India extended their immaculate record against Pakistan in World Cups to 8-0 as a dire batting collapse by their opponents set them on course for a seven-wicket victory in a packed Ahmedabad.
The 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium hosted the showpiece match of world cricket – a game rarely seen these days due to political tensions – with hordes of Indian fans watching their team raze Pakistan for 191 after Babar Azam’s team lost their last eight wickets. for just 36 runs once the skipper fell for 50.
Pakistan collapsed to 155-2 with Indian wrist bowler Kuldeep Yadav (2-35) striking twice in an over and seamer Jasprit Bumrah (2-19) castling Mohammad Rizwan (49) and Shadab Khan (2 ) in successive overs as a batter. The teams were grouped in 42.5 overs.
India reached their target with 117 balls to spare as skipper Rohit Sharma followed up his 63-ball century against Afghanistan with a 63-ball 86, smoking five sixes, including his 300th in the format.
India scored a third consecutive victory in this World Cup to move to the top of the rankings, ahead of New Zealand in terms of net run rate, with Shreyas Iyer (53no) taking the victory, and his half- century, with a four off Mohammad Nawaz at mid-off. the 31st finished.
Rohit’s men remain unbeaten against Pakistan in all 50-over World Cups after previous successes in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019, with this latest victory an absolute thrashing as they underline their status as tournament favorites.
India will look to make it four wins from four when they take on Bangladesh in Pune on Thursday (9:30 a.m. UK time), with Pakistan hoping to bounce back from their Ahmedabad drubbing when they take on Australia in Bangalore on Friday (9:30 a.m. , UK time).
Pakistan collapse as India leads 8-0 at World Cups
Pakistan saw their 100 per cent record in this year’s tournament come to an end, with Babar’s team beating the Netherlands in their opening match and then achieving the highest total of 345 runs in the World Cup to defeat Sri Lanka before being blown away by India amid a storm of questionable shots. .
There was little hint of the carnage to follow when Babar and Rizwan put on 82 for Pakistan’s third wicket – which began at 73-2 after openers Abdullah Shafique (20) and Imam-ul-Haq (36 years) were fired by the Indian seamers. Siraj (2-50) and Hardik Pandya (2-34) respectively.
But once Babar was bowled by a catch from Siraj that hit his stump – one after the batter claimed a 29th ODI half-century and the first against India in eight attempts – Pakistan wilted.
Kuldeep pinned Saud Shakeel (6) lbw and bowled Iftikhar Ahmed (4) around his legs in the same over; Bumrah’s beauties represented Rizwan and Shadab; and the tail was then polished as they looked to work – Ravindra Jadeja (2-38) ending the innings by trapping Haris Rauf (2) leg before.
The quality of Pakistan’s bowling attack meant they still had an outside chance of victory if they managed to gather wickets early and they picked up one in the third over, with Shubman Gill – returning to the Indian side at the place of Ishan Kishan after recovering from a fight. of dengue – bringing back Shaheen Shah Afridi after a total of 16 off 11 boundary-laden deliveries.
However, Rohit, who scored free, took India to 79 in 10 overs before Pakistan struck again – Virat Kohli taking a short ball from Hasan Ali at mid-off for 16 – and the captain then shared a stand of 77 off 71 balls with Shreyas. before clipping Shaheen’s slower ball to mid-wicket with 36 runs needed.
And after?
England return to action on Sunday with a match against Afghanistan in Delhi. Assembly begins at 9 a.m. Air sport cricket before the first ball at 9:30 a.m.
Then, on Monday, Australia and Sri Lanka will look to claim their first points of the competition when they meet in Lucknow.
Again, coverage begins at 9 a.m. Air sport cricket before the first ball at 9:30 a.m.