Batsmen throw it away as Pakistan lose to India in low-scoring nailbiter

LONG ISLAND, NY: Pakistan’s irresponsible batting line-up threw away a golden opportunity to put the country’s campaign back on track, by failing to cross the line against arch-rival India in a low-scoring World Cup T20 match at the Nassau County Stadium Sunday. The reckless batting line-up fell miserably in pursuit of a meager 120 runs target and was restricted to 113 for 7 at the end to hand over an unlikely six-run win to arch-rivals.

The defeat left Pakistan with very few options as they are now waiting for the outcome of other matches before knowing well whether they would in a position to qualify for the next stage.

Pakistan’s chase was going well as they reached 72 for 2 in 10 overs, Pakistan then started losing the plot. Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Usman Khan all three scored 13 runs each but could not hang on to earn the win for Pakistan. Even Shadab Khan (4), and Iftikhar Ahmad (5) could not come to the rescue. Mohammad Rizwan (31) was the only one showing some guts. Once he lost his wicket, India came back strongly with Jasprit Bumrah (3-13) leading the way.

Gary Kirsten who spoke to the media blamed the poor execution of the plan as a reason for defeat. “At 72 for 2, we were well on target. Disappointment indeed. You make mistakes, you have to pay. Run a ball and we were on the target. Though it was not an easy target on a tricky wicket, we could have won it easily.

We have the game in our hands for 35 overs before losing it by ourselves,” Gary Kirsten said, adding that everyone should be blamed for the defeat barring bowlers who presented Pakistan with a good opportunity to put their campaign back on track.

“I thought 140 could be a difficult target on the wicket but chasing 120 target, we should have won it easily. Batsmen could not manage it despite having a stranglehold on the match during almost the entire time barring the last couple of overs.”

The message was to look for the odd boundary. “We lost wickets and then we stopped scoring. For 15 overs we were there. But we lost the plot mainly because we could not go according to the plan set forth for the chase.”

Gary praised the bowlers, saying that Pakistan bowlers had proved their worth. “We are that bowling side that could bowl out the best team. Even Imad bowled well today but all the good work wasted.”

Earlier, Pakistan’s fast bowlers utilized the early overcast conditions to perfection, bowling out India for 119. Hot favourites India suffered a rare batting collapse with the likes of Virat Kohli (4), Rohit Sharma (13), Suryakumar (Yadav (7), Shivam Dube (3) and Hartik

Pandye (7) all losing their wickets playing risky shots against pacers. Naseem Shah (3-21) was the pick of the day.

Following early threats of rain, when the play finally resumed, Naseem Shah made early inroads, removing Virat Kohli (4) who tried to play over cover only to see the ball in the safe hands of Usman Khan. Sharma could not stay long holding out at deep square leg as Haris Rauf grabbed a skier off Shaheen Afridi to reduce India to 19 for 2.

Usman dropped a tough catch of Mohammad Amir as Rishat Pant lofted one over cover, India was yet to reach 50 which they later did at the end of the power play. Another skier missed by the same fielder this time of Imad bowling. Pant again was the beneficiary when the total score reached 65. Besides Naseem Shah (3-23), Haris Rauf (3-21) also bowled well.

Pakistan now play Canada next at the same venue on Tuesday.