In a highly anticipated clash, Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a commanding performance to bowl out India for a mere 119 runs in 19 overs. Opting to bowl first, Pakistan’s bowlers, led by the exceptional Naseem Shah, never allowed India to settle, taking wickets at regular intervals and maintaining relentless pressure throughout the innings.
Early Blows and Constant Pressure
From the onset, Pakistan’s bowlers were on top of their game. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah set the tone with early breakthroughs, dismantling India’s top order within the first three overs.
- Virat Kohli: Kohli was the first to fall, scoring only 4 runs before being caught by Usman Khan off a superb delivery from Naseem Shah. This early wicket left India reeling at 12 for 1.
- Rohit Sharma: The Indian skipper managed 13 runs off 12 balls, but his stay was cut short by Shaheen Afridi, who had him caught by Haris Rauf. India was further pushed back to 19 for 2.
Middle-Order Struggles
With the top order back in the pavilion, the middle order faced an uphill task. Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel tried to rebuild but found it difficult against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack.
- Rishabh Pant: Pant played a few aggressive shots, scoring 42 runs off 31 balls, including three sixes, but his attempt to up the ante led to his dismissal by Mohammad Amir, caught by Babar Azam.
- Axar Patel: Patel contributed 20 runs off 18 balls before Naseem Shah bowled him, leaving India struggling at 58 for 3.
Lower Order Collapse
The lower order offered little resistance as Pakistan’s bowlers wrapped up the innings swiftly.
- Shivam Dube: Dube’s attempt to stabilize the innings was short-lived as he was caught and bowled by Naseem Shah for 3 runs. This wicket marked Naseem’s third of the match.
- Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja: Both fell cheaply, with Pandya scoring 7 runs before being caught by Iftikhar Ahmed off Haris Rauf and Jadeja being dismissed for a duck by Amir.
- Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah: Arshdeep tried to add a few runs at the end, scoring 9 before being run out, while Bumrah was caught by Imad Wasim off Haris Rauf for 0.
Pakistan’s Bowling Highlights
- Naseem Shah: The star of the day, Naseem bowled a brilliant spell, taking 3 wickets for just 21 runs in his 4 overs. His ability to extract bounce and movement troubled the Indian batsmen throughout.
- Shaheen Afridi: Afridi provided crucial breakthroughs, finishing with figures of 4-0-29-1.
- Mohammad Amir: Amir’s experience shone through as he took 2 wickets for 20 runs in his 4 overs.
- Haris Rauf: Rauf’s late burst helped clean up the tail, claiming 3 wickets for 21 runs in his 3 overs.
Summary
Pakistan’s bowlers executed their plans to perfection, using a combination of pace, accuracy, and strategic field placements to dismantle India’s batting lineup. Each bowler contributed significantly, ensuring that India could not build any substantial partnerships. The collective effort saw India bowled out for just 119 runs in 19 overs.
As the teams head into the second innings, Pakistan will be confident of chasing down the target with their strong batting lineup. India, on the other hand, will need an extraordinary performance from their bowlers to make a match out of this low total.
Conclusion
Naseem Shah’s brilliant bowling spell, supported by Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, and Haris Rauf, has put Pakistan in a commanding position. The disciplined and aggressive approach from Pakistan’s bowlers has set the stage for what could be a comprehensive victory. Cricket fans are now eagerly awaiting Pakistan’s response with the bat, hoping for an equally thrilling performance.