Team India made history after their thrilling six-run win over Pakistan in a high-octane ICC T20 World Cup clash, becoming the team to have defended the lowest total ever in the tournament’s history.
In the match, India managed to defend a target of 120 runs, restricting Pakistan to 113/7 at the end of their 20 overs. Tied with Sri Lanka’s defense of 120 runs against New Zealand in the 2014 T20 World Cup, India has now matched the record for defending the lowest total ever in the tournament’s history. Additionally, India outdid themselves, successfully defending their lowest total in T20I cricket. Previously, their lowest defended total in T20Is was 139 runs against Zimbabwe in 2016, winning by three runs after restricting them to 135/6.
With this victory, India secured their seventh win over Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup, having lost just one game, back in the 2021 edition in the UAE by 10 wickets.
After winning this thriller, India is at the top of Group A with two wins in two games and four points. Pakistan is in fourth place, having lost both their games to the USA and India. Their chances of reaching the knockout stage look slim.
In the match, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first. However, the Indian batters struggled on the tough surface, with star openers Virat Kohli (4) and Rohit Sharma (13) failing to score big. Rishabh Pant (42 in 31 balls, with six fours) seemed to be playing on a different pitch and had useful partnerships with Axar Patel (20 in 18 balls, with two fours and a six) and Suryakumar Yadav (seven in eight balls, with a four). Despite Pant’s efforts, the lower middle order crumbled under pressure, and India could only manage 119 in 19 overs.
Haris Rauf (3/21) and Naseem Shah (3/21) were the top bowlers for Pakistan. Mohammad Amir took two wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi got one.
In the run chase, Pakistan took a measured approach with Mohammad Rizwan (31 in 44 balls, with a four and six) holding one end steady. However, Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) and Hardik Pandya (2/24) took crucial wickets, including those of skipper Babar Azam (13), Fakhar Zaman (13), Shadab Khan (4), and Iftikhar Ahmed (5), maintaining pressure on Pakistan. With 18 runs needed in the final over, Naseem Shah (10*) tried to win it for Pakistan, but Arshdeep Singh (1/31) ensured Pakistan fell short by six runs.
Bumrah was awarded ‘Player of the Match’ for his match-winning spell.
