India started off slow but their innings ended in carnage with Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh smashing Pakistan all over. India won the rain-curtailed match by 124 runs.
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.
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.
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.
ICC Champions Trophy, India Vs Pakistan: India Beat Pakistan By 124-Runs
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.
Here are a few Twitter reactions to the match:
https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/871426457347567616
https://twitter.com/tiwarymanoj/status/871434115186282496
Our age old problems with strike rotation and poor death bowling hurt us badly in the game
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 4, 2017
Clinical performance by Indian team to kick start the campaign. Congratulations!! #INDvPAK #CT17
— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) June 4, 2017
#Indiavspak Congrats 'Brothers-Team India' for the Rocking Performance & the Smashing Win!@YUVSTRONG12 Yuvi Paaji, Heartiest Congratulations pic.twitter.com/I9QbVL2rS9
— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) June 4, 2017
Pote ke baad Bete. Koi baat nahi Beta, Well tried ! Congratulations Bharat !#BaapBaapHotaHai #INDvPAK
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 4, 2017
Cricket Anischataon ka khel hai,
Par ek Prediction kabhi nahi fail hai !
1 year old Prediction 🙂 Please don't break. https://t.co/2AaKsK3jt6— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/871426779445174272
A good total from India, good to see @SDhawan25 & @YUVSTRONG12 dominate. Now time for some @BhuviOfficial swing! #INDvPAK #CT17
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) June 4, 2017
Sharma ji ke baad batting karne aaye Yuvraj Singh.
Itna pela ki Pakistan ka dhaaga khol diya.#INDvPAK— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 4, 2017
Wow. @YUVSTRONG12 still nailing it and as usual looking super cool. #INDvPAK #CT17
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) June 4, 2017
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