Pakistan were bowled out for 241 after winning the toss and opting to bat first in Dubai. This is a must-win match and Pakistan are under par with their first innings total against India. They will have to bowl out of their skins to win this match from here.
The much-awaited India-Pakistan contest started in Dubai on Sunday with a lot of anticipation. Babar Azam (23) and Imam-Ul-Haq (10) added 41 for the first wicket. However, Pakistan lost the openers in back to back overs.
While Babar was dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the ninth over, a Imam lost his wicket while trying to run a cheeky single and was caught short of his ground. Mohammad Rizwan (46 ) and Saud Shakeel (62) then started the repair job for the Men in Green.
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Pakistan Lose The Plot In The Middle Overs
The duo added 104 runs for the third wicket after starting their partnership cautiously. They took their time and did play the platform for a late flourish for the lower-order. The partnership did frustrate the Indian bowlers as well who did not pick up a wicket from overs 11 to 32.
Pakistan then lost the plot in the second half of the innings. The side lost five wickets between 200-250. The innings ran out of gas after Saud Shakeel fell after his fourth fifty and Rizwan lost his wicket trying top be aggressive on 46. Hardik Pandya accounted for Shakeel's wicket while Axar Patel dismissed Rizwan.
Kuldeep Yadav then struck with the quick wickets to leave Pakistan reeling. In between, Ravindra Jadeja picked up the key wicket of Salman Ali Agha who scored crucial runs for Pakistan in the lower-order against New Zealand.
Pakistan lost their final six wickets at regular intervals getting to momentum to their innings. This was also the period of play when Rohit used his spinners tactically. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja shared six wickets between themselves with Hardik Pandya taking a couple as well. Pakistan at the end played 152 dot balls in their innings which might become the deciding factor in the match.
Pakistan were bowled out for 241 with Khushdil Shah being the last wicket to fall on 38 from 39 balls. India now needs 242 to win to make it back to back wins in this Champions Trophy.
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