India registered a comprehensive win over Pakistan in a much-awaited clash between the neighbors in Dubai International Stadium. Nothing has gone Pakistan’s way after winning the toss and elected to bat first. Indian bowlers in the first half of the match and batsmen in the second were all over Pakistan team to ensure India a comfortable win by eight wickets. Batting first Pakistan was all out for 162 in 43.1 overs, thanks to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bumrah’s excellent initial spell. Indian batsmen did the rest and chased down the target in just 29 overs and eight wickets in hand.
It was a perfect start by Kumar and Bumrah as they restricted the Pakistan openers without giving any width to score. Pakistan could score only three runs in four overs of which Bumrah bowled two maidens already. Kumar had both the openers back in pavilion within four overs putting Pakistan under immense pressure. Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam repair work came to an end with a peach of a delivery from Kuldeep Yadav. Captain Sarfaraz followed him soon in Kedar Jadhav’s over. Malik got run out at the non-strikers end in the 27th over leaving Pakistan in more trouble. Babar top scored with 47 runs and Malik scored 43. None of the other batsmen contributed much to the total as Pakistan’s inning wrapped up for a below-par total. Kumar and Jadhav picked up three wickets each well supported by Bumrah with two wickets.
Indian batsmen took over the game in the second half as Captain Rohit Sharma and Dhawan opening partnership added more than half of the target the in just 13 overs. Rohit was in excellent touch as he hit two consecutive sixes in Usman Khan’s over and another one in Hasan Ali’s over. He fell soon after his half-century bowled by Shadab Khan. Dhawan caught by Babar in Faheem’s over for a well played 46 runs. Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik remained not out each scoring 31 runs. India chased down the target comfortably in just 29 overs.
An anti-climax for a game which had huge expectations as always. Pakistan has only themselves to blame for the poor performance which doesn’t take away anything from India for their superior performance in the game. Bhuvaneswar Kumar – Player of the match returned to the top of his performance with a brilliant spell after his not so impressive outing against Hong Kong. The two teams will meet again in Super Four fixture on 23rd September. Hope we will have an exciting game, unlike this one.
