India take on Pakistan in the most highly-anticipated group match of the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York.
Pakistan were left reeling after a shock super-over defeat to the United States in Dallas on Thursday and will have to bounce back in one of the fiercest rivalries in sport.
Only two teams will qualify from Group A and India started their campaign with a dominant victory over Ireland, as they went into the tournament among the favourites, despite not having won a major international event since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
However, there have been serious questions raised about the playing surface on the pop-up stadium in Nassau County, with the ICC admitting the pitch is not up to standard and would be subject to ‘remedies’ before the flagship game.
Follow all the live action in the blog below.
WICKET! Babar Azam c Yadav b Bumrah 13 (Pakistan 26-1, 4.4 overs – TARGET: 120)
Lovely shot by Babar as he picks up the length early and lofts Bumrah over the leg-side field for FOUR runs.
But then the breakthrough WICKET the very next ball! Bumrah gets Babar fishing outside the off stump, he edges it to first slip where Yadav dives forward and takes a belter of a catch! Review confirms he got his fingers under the ball and Pakistan’s talisman is gone for 13 off 10.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 19:18
DROP! Pakistan 21-0 (4 overs) – Rizwan 9; Babar 9 – Pakistan need 99 runs off 96 balls
Oooof – ANOTHER DROP by India. It’s Siraj off his own bowling as Babar thumps the ball back at him. He gets his hands up above his head, the ball hits them but bursts through. Tougher than the Dube drop but perhaps still should have been caught.
Only two runs from the over but India would love to break this opening partnership.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 19:13
DROP! Pakistan 19-0 (3 overs) – Rizwan 8; Babar 9 – Pakistan need 101 runs off 102 balls
Jasprit Bumrah, who maybe should have bowled the opening over, comes on to bowl the third. Probably the best bowler in the world across all three formats – can he provide some magic?
Rizwan slices him for two runs but Bumrah peppers the crease with length balls. And Shivam Dube DROPS a sitter of a catch! Rizwan flicks off his legs, it goes straight to Dube at fine leg but he somehow shells it. India simply cannot afford to be putting down chances like that if they’re going to defend 120.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 19:08
Pakistan 15-0 (2 overs) – Rizwan 5; Babar 8 – Pakistan need 105 runs off 108 balls
Mohammed Siraj into the attack and Babar Azam greets him with a punch straight down the ground for FOUR! Classy from the Pakistan captain, who has more than 2,000 runs in this format.
After a single, Siraj responds with a beauty that flies past the outside of Rizwan’s edge. Ooohs from the India fans in the crowd.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 19:03
Pakistan 9-0 (1 over) – Rizwan 4; Babar 3 – Pakistan need 111 runs off 114 balls
Nice stroke by Rizwan through the off-side for three runs off the opening ball and Babar follows him off the next delivery, with the same result.
Then Rizwan gets away with one as he chops the ball past his own stumps for one! That was agonisingly close to hitting. Arshdeep throws in a wide before tightening up.
Ten runs off the first over though – that sort of strike-rate will be more than enough for Pakistan and it came without any big hits.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 18:59
India v Pakistan – Pakistan require 120 to win
Here we go. Both teams back out – can knock these off at just a run a ball or will India’s bowlers step up?
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam opening for Pakistan, with Arshdeep Singh to bowl.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 18:54
Mohammad Amir reflects on India total
Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir has had his say on the India total of 119
“I think we did well as a bowling unit, but this is a decent total on this track. We need to bat well and sensibly. It’s a bit tricky. We need to start well and finish well.”
Luke Baker9 June 2024 18:51
WATCH: Pakistan restrict India to 119 all out
A couple of highlights from that India innings
Luke Baker9 June 2024 18:49
India 119 all out – Pakistan require 120 to win
It’s not easy scoring on this pitch, so 120 is competitive-ish from India, although they would have loved 20 or 30 more runs. Pakistan will need to bat well but this is very gettable. And they may need to chase ti down to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 18:46
WICKET AND ALL OUT! Arshdeep Singh run out (Babar Azam/†Mohammad Rizwan) 9 (India 119 all out, 19 overs)
And that’s that. Final ball of the 19th over. The ball bounces just short of Babar Azam at mid-on but he fires it into the wicketkeeper and Mohammad Rizwan whips off the bails to run out Arshdeep Singh.
A few silly extra runs conceded at the end but Pakistan should be delighted with that.
India all out for 119 and Pakistan will need 120 to win!
Luke Baker9 June 2024 18:42
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