Pakistan had recovered from 15/2 in the powerplay to reach 91/2 in the 12th over in the Super 12 match against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. However, after the dismissal of an in-form Ifthikar Ahmed, their innings tumbled.
Babar Azam and co were 135/7 after the 18th over. They lost five wickets, the core of their middle-order, in six overs.
Also read: Iftikhar Ahmed’s boundary-laden knock helps stabilise Pakistan innings: Watch
Arshdeep Singh, making his T20 World Cup debut, got rid of Babar and Mohammad Rizwan early. The team was reduced to 32/2 after the powerplay. Ifthikar Ahmed and Shan Masood then stitched a half-century stand before the former was dismissed by Mohammed Shami. He scored 51 runs off 41 balls.
In the 13th over, Hardik Pandya was brought in the attack. The India all-rounder went full outside off to tempt Shadab Khan to go for an across-the-line whack. Suryakumar Yadav took the catch at long-on.
On the last ball of the same over, Haider Ali tried to swing on a good-length delivery on middle. He, too, handed Surya a catch at midwicket.
Pakistan were 98/5 after the 14th over.
India managed to get a couple of quiet overs before Mohammad Nawaz smashed Hardik Pandya for two boundaries in the 15th. However, the all-rounder responded by getting rid of him.
Babar and co were reduced to 116/6 after 16 overs.
Arshdeep Singh dismissed Asif Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi got out in the 20th over. In all, Pakistan did keep losing wickets but managed to score 99 runs in the last 60 balls of the game.
Also read: A look at Babar Azam’s poor record vs India
Shan Masood led the team with a 42-ball 52. He smashed five boundaries. Pakistan finished the innings at 159/8.
“I wanted to enjoy the moment, it will never come again. The straight boundaries were big, so we tried to use it to our advantage. Tried to hit the wickets and the pads. I think we can chase this total down,” Arshdeep Singh said after the innings.
