India vs Pakistan

It was a must win game for the Indians. And what better than playing this crucial game against arch rivals, Pakistan! Pakistan won the toss and Mohammad Hafeez elected to bat first. After a disastrous first over, India got a breakthrough in the second one,credit to Irfan Pathan. Imran Nazir was dismissed. He was replaced by Boom Boom Afridi. It was essential that India dismissed him. The Pakistanis had overcome the early wicket quite easily. However, they received a huge blow when Lakshmipathy Balaji dismissed Afridi. Nasir Jamshed came in at the crease. Things didn't move for Pakistan. Few overs later, Jamshed was caught behind off a ball by Yuvraj Singh. Kamaran Akmal came in. He too was dismissed in a similar fashion off a ball by Yuvraj. Shoaib Malik came in. Malik tried to gather some momentum. However, he lost his partner Hafeez off a ball by Virat Kohli. Pakistan were down half the side within 10 overs. Umar Akmal came in.  Things were not getting better for Pakistan as the run rate wasn't accelerating. Finally, Virat Kohli was targeted in his second over. Finally, Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Shoaib Malik, who looked to threaten the bowling. Yasir Arafat replaced him. Akmal was dismissed soon by Ashwin. In came Umar Gul. A brilliant piece of fielding by Yuvraj in the next over brought about the run out of Arafat. Saeed Ajmal came in. They were dismissed in quick succession off balls by Balaji. Pakistanis put up a meagre total of 128. Only brilliant bowling could save them against the experienced Indian batting. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag opened for India. The drama began when Gambhir was dismissed in the 1st over by Raza Hasan. Virat Kohli came in. The two of them wasted no time in propelling India's innings. After some lusty blows and drop catches, Pakistan dismissed Sehwag. Afridi was the bowler. Yuvraj Singh came in. The two of them hit the ball perfectly and Kohli made 78 off 61 balls. The cut off for India to overtake Pakistan on NRR basis was to achieve the target within 16.4 overs. They just missed it by a ball or 2. Yet, India won convincingly against their arch rivals. No surprises, Kohli was awarded MoM. Group 2 is still alive and even now, any team can make it!









 










Afridi



Lakshmipathy Balaji dismisses Afridi













Gambhir dismissed by Hasan

Six! MoM Virat Kohli