In a gripping showdown at the T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s bowling prowess held India captive, restricting them to a mere 119 runs, a historic low against their archrivals in T20 Internationals. The green-clad warriors etched their name in the annals of cricket history by dismissing the entire Indian lineup, a first in this format of the game.
India, in previous encounters, had stumbled, losing 9 wickets twice against Pakistan. However, this time, their batsmen found themselves ensnared by the relentless Pakistani bowlers, failing to surpass their previous lowest score of 133 runs for 9 wickets in 2012.
With a target of 120 runs set by India, Pakistan’s bowlers, fueled by anticipation, dominated the crease, offering little respite to their Indian counterparts.
The match began with a bang for Pakistan as Naseem Shah swiftly ousted Virat Kohli in the opening over, allowing no room for the Indian skipper to settle. The onslaught continued as Shaheen Afridi claimed the wicket of Rohit Sharma in the following over.
India attempted to steady their ship with Axar Patel stepping in at number four, but Naseem’s precision in the eighth over dismantled their hopes further.
Despite a brief partnership between Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav, the latter’s dismissal by Haris Rauf marked the beginning of India’s downfall.
Subsequently, wickets tumbled rapidly, with Amir dispatching Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in quick succession in the 15th over. Rauf sealed India’s fate, ensuring their demise at a paltry 119 runs in 19 overs.
Naseem and Haris emerged as the stars of Pakistan’s bowling onslaught, claiming three wickets each, while Amir and Shaheen Afridi contributed with two and one wicket respectively.
The playing XIs showcased the formidable lineups of both teams, with Pakistan led by Mohammad Rizwan and India by Rohit Sharma, featuring stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in a clash that will be remembered for Pakistan’s historic bowling feat.
