DHAKA: India put up a thoroughly professional performance to thrash arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets in a one-sided opening group league encounter to launch their ICC World Twenty20 campaign in style, here on Friday.
At a packed Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, the Indian spinners did a commendable job in restricting Pakistan to a modest 130 for seven after electing to bowl.
Chasing the target, the Indian batsmen sent the opposition bowlers on a leatherhunt to canter home by seven wickets with nine balls to spare.
India thus maintained their clean slate against Pakistan in World Cup events as this is their fourth victory against the traditional foes in the marquee tournament of the shortest version.
Two in-form batsmen, Virat Kohli (36 not out) and Suresh Raina (35 not out), made useful contributions as they added 66 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket to finish the match in style.
Kohli hit four fours and a six during his 32-ball knock, while Raina’s runs came off 35 balls with equal number of boundaries.
The victory also was sweet revenge for India’s last over loss against Pakistan at the same ground in the Asia Cup less than a month ago.
On Friday everything went right for the ‘Men In Blue’ as they outbatted, outbowled and out-thought the Pakistanis with Dhoni marshalling his resources very well.
SCORECARD
Pakistan:
K Akmal run out 8
A Shehzad st Dhoni b Mishra 22
M Hafeez c Kumar b Jadeja 15
U Akmal c Raina b Shami 33
S Malik c Raina b Mishra 18
S Afridi c Raina b Kumar 8
S Maqsood run out 21
B Bhatti not out 0
Extras: (lb-2, w-3) 5
Total: (7 wkts; 20 overs) 130
FOW: 1-9, 2-44, 3-47, 4-97, 5-103, 6-114, 7-130
Bowling: Ashwin 4-0-23-0, Kumar 3-0-21-1, Shami 4-0-31-1, Mishra 4-1-22-2, Jadeja 4-0-18-1, Yuvraj 1-0-13-0
India:
R Sharma b Ajmal 24
S Dhawan c Ajmal b Gul 30
V Kohli not out 36
Yuvraj b Bhatti 1
S Raina not out 35
Extras: (w-5) 5
Total: (3 wkts; 18.3 overs) 131
FOW: 1-54, 2-64, 3-65
Bowling: Hafeez 3-0-14-0, Junaid 3-0-23-0, Ajmal 4-0-18-1, Gul 3.3-0-35-1, Afridi 3-0-24-0, Bhatti 2-0-17-1
After three quiet overs, Rohit Sharma (24) decided to attack Junaid Khan as he cleared the short fine leg fielder for a boundary and slashed hard enough over point to get a six. The over netted India 12 runs.
Not one to be left behind, Shikhar Dhawan (30), who had by then consumed 15 balls for his five, struck three boundaries. The first was muscled through square leg while the next was a slap that went past the bowler and the third was a sweep behind square as another 12 runs came from the next over.
The 24 runs from the two overs got India on track and they did not have to look behind after that.
The shot of the match was Rohit lifting Umar Gul over long-on for a six. The 50-run partnership came off 46 balls after which Dhawan perished.
India’s ploy of going with three spinners and two pacers worked perfectly but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said it would not be the norm and team combination would depend on match conditions.
Dhoni said whether to include an extra spinner or not could be decided after taking into account the dew factor.
“We will have to decide on team combination based on how much dew is there. Today there was a lot of dew even before the start of match. So we included an extra spinner,” Dhoni said after the match.
Dhoni praised leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who was adjudged Man-of-the-Match, for his performance (2/22).
“I think Amit Mishra bowled 70-75 per cent of what he can bowl. He will get a lot of confidence from his performance and I think he will do even better later,” said Dhoni.
Except for a few dropped catches, Dhoni said his team did a fabulous job against the arch-rivals. (PTI)