India beat Pakistan by six runs in the most highly-anticipated group match of the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York.
Pakistan were left reeling after a shock super-over defeat to the United States in Dallas on Thursday but failed to bounce back in one of the fiercest rivalries in sport as they restricted India to 119 all out from their 20 overs but then were heled to 113-7 themselves.
Only two teams will qualify from Group A and India look all but through after they had started their campaign with a dominant victory over Ireland before this win, as they went into the tournament among the favourites, despite not having won a major international event since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
However, there have been serious questions raised about the playing surface on the pop-up stadium in Nassau County, with the ICC admitting the pitch is not up to standard and would be subject to ‘remedies’ before the flagship game.
Relive all the live action in the blog below.
India beat Pakistan by six runs
Disappointment for Pakistan then as that loss, combined with defeat to the USA means they’re on the brink of exiting this T20 World Cup. It was a pretty dismal batting effort by them as India successfully defended their lowest total in T20s.
They’re well on course for the Super Eights now. and have bragging rights over their fierce rivals
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:44
Pakistan 113-7 (20 overs) – INIDA WIN BY SIX RUNS
Valiant effort by Naseem as he launches the ball into the off-side from the penultiamte delivery knowing he needs six to keep their hopes alive and it juuuust bounces before the boundary for FOUR! Unlucky
Eight needed off the final ball but only a single down the ground.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:40
Pakistan 108-7 (19.4 overs) – Naseem 5; Afridi 0 – Pakistan need 12 runs off 2 balls
Naseem ramps the ball behind him for FOUR! But Pakistan need 12 runs from 2 balls.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:38
Pakistan 104-7 (19.3 overs) – Naseem 1; Afridi 0 – Pakistan need 16 runs off 3 balls
A couple of singles off the next two balls but Pakistan need 16 runs from three balls.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:37
WICKET! Imad Wasim c Pant b Arshdeep Singh 15 – Pakistan 102-7 and need 18 from 5 balls
Carnage on the first ball of the last over as Imad swings, gets a slight nick through and Pant catches it. There are shies at both ends, both miss and neither man is run out but a review confirms Imad did get a nick, so he’s caught behind.
Pakistan need 18 from 5 balls now. It’s over for them – that’s not happening with Arshdeep Singh bowling.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:35
WICKET! Iftikhar Ahmed c Arshdeep Singh b Bumrah 5 (Pakistan 102-6, 19 overs – TARGET: 120)
Rare full toss from Bumrah but Pakistan can only get it away to leg for a single. They need some big blows now.
Imad crunches the ball straight to a fielder and Bumrah’s back-flick hits the stumps as they run a single but Imad is juuuust in at the non-striker’s end.
And off the final ball of the over – a WICKET! Could be curtains for Pakistan as Iftikhar gets a full toss but hoicks it straight up in the air and Arshdeep Singh runs in to take the catch, although almost trips over his own man due to lack of communication. Doesn’t matter.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:33
Pakistan 100-5 (18.3 overs) – Iftikhar 5; Imad 14 – Pakistan need 20 runs off 9 balls
Imad doesn’t know much about the first ball as Bumrah’s slower ball grips into the surface but they scamper a single. Bouncer from Bumrah confuses Iftikhar next up and it’s a dot ball!
Then another dot ball as Iftikhar swings and misses.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:29
Pakistan 99-5 (18 overs) – Iftikhar 5; Imad 13 – Pakistan need 21 runs off 12 balls
Half-volley outside off stump gives another single before a slow bouncer by Siraj down the legside is ruled a wide! Not sure what he’s doing here, just keep things simple…
Penultimate ball is better and Siraj frantically fields it himself to stop a second run. Final delivery and it’s another single straight down the ground.
21 runs needed from 12 balls but the problem for Pakistan is here comes Jasprit Bumrah!
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:27
Pakistan 95-5 (17.3 overs) – Iftikhar 4; Imad 11 – Pakistan need 25 runs off 15 balls
Siraj on to bowl his final over (you’d assume Bumrah the 19th and Arshdeep the 20th) and he’s been dynamite so far, with just 10 runs conceded from his three overs.
Imad on strike and gets a single to the off-side before a dot to Iftikhar but it’s a no-ball due to overstep, so a FREE HIT to Pakistan. Gets it past the cover fielder, so they pick up two. Then a single off the third ball.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:24
Pakistan 90-5 (17 overs) – Iftikhar 1; Imad 10 – Pakistan need 30 runs off 18 balls
Iftikhar Ahmed in at No 7 and Pakistan desperately need someone to keep their head and keep the scoreboard ticking.
Nice cut into the off-side for a single from his first ball before Imad gives himself room to try and slice through the off-side but misses completely as the ball goes through to the keeper. Final delivery is just a single, so it’s 30 needed from the final 18 balls – 10 an over suddenly for Pakistan!
Luke Baker9 June 2024 20:20