Pakistan's innings in the ICC Champions Trophy match against India has progressed rather slowly. Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first.
Babar Azam (23) opened the batting with Imam-Ul-Haq (10) as with no Fakhar Zaman in the lineup and in the squad for Pakistan anymore. The openers added 41 for the first wicket.
Hardik Pandya dismissed Babar Azam in the ninth over. Axar Patel then ran out Imam in the 10th over of the Pakistan innings. Since then, Mohammed Rizwan and Saud Shakeel have batted with caution against India.
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Rizwan, Shakeel Take Pakistan's Innings Forward
They ensured that Pakistan did not lose any wickets since the 10th over with the innings now approaching the final 15 overs. The scoring rate has been slow so far with both batters not being able to rotate the strike as often as possible.
The batters have faced over 100 balls together in this partnership and it is inching closer to 100 for the third wicket. The runs have taken some time in coming but Pakistan have ensured that they do not lose any wickets further.
Heading into the final phase of their innings, Pakistan would want that either one of these batters play till the end. Rizwan would want to be the man in the end.
Pakistan still have batters like Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha to follow. If they have a good platform laid, both batters can play some big shots and help the side score at least between 250-300.
The Indian bowlers, after the initial breakthroughs, have not been able to make any further inroads into the Pakistan innings. Skipper Rohit Sharma has used as many as six bowlers with Hardik Pandya being the only one to manufacture a wicket. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel since then have been able to preserve their wickets to lay the platform for a final flourish in the last 10 overs.
Southpaw Saud Shakeel has managed to get past his 50 after a steady start to his innings. Rizwan too on his part after a slow start is closing in on his 50 as well trying their best to play a good platform for the final part of their innings.
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