India began their ICC Champions Trophy 2017 campaign with a great win over arch-rivals Pakistan by 124 runs (D/L method).
India beat Pakistan by 124 runs in their ICC Champions Trophy opener on Sunday. After put into bat first, India managed 319/3 in the 48 overs but the target for Pakistan, after rain interruptions, was revised to 289 in 41 overs.
Pakistan were off to steady start but lost plenty of wickets, at regular intervals in the middle overs. Fans definitely got every penny worth. They didn’t leave the venue after so many rain breaks and were happy to wait to see two quality sides in action.
Even, Four years back, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan came together as an opening pair in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy against Pakistan. That day, the opening stand for India was 58. Playing together as an opening pair after 17 months, in the same venue and against the same opposition, they bettered that stand by 78 runs to help India lay the platform.
https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/871426457347567616
But both openers gradually accelerated and found batting easier in Birmingham. But rain interrupted India’s innings after 9.5 overs. Pakistan operated with Mohammad Amir from one end and spinner Imad Wasim from the other which did not really trouble the Indian batsmen.
After that Kohli and Rohit found it difficult to score runs. A second rain interruption slowed down India. Rohit had just broken the shackles when against the run of play and nine runs short of his hundred, he was run-out. Though he had made his ground, Rohit’s bat was in the air when the bails were removed. His 119-ball innings had seven fours and two sixes.
Pakistan were right on top at that moment as India were not finding the opening to break free but in came Yuvraj Singh and he launched an all-out attack right from the start. Playing freely, he picked up his areas and timed the ball perfectly. He had his share of luck as well as he was dropped by Hasan at long-off. Nothing stopped Yuvraj after that as he brought up his half-century off just 29 balls.
At the other end, Kohli struggled to time the ball and a dropped catch by Fakhar Zaman kept him at the crease. He still brought up his fifty and with Yuvraj, shared a 93-run stand off just 58 balls.
Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh then took the attack to the opposition after play was resumed following rains and the innings was curtailed to 48 overs.
Sharma ji ke baad batting karne aaye Yuvraj Singh.
Itna pela ki Pakistan ka dhaaga khol diya.#INDvPAK— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 4, 2017
After Yuvraj’s wicket, Hardik Pandya played the final over and hit the first three balls for sixes. India took 72 runs off the final four overs as Pakistan failed to capatalise on a perfect set-up and India posted 319 for 3 in 48 overs.
Pakistan batting, lacking intent and intensity, never looked like putting up a fight. Azhar Ali scored a half-century but other batsmen did not going. Scoring at a strike-rate of less than 70 never helped their team and the self-inflicted pressure forced Pakistan to surrender.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Ahmed Shehzad leg-before before Babar Azam played a rash shot straight to backward-point. Jadeja returned to bowling and picked up two wickets after a stunning direct-hit ran out Shoaib Malik.
While Edgbaston recorded its best ever crowd for an ODI match, the match itself never match the hype around it. It was one-way traffic and that improved their record in ICC ODI tournaments. Since the 2011 World Cup loss to South Africa, India have lost only one match (2015 World Cup semi-final against Australia), and won 17. Against Pakistan, this was there sixth straight win.
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