- Author, Timothy Abraham
- Role, BBC Sport Journalist at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
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T20 World Cup, Group A (New York)
India 119 (19 overs): Pant 42 (31); Naseem 3-21, Rauf 3-21
Pakistan 113-7 (20 overs): Rizwan 31 (44); Bumrah 3-15
Jasprit Bumrah took 3-14 as India battled to a gritty six-run victory over Pakistan in a T20 World Cup thriller in New York.
Pakistan seamers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah both finished with fine figures of 3-21 as India were bowled out for 119 in 19 overs in slippery conditions after morning rain.
Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 42 was imperative for India but their usually fearsome bowling initially attack missed some of its bite as their rivals reached 80-3 with six overs left, Muhammad Rizwan patiently setting about chasing down the total.
The game swung India’s way following the Pakistan wicketkeeper’s dismissal for 31 – bowled by the brilliant Bumrah, who spearheaded India’s fightback when they faced defeat.
With 18 needed off the final over of the game, bowled by Arshdeep Singh, Pakistan could only scramble 10 runs as they fell just short.
India have now won seven of their last nine meetings with Pakistan in T20 World Cups, with one no result.
This victory at a stadium in New York – which will be dismantled once the US leg of the T20 World Cup is over – will be particularly sweet for India.
Not least because it pushes their winless rivals closer to the exit door and puts themselves on the brink of qualifying for the Super 8s.
India’s batting bagatelle plays crucial hand
Rohit Sharma adeptly played a tricky pitch in his side’s opening victory against Ireland at this venue, so there was much on the shoulders of India’s captain and most skilful operator.
“Rohit, Rohit, Rohit”, the India fans feverishly bellowed from the stands when he effortlessly whipped the third ball of the match from Shaheen Afridi over the ropes.
It should have set the tone for a big total but when Virat Kohli drilled Naseem into the hands of point, and Rohit was caught in the deep attempting to repeat the trick against Shaheen, India’s middle order was exposed.
There was no sense they might simply be happy trying to rebuild, though. Especially when Pant swaggered to the crease in that inimitable style of his.
The left-hander played with typical bombast and when he swung, he swung hard. A batting bagatelle, sometimes he connected, sometimes the ball flew off in another direction.
His six fours in a 31-ball knock were vital in getting his side to a semi-competitive total with Axar Patel (20) one of only three players to reach double figures.
Pakistan’s seamers, however, showed superb discipline in the rest of the innings, with Naseem and Rauf excellent as India’s last six wickets went down for just 24.
Pakistan blow chance as Bumrah thrills blue wall
India blundered early into Pakistan’s response, with overthrows and dropped catches, before Bumrah expertly found the edge of Babar Azam’s bat and Suryakumar Yadav took a fine slip catch.
The majority of the 34,028 crowd packed into a sold-out Eisenhower Park roared in support for India as their bowlers hunted for wickets.
That blue wall might have appeared a tidal wave at times, but Pakistan’s batters initially stood firm as the ground was bathed in sunshine and batting conditions appeared favourable.
Rizwan anchored the innings with a patient 44-ball knock before a brain fade when he was bowled while trying to whip Bumrah into the leg side.
Pakistan were still favourites at that point but the pressure got to their middle and lower order, who were unable to find the boundary amid some good bowling.
Imad Wasim (15) kept them in the hunt but with the run-rate climbing India’s bowlers really turned the screw.
Bumrah was instrumental, although Hardik Pandya (2-24) also played his part along with a tight spell from Mohammed Siraj, who went wicketless but conceded just 19 runs.
After a shock defeat by the United States in their opening match Pakistan have it all do. Even for international cricket’s mercurial side it will be a big ask to qualify for the next stage from here.
‘Everyone showed up’ – what they said
India captain Rohit Sharma: “We didn’t bat well enough – we were 15 runs short.
“With our bowling line-up, you feel confident. It is the never-say-die attitude in the team.
“You need everyone to show up and a little contribution for everyone makes a big difference, and we did that.”
On the crowd: “There is no doubt about it, the crowd was superb. They never disappoint, wherever we play in the world.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam: “We bowled well. At the halfway stage when batting we wanted to keep it simple, how we normally play.
“We didn’t capitalise properly and made the same mistakes in the last overs.
“We need to win big in our last two matches. We’ll discuss our mistakes.”