Dubai: India recovered from a disastrous start to post a fighting 151 for 7 in the high-voltage T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on Sunday evening.
Skipper Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a controlled half-century (57 off 49 balls) and Rishabh Pant made 39 off 30 balls after left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi sent shivers down India’s spine with two early strikes.
The talented 21-year-old bowled with pace and got the ball to move as he sent back Rohit Sharma (0) and KL Rahul (3) in his first 2 overs. Rohit was trapped leg-before wicket for a first-ball duck while Rahul was castled by one that pitched on good length and cut back slightly.
India, having been asked to bat first after Babar Azam won the toss, were reeling at 6/2 in the third over.
Much was expected from Surya Kumar Yadav. He started promisingly, pulling Afridi for six and sweeping left-arm spinner Imad Wasim for four, before being caught behind by Md Rizwan for 11.
Pant and Kohli then added 53 for the third wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya failed to force the pace in the death overs, thanks to some fine change of pace by Afridi – who finished with 3/31 – and Haris Rauf (1/25 in 4 overs).
