India hold Pakistan in another tight finish
Mohammad Hafeez’s blistering 55 from 26 balls was not enough to see Pakistan through. -Photo by AP
Yuvraj Singh’s dominant innings capped a fitting reply by India in the second T20 to sink Pakistan and level the two-match series 1-1.
It started after Pakistan won the toss and invited India in. Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane looked more assured and took plenty in the opening overs. Gambhir (21), Rahane (28) and Virat Kohli (27) all laid the foundation for the fireworks that were to follow. The Pakistani bowlers were guilty of not adapting to the conditions and were employing similar lengths to those at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, in the first T20. The fizz on offer in the first game was missing from the Sardar Patel strip and needless to say, the batsmen got it in the middle most of the time.
And Yuvraj Singh made full use of it. He not only blunted an off-colour Shahid Afridi but also took apart Pakistan’s main man, Saeed Ajmal. He finally departed on 72 from 36 balls, his 97-run partnership with captain MS Dhoni propelling India to 192/2 in their 20 overs.
Umar Gul picked up four wickets but leaked 37 from his quota. Mohammad Irfan, without a doubt, was the pick with 4-20-0. Sohail Tanvir went for plenty and the idea behind his selection ahead of Junaid Khan seems a little baffling. Mohammad Hafeez’s decision to bowl only one over was as surprising and why he is unwilling to bring himself on, after taking the reins of the T20 squad, is anyone’s guess.
Pakistan’s captain made up for it when he came out to bat, though, but needed some cool-headed support from his partners as he kicked on at breakneck speed. His 55 from 26, the second fastest fifty for Pakistan in T20s, coupled with his effort in the first match, ought to put a cork into all the ‘experts’ who were all to0 willing to discredit his usefulness as a batsman in the shortest form. Nasir Jamshed (41), Ahmed Shehzad (31) and Umar Akmal (24) all played valuable hands but got out to ordinary shots.
Should the in-form and now confident Shoaib Malik have gone in ahead of Umar Akmal at number 3? It was a tactical move that could have been employed but Hafeez in the post-match conference said the team wanted Umar to get the maximum number of balls. Afridi hit a four and a six, in what seemed like his first shots to the boundary in quite a while, but perished to a full-toss that maybe five years ago would have landed in the lap of a local fan.
It was another tug-of-war and Ashoke Dinda’s final couple of overs were perhaps the deciding factor. With Pakistan requiring 47 from 24, he returned second-spell figures of 2-12-3 and ensured India got over the line with some comfort in the end.
The teams, after what seemed like an exhausting two encounters will now head to Chennai to play the first ODI on December 30.
With result so close it is difficult to classify either match as a win. Both teams are equally good or bad. True, the Indians have home advantage, but let us not overstate it.
Imagine what a combined South Asian team will be like!!! Why not? I believe there is a North America ice hockey team with players from both Canada and the US to battle with Europe’s best.
yuvi rocks…..
Sir, after all it is a game of cricket being played between two very competent teams. The euphoria shown by the Pakistan media and the fans after Pakistan’s win at Bangalore was unnecessary and rather premature. That surely put the Pakistan players under tremendous pressure. Let the players play the game as the conditions demand. After all, no one team can always win or lose. We can all wait to write the final comments until last game has been played. In the meantime, let us enjoy the performance of players, irrespective of Indian or Pakistan player.
BNA
It’s really hard to win against the most unpredictable team Pakistan,although we played in home conditions…
The best going forward strategy for India is to use flat tracks where Pakistan’s bowling can be negated, and India’s batting could explode!
Pakistan finally seem to have found a good captain in Hafeez..he looks very self-assured and almost won the match for Pakistan
India has very strong batting line. They had troubles with spinners on a fast pitch of Bangalore. it was occasional and not usual for their side.We cannot take their batting lightly. Only one bowler, Umer gull succeeded taking all four wickets at expensive rate for T-20. Pakistan must prepare well to encounter India’s strong batting machines.
On a Batting Freinddly pitch with Average Indian bowling in Dew…CONFIRMED THE uselessness OF aFRIDIDI AND aKMAL BROTHERS……….Pakistan would have won if there was RAZZAK instead of these three….WAKE UP SELECTORS and Politicans and select the players on Merit and not on PARCHEES.
Afridi needs to go the AKmals can stay as they have a decent batting average…..afridi has a pathetic average ….razzaq plays t20 matches for international teams and must be included
Well done Pakistan!!! Hafeez bhai is in great form. Those shots were simply magnificent!! Unfortunately, the Akmal brothers are a total disaster…. Not sure why they are playing? Can we not find a keeper in Pakistan? Why did umar not take that single? He was on red bull but unfortunately it takes class and patience to deliver. Overall, good effort!! Good job India!! The cricket fanatics are very happy.. Thanks for playing!!!!!
it was good to see that Pakistan to giving it on a platter …. but I think with dew factor going against the bowling side even Bangladesh side would chased it……. in my opinion bowling, Akmal bridari and Khan Lala let us down badly….. let us see what happens in ODI but surely Indians will have an upper hand ……
>……Pakistan not giving it on a platter …..
Pakistan had a chance till the last over. Both teams played extremely well. Both teams deserved an applause especially yuvi and hafeez for the way they batted.
I agree it was great match of cricket. I enjoyed partnership of Dhoni and Yuvraj and then intelligent batting by Hafeez. Till Hafeez was on the crease, I didn’t have any hope. Once he departed, equation changed immediately. I feel Umar Akmal should show more maturity and Shoaib should have been brought earlier to bat.
India needs to tighten its bowling for one dayers
Well! It was a very good match but unfortunately Pakistan couldn’t achieve the target at the end……
Razzak was missed once again!