Kohli praises ‘amazing’ Amir spell

Published February 27, 2016
Kohli continued his sublime touch with the bat. — AFP
Kohli continued his sublime touch with the bat. — AFP

Virat Kohli scored a confident 49 to prop up India in a tricky chase as they defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a low-scoring Asia Cup match on Saturday.

India skittled Pakistan for 83 inside 18 overs before being put under the heat in the chase.

The reply from MS Dhoni's side began on a sorry note with fiery left-arm paceman Mohammad Amir dismissing both openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane leg before in the first over before they had opened their scoring.

Amir also dismissed Suresh Raina to finish with 4-18-3 and won some praise from Kohli along the way.

“It wasn't an easy wicket to bat, I wasn't happy with myself in the last game, where I went too hard at the ball. I made mistakes in the last innings but I dug in this time,” Kohli said of the seaming Sher-e-Bangla Stadium pitch.

“I would like to congratulate Mohammad Amir for the way he bowled, I actually congratulated him while he was bowling. I was really happy to play such an amazing spell of fast bowling. May god bless him with more success,” Kohli, who was named man of the match, added.

The Indian pacemen were right on the money as well after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to bowl first on a green-tinged pitch. His bowlers responded brilliantly, extracting good movement out of the wicket.

Medium paceman Hardik Pandya was the most successful among the Indian bowlers, picking up three wickets for eight runs, while Pakistan did not help their own cause with Khurram Manzoor and captain Shahid Afridi running themselves out.

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed's 25 was Pakistan's highest individual score while Manzoor, making his T20 debut, was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 10.

In case you missed it: Amir's spell against India

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...