Pakistan clinched their maiden ICC Champion Trophy beating India by a massive 180-run margin in the final on Sunday at The Oval. After being put in to bat, Pakistan put up 338 for four on the board buoyed by opener Fakhar Zaman’s maiden international century and fifties from Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez. Mohammad Amir then tore in to India’s top-order claiming three for 16 as India were bundled out for 158 in 30.3 overs.
We breakdown the match in five:
Zaman, Azhar provide solid start Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali combined for a solid 128-run stand for the opening wicket, laying a solid foundation for the batsmen to follow. Both lived a charmed life early on and went on to punish India. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah started well and Bumrah had Zaman edging one to the wicketkeeper Ms Dhoni in the third over. India were celebrating, but Bumrah had overstepped, thus handing Zaman a reprieve on three. Zaman shot back with two boundaries in the same over. Azahr got in to the act getting two fours off Bumrah’s next over. Spin was introduced in to the attack as early as in the ninth over, and Azahr welcomed Ravichandran Ashwin with a six dancing down the track and hit the delivery over the bowlers’ head. The duo combined for some good cricketing shots coupled with frantic running, but India failed to capitalise on the weakness. Zaman got to his fifty – his third straight 50 plus score in the tournament – off 60 deliveries. Azhar Ali notched up his 50 in the same over. India got their first breakthrough when Azhar was stranded in the middle after Zaman denied the call for a single. Bumrah did well to stop the ball at cover and Azhar had to depart for 59.
ALSO READ: Beauty in unpredictability: The wonder that is Pakistan cricket Zaman takes on Indian bowlers Zaman then decided to take on the spinners and teed off against Ravindra Jadeja, taking the left-arm spinner for a six and two fours in one over. In the next over, Ashwin was taken for a six and four by the opener before pelting Hardik Pandya for a boundary. Zaman reached his 100 with a sweep of Ashwin for a boundary off 92 deliveries. He however, departed for 114, trying to slog one off Pandya. Jadeja took a good running catch to remove the opener. Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik then consolidated the innings and combined for a 47-run stand for the third wicket. By the 39th over, Pakistan had reached 246 for two and looked set for the slog over onslaught. But India pulled things back with Bhuvneshwar removing Malik for 12 and Jadeja getting rid of Azam for 46 in quick succession.
Hafeez powers Pakistan to 338/4 Hafeez announced his arrival with a four off Jadeja and went on to tonk Indian bowlers en route to 57 off 37 deliveries. Imad Wasim gave him good company remaining unbeaten on 23 off 18 deliveries.
Amir rocks India early Mohammad Amir tore in to the Indian top order, by first removing Rohit Sharma in the first over. It was a length ball on middle and leg that jagged back in and Rohit Sharma is beaten. A huge appeal ensued and Rohit had to depart for a three-ball duck. Two overs later, Amir had induced an edge from Kohli to first slip, but Azhar dropped a regulation catch at first slip but Amir did not relent and bowled an absolute ripper and the leading edge was caught at backward point. Shadab Khan took a sharp catch and India two down for six runs on the board. Kohli departed for five. Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh tried to rebuild but Amir removed Dhawan, edged to wicketkeeper, for 21. India were tottering at 33 for 3.
Pakistan apply the squeeze Spin was introduced and young leggie Shahdab Khan got rid of Yuvraj Singh, trapped in front for 22. Dhoni departed soon after with the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, Hasan Ali, getting rid of the wicketkeeper batsman, caught by Wasim at deep square leg. Kedar Jadhav followed suit to hand Shahdab his second wicket of the match. Pandya then took on the Pakistan bowlers and plonked six sixes to entertain the crowd. He made 76 off 43 before a miscommunication in the middle led to his downfall. Pandya’s departure ended India’s resistance as Pakistan bowled out India for 158 in 30.3 overs to clinch their maiden
ICC Champions Trophy.