12 years ago
Long live cricket... and long live this rivalry.
But, for now, full marks to India for keeping their unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan intact.
There we go, a lot of permutation and combination, a lot of mathematics is still left to be done in this World T20.
"It doesn't get any better to me. The hard work paid off," says Kohli about his winning efforts against arch rivals Pakistan in a World T20 game.
"You need to help your team win, that's what you want to do as a cricketer."
"I wasn't thinking much about what to do today," says Virat.
Man of the Match: Virat Kohli for his one wicket and a match-winning 76.
"A full house makes the difference," says Dhoni.
He also praises Virat's role and his ability to take the responsibility of batting through the innings.
"The team responded very well," says Dhoni, who hails the part-time bowlers.
"Virat was excellent tonight," says Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez.
They should have got home with 19 or more balls to be ahead of Pakistan tonight.
India won with 18 balls to spare today, which means they are below Pakistan's net run rate.
But India also must win, and handsomely that too.
South Africa haven't won any of their Super 8 matches, and were strongly banking on a Pakistan win tonight.
India next play South Africa on Tuesday, in a must win match.
They next play Australia in the last Super 8 encounter.
Pakistan may have lost this one, but they are still very much in the tournament.
The patient 29 must have also done good to Sehwag, who's position in the line-up has been under the scanner of late.
Virat Kohli has again been the main man in the batting department as his 78* guided India to a win.
A sudden rush of blood to take the proceeding in control may have cost Gambhir's wicket, but from then on it's been India all the way.
While Balaji, Ashwin led the bowlers pack to put India on track, the batsmen responded well too.
Clinical. That was what India's performance was today.
India win by 8 wickets, with 18 balls left.
How costly will these three dot balls from Ajmal prove to India in this tournament.
Scores level, and 19 balls left.
That means 2 from 2 now!!
It's a dot ball. 2 from from 21 balls.
2 from 23 now, and Kohli on strike.
India should surge ahead of Pakistan in terms of run rate.
3 runs to win from 24 balls now.
Free hit and it's a four!
Deft touch, Kohli picks up four.
Inside out over extra covers, and it races to the fence.
But Imran Nazir misses it.
Good short ball from Gul, Kohli pulls it.
But India should do it with 10 balls.
29 balls left now for the 18 runs.
That was some force from Yuvraj, as it goes straight down the ground.
But remember, India needs to get to the target with 19 balls still left.
It's easy from here for India.
Kohli dances down the track and picks up Ajmal over the his head.
Only a burst of brilliance from one Pakistan bowler, or some irrational batting can see India's downfall from here.
Yuvi is playing effortlessly, as India moe closer to the win.
But didn't fancy that chance with the Indian batsmen today.
Hafeez opened the bowling in a couple of matches in the WorldT20.
Pakistan captain, Hafeez, with the ball now.
And it's Kohli for India in the recent times.
Shane Watson is having that kind of a form for Australia currently.
Yuvi had that during the World Cup last year.
There are patches when a player has a great run.
Times and placed aptly. A four for Kohli. Again!
Ajmal comaes into the attack.
Yuvraj gets off the mark with a sweep.
Gul positioned himself to perfection and maintained balance after catching the ball.
Sehwag goes while trying to clear the fence off Afridi. Umar Gul takes a brilliant catch in the deep.
This time through the gully-region.
Viru joins the four-party.
But, nonetheless, it was tough.
Unnecessary acrobatics... or was it bad luck?
Umar Akmal flew to his left and even got the catch, but spilled it over while collecting his balance on the fall.
What an effort,,.,and dropped!
Kohli is showing why the Indian batting have been revolving around him of late.
A goof-up by Hasan at the third man boundary as Kohli collects another four.
On the rise and a straight bat push off the front foot... and it races to the extra cover fence.
Four... and what timing!
Anything better than that will only add up to India's chances of making the last-four.
India should win with 19 balls remaining in this match to level the run rate with Pakistan, who won their first match against South Africa.
In the meantime, another boundary for Kohli off Afridi.
Sehwag is aware that another bad score would jeopardise his place in the line-up.
Of course, this is the kind of target, where he doesn't need to go all out too.
No risk taking, no rush of blood, it's been a very matured batting from Sehwag till now.
Coming back to India's batting, how do we find this solemn-Sehwag!
India next plays South Africa on Tuesday.
And hence, the win should come in with a good number of overs left in the innings.
India have lost their first match, and needs a big win in this one.
But here's the catch...
India is going a good pace and there's absolutely no need to hurry or panic.
Brilliant use of the feet, as Kohli hits Afridi over the long-off fence with the spin.
Kohli steps out, and six!
102 kmph -- now that's some serious pace for a spinner!!
Now Afridi into the attack. And he starts with a great one.
Kohli is in great form -- statistic says the Delhi boy has scored more than 25 % of the runs scored by Indian batsmen this year!
Kohli rocks back, and sends this to the ectra cover boundary.
This contest should be interesting -- how does Viru handle him.
Saeed Ajmal into the attack finally.
Hasan went on the leg side and Viru just used the pace to guide it to the fence behind the wicket keeper.
Unnecessary bouncers, as they will never fetch him a wicket.
Looks like Ms Preity Zinta needs an update: "Guys whats the score for the India Pak Match ?," she writes.
Gul hasn't been in his elements tonight, and looked done in by the enormity of the occasion.
A bit fuller from Gul, and Sehwag sends it over the mid-on fielder to the fence.
Gul belts out a bouncer. But above the shoulder height and is called a wide.
The last thing Pakistan would want at this time is a bowler being out of action.
Ok. Gul has been warned for going on to the danger-zone on the pitch in his follow through.
Gul has his task cut out.
A slight width outside off stump and Sehwag sends it to the fence in a flash.
Stat speak: 128 has been successfully defended before. South Africa defended their score against New Zealand, winning by a run.
He proved that in the last match against South Africa, and he's doing it again here.
Hasan is a great find for Pakistan.
They have been put on track by Hassan, now it's on the other bowlers to keep the pressure on.
And Pakistan need wickets, and quickly that too.
Kohli and Sehwag need to patient and just play the ball on merit.
Sehwag faces his first ball and is greeted by a huge roar from the crowd.
And this is match where nothing silly is needed from the batsman.
He had failed in the last match against Australia, and everyone knows the result of that match.
Kohli needs to hold post for India now.
And in comes Virat Kohli....
Hasan GETS A WICKET!
Gambhir returns the favour to Raza Hasan. India lose one in the first over!
Can Ajmal changed this expression for his side and fans or will Sehwag and his fellow batsmen do what the Australians did to them.
For now, it's Hasan with the first over! Starts with a wide.
And the Pakistani fielders are on the field.
More importantly, Virender Sehwag comes out!
Trust us, this can still get down to the wires.
Hold on for India's reply as the Sultan of Multan -- aka Virender Sehwag -- returns to the top again.
Pakistan have the bowlers who can win matches for them. But is it too much of an ask to defend this small a total?
128 runs is a no-score in T20s. But, then, it's cricket after all.
Balaji returns with three wickets, and once again confirms how much he loves bowling to the Pakistan batsmen.
And the same result!
Misbah had then tried to scoop Joginder Singh over the short fine leg fielder. Ajmal tried pretty much the same with Balaji this time.
And what a coincidence -- Saeed Ajmal tries the same scoop that Misbah ul Haq had once infanously done in that 2007 final!!
Yes, they have been bundled out.
The big question: Will Pakistan be all out?
High fulltoss, and Gul swing and the ball goes high. Dhoni does the honours to take a simple catch.
Gul can hit, and he does this time over the deep square leg fence.
A full-toss and six!
A wild swing but Gul misses. Good thinking by Balaji.
So Balaji will run in to bowl the last over.
Just seven runs and a wicket -- that as good as a 19th over you can have in a T20 match.
So who is it going to be in the last over -- Balaji or Pathan? They both have one over left.
A good effort by Balaji, but a boundary nonetheless.
A much needed boundary in the next ball.
A direct hit, and Arafat was short of his mark.
It was an awkward bounce in front of Yuvi, but thankfully was on his throwing-arm side.
And Arafat's gone.
What a fielding and throw by Yuvraj!
Zaheer come sin for the 19th over.
Ashwin return with 2 wickets for just 16 in his four overs.
Now we have the Test match batamsn in Gul. He just defended two balls from Ahswin, Guess, Pakistan just want to see Ashwin off his overs.
So, what can he do with the remaining 14 balls.
Seven gone Pakistan and Umar Gul comes out.
It was a short one which Umar tried to send it over the deep mid-wicket fence. He only found Raina, who was never going to let that one slip.
Umar Akmal had to break free.
And Ashwin strikes!
Ashwin in his last over.
A wild slog and it goes to the third-man boundary.
And Yasir Arafat gives them one.
Pakistan need some big hits.
And he's great at bowling these slow-bouncers. Very decieving at times.
Of his 66 career wickets, 39 are against Pakistan!
Balaji has been particularly good against the Pakistani line-up.
Balaji in his third over.
His slog only finds the safe hands of Rohit Sharma at mid-wicket. Ashwin bags his first of the game.
Malik was doing well, but he needed to up the ante.
Ashwin strikes now!
How about this for a celebration?
MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag celebrate after Yuvraj (unseen) removed Kamran Akmal.
There has been just eight 4s and one 6 so far in the Pakistan innings.
Deft touch, wristy from Malik.
Much needed four for Pakistan.
Pakistan reaches 100. But it's still a long way to go for them.
Incidentally, Balaji's last Test in 2005 was against Pakistan.
Balaji comes back for his second over.
Warnie has a question: If Pakistan make 140, with their bowling attack will it be enough ? Or a Par score is 160 ? Every time Pak V India there are lots of twists
And he's keeping it tight here too.
But Ashwin comes into this team riding o n some excellent record off late.
Harbhajan Singh is surely missed, and specially with the intensity he would gone out against Pakistan.
As things stand at the moment...do you think it was a good toss to lose?
With Sehwag back in the side, the start can only be explosive once India bat, regardless of the runs to his name today!
Ashwin is bowling his second over, giving Dhoni the cushion required in the final 3-4 overs.
Dhoni has juggled his bowlers well.
Pathan was one of the key performers when India beat Pakistan in the World T20 finals in 2007.
That was an optimistic appeal from Pathan, and aptly turned down by the umpire.
Umar can hit big, and he needs to do it in this match.
What a swing of the bat from Uamr Akmal as the ball goes into the stands.
It's a tense Pakistan dugout.
He'd be a much relaxed man now with Afridi not being around, who had taken him to task earlier on.
Pathan comes back into the attack.
Umar Gul's heroics saw them win against South Africa, but Pakistan can't leave it for him to fire again in this match.
But a lot of work still needs to be done by these batsmen out there.
Good over for Pakistan as 15 comes from it.
Malik has been in good form -- he played well in the warm-up match too.
That was nicely done by Shoaib Malik.
Placed in the gap and a boundary for Malik.
Pakistan have good bowlers, but what should be the a fighting score for them after such a shaky start?
A low full-toss outsid ethe off-stump and Malik wasn't going to let go.
Bang! Through the covers for a four.
Pakistan haven't got anything for free tonight and this will be welcomed.
A no-ball from Kohli and a free-hit.
Was that his wrong-un!
What a ball from Yuvi!
India have bowled well, but Pakistan seem to be too overwhelmed by the occasion.
It's been a while that Malik is to justify his talent with a good knock.
Shoaib Malik is at the crease, and he needs to come good today.
Umar Akmal, Pakistan's hero against South Africa comes in.
It's the part-timers for Dhoni tonight... and they are giving a real bad time to the Pakistan line-up.
Hafeez goes back and Pakistan in deep trouble at 55/5.
And Kohli strikes now!!!
But they need to have wickets too.
It's a T20 and Pakistan need to score quickly.
What do you say: Should Virender Sehwag have bowled his off-spinners instead of Kohli?
Dhoni sticks on with Kohli.
Hafeez will ned to play a captain's knock today.
A bit short of length from Yuvi, and it goes to the deep-midwicket fence.
A counter-strike from Hafeez.
And his bowlers have backed him up superbly.
Dhoni went in with a bowler less to bring in seven batsmen.
Pakistan need a great partnership from here if they are to make a match of it.
Everything is working for India at the moment.
Yuvi strikes again to remove Kamran Akmal.
Dhoni would want to rush in through overs at this stage and not let Pakistan settle down.
Thinsh have slowed down rather too quickly for Pakistan since Afridi departed.
Now that's a tight line from Kohli.
There, Yuvi's back at the point position.
Virat kohli comes in to bowl as the sixth bowler.
Now, that's a surprise from Dhoni.
Here is Pathan after removing Imran Nazir. What emotions!!!
2 runs and a wicket, that's how Yuvraj Singh gets on with Pakistan.
Kamran Akmal comes in.
But Jamshed doesn't seem too convinced. Or is he just disappointed to miss out on this one.
Fourth ball and Dhoni takes a sharp catch.
Yuvraj has been largely cool and composed, at least from outside, on his comeback.
Interesting, he has a slip in place for Hafeez.
The Colombo crowd errupts as his name is announced.
Dhoni brings on his fifth bowler, and that's Yuvi.
Jamshed wants to exploit the field restrictions, but Ashwin isn't an easy target.
A swing of the willow, and lands safely in no-man's land.
It surely is one charged up atmosphere in Colombo tonight.
Not Out is the call on that run out appeal.
Remember the left-hander's match winning knock against India in the warm-up game.
Nasir Jamshed is an interesting batsman to have.
So, now that Afridi's gone, Dhoni brings on R Ashwin.
In a season of comebacks, Balaji is no less an interesting one.
Good short ball from Balaji.
This was always waiting to happen. Afridi will either get out, or get the ball out of the park.
This was Afridi's highest score (14 off 12 balls ) in the tournament. His previous best was 12.
Raina takes a great catch in the deep.
