Melbourne: Virat Kohli snatched victory against Pakistan from the jaws of defeat at a packed MCG with over 90,000 people here on Sunday.
In a dramatic cricket T20 World Cup Super 12 clash between two arch-rivals, India looked down and out at 31/4. Kohli (82 not out) and Hardik Pandya (40) built a partnership but Pakistan were well ahead of the game till the death overs.
India needed as many as 48 runs in the last 3 overs. But King Kohli then took it in his own hands with a flurry of big shots — including two back-to-back sixes off Haris Rauf in the 19th over — against the pace bowlers helped Team India achieve the impossible.
Pakistan earlier recovered from a stuttering start to post a very competitive total of 159/8. Shan Masood (52*) and Iftikhar Ahmed (51) revived Pakistan after young pacer Arshdeep Singh (3/32) rocked them by dismissing the prolific and dangerous openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in his first 2 overs.
Brief scores: Pakistan 159/8 in 20 overs (Shan Masood 52*, Iftikhar Ahmed 51; Arshdeep Singh 3/32, Hardik Pandya 3/30). India 160/6 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 82 not out, Hardik Pandya 40; Haris Rauf 2/36).
Result: India won by 4 wickets.
Man of the Match: Virat Kohli.
