In a decisive match at the ICC T20 World Cup held in Colombo on February 15, India recorded a commanding 61-run victory against Pakistan. The highlight of the match was a remarkable half-century from Ishan Kishan, who scored 77 runs, contributing significantly to India’s total of 175/7. India’s bowlers were equally impressive, with Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah each taking two wickets to restrict Pakistan to just 114 runs in 18 overs.

India Maintains Top Position in Group A

With this win, India solidifies its lead in Group A, remaining unbeaten with three victories out of three matches. In contrast, Pakistan’s loss places them third in the group standings, managing two wins against one loss, while the USA is positioned second with two wins and two losses.

Pakistan’s Struggles During the Chase

Pakistan’s innings began disastrously. Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed without scoring, falling to Hardik Pandya on the first ball he faced, followed by Rinku Singh, who also made a duck. The situation worsened when Jasprit Bumrah trapped Saim Ayub leg before wicket for only six runs, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position at 13 for three within just two overs.

Key Moments in Pakistan’s Batting

Babar Azam struggled at the crease, while Usman Khan attempted to stabilize the innings with two boundaries off Axar Patel. However, Azam was dismissed for just five runs, resulting in Pakistan being reduced to 34/4. Despite some resistance, including Usman’s aggressive batting, Pakistan was unable to recover from early setbacks. By the 10-over mark, they reached 71/4, with Usman and Shadab Khan at the crease.

India’s Bowlers Dominate the Middle Overs

The partnership between Usman and Shadab was eventually broken by a brilliant stumping by Ishan Kishan, dismissing Usman for a well-made 44. Following this, Mohammad Nawaz was caught for four runs, and Shadab Khan soon followed suit, falling for 14. Pakistan faced further difficulties as they slid to 78/7, showcasing the effectiveness of India’s bowling lineup.

Final Phases of Pakistan’s Innings

Rinku Singh’s catch provided Varun Chakravarthy with his first wicket, sending Faheem Ashraf back for only ten runs. In a swift collapse, Abrar Ahmed was trapped leg before wicket, leaving Pakistan on the brink of defeat at 97/8. While they managed to surpass the 100-run mark, the end was nigh. Hardik Pandya finished the match by bowling Usman, resulting in Pakistan’s total being a mere 114 runs.

India’s Innings Highlights

Earlier in the day, after being asked to bat, India faced a challenging start as Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck on the final delivery of the first over. Despite this, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma set about reversing their fortunes, with Kishan’s explosive batting contributing significantly to India’s score. Kishan’s 77 included ten fours and three sixes, marking the third-highest individual score in India-Pakistan T20 encounters.

Pakistan’s Bowling Efforts

Saim Ayub stood out amongst Pakistan’s bowlers, claiming three wickets for 25 runs. Other notable performances came from Usman Tariq, Shaheen Afridi, and captain Salman Agha, each taking a wicket. India concluded their innings with a score of 175/7 after 20 overs, setting a formidable target.

Match Summary

Final scores were India at 175/7, thanks to Ishan Kishan’s innings, while Pakistan was bowled out for 114. The match highlighted India’s dominance in their ongoing campaign in the tournament.

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