Kolkata: Pakistan bowlers were forced to bow before the batting skills of Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh as India raced to a six-wicket win. After Pakistan had posted a challenging 118 for 5 in a rain-curtailed 18-over match at Eden Gardens, Mohammad Sami gave Pakistan hope of a victory after taking two quick wickets.
India, from a dangerous 23 for 3 in 4.4 overs, were pulled out of trouble by Kohli and Yuvraj through an invaluable 61-run partnership in 44 balls to win the match in 15.5 overs.
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Kohli showed why he is regarded as the finest attacking batsman in the game through a sparkling unbeaten 55 runs off 37 balls with seven boundaries and a six.
Yuvraj showed glimpses of his 2011 World Cup form through a timely 24 runs off 23 balls. After Yuvraj’s departure India needed 35 from 36 balls. Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Kohli in full flow who reached his half century in 34 balls with six fours and one six.
The scene after India’s victory over their arch rival were spectacular. Fans waved the Indian flag and danced in joy as Dhoni and Kohli tore through the Pakistan attack scoring an unbeaten 35 runs in 3.5 overs.
Earlier, Shoaib Malek and Umar Akmal helped Pakistan to a decent total. Malek (26) and Akmal (22) put on an invaluable 41 runs in four overs against India’s tight bowling. India wanting to pick early wickets after electing to field bowled tightly. Pacer Ashish Nehra bowled his first spell giving away just ten runs from two over. India’s off spinner bowled a brilliant second over, giving the openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmad Shehzad some anxious moments.
Sharjeel hit the first boundary of the match off Nehra in the third over, flicking in the air towards square leg boundary. Shehzad too picked his first boundary hitting Ashwin to mid-on. When Sharjeel picked another boundary off Jasprit Bumrah’s last ball of his first over through the covers, Pakistan were 24 for no loss in the first five overs.
Ravindra Jadeja bowled a good first over of the match only giving away a single boundary to Shehzad. In the eighth over, India got their first wicket when Raina made Sharjeel on 17 mistime a pull and Hardik Pandya dived and took a somersault catch.
Skipper Shahid Afridi and Shehzad could add only eight more runs before Shehzad on 25 top edged Bumrah to give Jadeja who moved in from point to take an easy catch. In the first ten overs, Pakistan were 51 for 2 needing some big hits from Afridi and Umar Akmal who joined him.
Afridi, on eight, did go for a big hit off Pandya but could not clear Virat Kohli at long on. Shoaib Malek joined Akmal. Nehra who was introduced for a second spell bowled a brilliant third over giving away just two runs.
Shoaib Malek hit the first six of the match by lifting Pandya over the mid-wicket. The last ball of the same over, Pandya was also hit by Umar Akmal for another six over long on. The pair took 15 invaluable runs off this over. Malek scored two consecutive boundaries off Bumrah in the 15th over. The pair thus took 13 runs off that over and from two overs, Pakistan managed 28 runs
Dhoni immediately brought back left-arm spinner Jadeja but Malek hit slog swept him for a boundary to help Pakistan go past the 100 run mark in 15.3 overs. Jadeja removed Akmal by forcking him to edge to wicketkeeper Dhoni. The pair had put on 41 runs in four overs.
Malek too quickly followed skying an easy catch to Ashwin off Nehra for 26 while top edging a pull. Bumrah bowled a superb last over giving away just seven runs.
India needed a good start. Rohit Sharma began confidently too by hitting Mohammad Irfan for two boundaries in the second over but fell to the first ball of the third over from Mohammad Amir. He lofted the ball high to Malek in the covers to take a well-judged catch. Mohammad Irfan bowled a brilliant fourth over giving away two runs. Mohammad Sami with the third ball of fifth over of the innings, forced Dhawan to play on to his wicket and with the very next ball clean also made Suresh Raina play on to his leg stump.
Yuvraj Singh joined Virat Kohli. Through a beautifully timed shot through the point for a boundary off Sami, Kohli cheered up the crowd. Yuvrah too cracked a lovely shot through the covers for a boundary.
Pakistan introduced Malek in the ninth over and India’s 50 runs came in 8.3 overs. Wanting to bowl full pace, Wahab Riaz too was introduced wanting to bowl full out but did not disturb this pair. In the 11th over, Kohli slog-swept Malek for a six and also cracked him through the mid-wicket for a boundary.
When Yuvraj too hit Riaz for a six, the crowd began to celebrate. This pair’s 50 runs partnership too came in 37 balls. Yuvraj going for another big hit landed up being caught by Sami for 24. Dhoni completed the formality through an unbeaten 13 runs hitting a six to equal the score and win the match next ball through a single.
