakhar ends opening stand of 128
- Fakhar 'caught' behind off Jasprit Bumrah no-ball on 3, Pakistan then 8-0 in 4th over
- India captain Virat Kohli wins toss, fields
3.35pm
Fakhar Zaman scores maiden ODI century
Fakhar Zaman scores his maiden ODI 100 off 92 balls. Pakistani opener did it in style sweeping Ashwin for a four. Pakistan score reaches 183 for the loss of one wicket
3.20pm
Pakistan 167 for one
Pakistan 167 for one at the end of 27 overs. The lone batsman to fall was Azhar Ali who was run out when his individual score was 59. His opening partner Fakhar Zaman is now at 89 runs off 85 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes.
3.10pm
Azhar Ali run out at 59; Pakistan 128 for one
Pakistan loses a wicket finally. Azhar Ali was run out at 59. Pakistan score after the end of 23 overs is now 128 for one.
2.50pm
Pakistan cross 100 without loss
Pakistan reach 100 after 18 overs without losing any wicket after openers Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman displayed complete dominance over Indian bowlers. Ali has reached 46 with the help of 5 fours and one six while Zaman was at 41 with equal number of boundaries.
Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali, left, celebrates his half century with teammate Fakhar Zaman during the ICC Champions Trophy final between Pakistan and India at the Oval in London, Sunday
2.35pm
Pakistan 86/0 after 15 overs
Pandya joins the attack, gets hit for seven runs off his first over for his trouble. Pakistan now on 86 after the first 15 overs.
2.27pm
Pakistan 74/0 after 13 overs
No breakthrough yet for Indian bowlers as Pakistan openers extend partnership.
2.15pm
Pakistan reaches 56 in ten overs
Indian bowlers have so far been ineffective in drawing the first blood and the end of the first ten overs Pakistan score has reached 56 for no loss of wicket. Openers Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman are still at the crease and have shown complete control over Indian bowlers. Fakhar 16, Azhar 29.
1.50pm
Overs 4; Pakistan 19 for no loss
At the end of the first four overs, Pakistan openers Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman have managed to collect 19 runs. Fakhar 8, Azhar 7.
1.26pm
No change for India; for Pakistan, fit again Amir comes in
Title-holders India, who thrashed Pakistan by 124 runs in their opening group match, were unchanged from the side that hammered Bangladesh by nine wickets in Thursday's semi-final at Birmingham's Edgbaston.
But Pakistan made one change, with the fit-again Mohammad Amir, who missed Wednesday's impressive eight-wicket semi-final win over previously unbeaten tournament hosts England with a back spasm, returning.
Amir replaced fellow left-arm quick Rumman Raees, who marked his one-day international debut with two wickets against England.
India's lone loss so far in this tournament, featuring the world's top eight ODI nations, was at The Oval when they suffered a surprise seven-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka on June 8.
A Pakistan fan waits for the start of the ICC Champions Trophy final between Pakistan and India at the Oval in London, Sunday
Pakistan, however, have lost all three of their previous matches against India in the knockout stages of International Cricket Council events.
Teams
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wkt), Hardik Pandya, Kedhar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt/wkt), Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
1.15pm
India field against Pakistan in Champions Trophy final
India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to field against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval on Sunday.
Indian fans wait for the start of the ICC Champions Trophy final between Pakistan and India at the Oval in London, Sunday.
A billion braces for India, Pakistan final
By K.R Nayar
London: All roads lead to The Oval ground today as India and Pakistan clash for the ICC Champions Trophy here. The buzz around this historic and somewhat quaint venue is unbelievable. Many fans, unable to wait till the match starts, were already outside the venue wanting to catch a glimpse of players from both teams who came to practice here.
The final is expected to be most watched cricket match, with it likely to break all records for maximum viewership.
An estimated 988 million viewers had watched them clash in the 2011 World Cup semi-final, and this time it is expected to cross the one billion mark. Betting is legal in this country and many are busy putting money on their favourite team. It could also be a bookies’ ‘dream match’ and the International Cricket Council (ICC) is making sure that there is no foul play involved.
Social media, which plays a very big role these days, has whipped up such a frenzy that Indian skipper Virat Kohli was forced to remark: “The biggest thing is to stay off social media. Honestly, it sounds funny, but it’s so important to stay away from those things, and connect only to things that matter, the things that a sportsman needs to take care of. Things like connecting with yourself, taking a bit more time to do stuff that you don’t normally get to do, and stay away from everything else. It’s tough, but you have to make that sort of effort to stay in a good zone and a good mindset.”
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik makes a sand art to wish Indian cricket team and Indian Hockey team 'All the Best' on the eve of Ind- Pak final match in Champions trophy and ahead of Hockey World league at Puri beach in Odisha on Saturday.
Evenly balanced
Statisticians have been burning the midnight oil to capture the landmarks that could be achieved by players and the records that the teams can break. Questions are being asked whether Pakistan can stop India who have won their last five ODI matches against Pakistan, and which includes the emphatic 124-run win in Edgbaston in the group stage of this tournament. Though India has dominated Pakistan in ICC tournaments, in this tournament the record is evenly balanced with two victories apiece.
Pakistan have reached the final of this tournament for the first time and are hoping to make it memorable by winning it. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said: “Our first mantra was to get to London. Well, we got to London and now we want to go one step further. It’s been great to get to a final after where we were at, and all credit goes to the players. They’ve been outstanding, the way they’ve prepared; the way they dragged themselves off the canvas after the beating at Edgbaston has been amazing.
“They’ve been really special in the way that they’ve bought into the concept that we wanted them to buy into and the brand of cricket, and they’ve done exceptionally well at that.”
