ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Kishan guides India to emphatic 61 runs win

Varun Chakravarthy in action

Ishan Kishan completed a 27-ball fifty Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

By M. Shamil Amit

Ishan Kishan swashbuckling quick-fire 40 ball knock of 77 paved the way for India to coast to a emphatic 61 runs win over arch rivals Pakistan in  Group A and 27th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter played under floodlights at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Pakistan in pursuit of 176 runs which was the third highest run chase at the ground, was going to be no where near the target after losing their top five wickets cheaply as they succumbed to right arm pacies Hardik Pandya and Jaspit Bumrah and spin duo Azar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy who together shared eight wickets between them for a score of judt 114 runs.

Pakistan began their run chase of 176 runs on a sour note which began with right arm pacie Hardik Pandya bagging the first wicket of Pakistan that of Shaubzada Farhan who faced just four balls being dismissed for a four ball duck and then Pandya ended with maiden wicket over.

Pakistan further fell into deep trouble when they lost two quick wickets that of Salim Ayub and skipper Salman Agha and was struggling on 13 for 3 in the second over.

Babar Azam did not last long as he was sent back to the pavilion having put on a brief stand of 21 runs with Usman Khan and Pakistan was tottering on 34 for 4.

The Khan double Usman and Shadab put in some resistance with the pair succeeding to post the Pakistan’s 50 runs on the board. The pair having added 39 runs for the fifth wicket which turned out to be the best partnership of the innings sa it ending with the dismissal of Usman who made 44 in 34 balls which had six boundaries and a six.

The writing on the wall of a Pakistan defeat was on the wall and with the recognized batsmen all back in the pavilion and on 73 for 5 in the 11th over they had the daunting task of making a further 103 runs from 56 balls.

Ishan dismissed making 77 in 30 balls – 10x4 – 3x6 partnership 87 runs for second wicket with Tilak Varma.

The first session of proceedings belonged to Ishan Kishan who despite India undergoing an early setback after being invited to take first lease of the wicket with the dismissal of Abishek Sharma in the first over with just one run on the board negotiated the Pakistan bowling with sheer confidence.

Kishan sent the bowlers on a leather hunt while accumulating with ease to keep the Indian score moving rapidly. He went on the rampage with Tilak Varma giving the much needed support.

India’s 50 runs came in just 30 balls and the 50 runs stand for the second wicket followed which came off 27 balls with Kishan’s being the main contributor making 41 runs of these. This followed with Kishan racing to his half ton coming in just 27 balls which comprised seven boundaries and two sixes.

From there on Kishan smothered 27 runs in 13 balls before falling victim to right arm spinner Salin Ayub having shared 87 runs for the second wicket with Varma of which his contribution being 77 runs which took him just 50 balls that included ten boundaries and three sixes.

Varma joined by skipper Suriyakumar Yadav put up India’s 100 runs on the board and was making steady and with the pair having added 38 runs for the third wicket saw spinner Ayub dealt a double blow as he succeeded to bagged two wickets first of Varma who 25 in 24 balls with rwo boundaries and a six and Hardik Pandya in the next ball but was denied the hat-trick by Shivam Dube.

With India on 125 for 4 in the 15th over skipper Yadav and Dube kept the scoreboard moving before they were having added 33 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Yadav’s dismissal having hit a 29 ball 32 with three boundaries.

India on 159 for 5 and left with seven balls to negotiate saw them losing losing two more wickets for the addition of 16 to end their innings on 175 for 7.