DISMAL. That just about puts Pakistan’s performance on Tuesday in a nut shell. There was only one team which played to potential and it obviously was not Pakistan. Not for a single moment, was Pakistan in the game. It’s a day when everything went wrong for our neighbors. From the first ball, it was a quiet and confident Indian team that left a mark in the Sher E Bangla stadium.
It was a total surrender by Pakistan. Batting first, the Indian openers Viru and Gambhir continued from where they left in the IPL. The duo looked fit and in form. Sharp singles stole the tooth away from the in form Pakistan Pacers Gul and Tanvir. They were helped on their way by some lackluster fielding by the Pakistanis. Three dropped catches in the first ten overs, Younis Khan being the main culprit, along with some sluggish fielding meant that India was already in the driver’s seat – a position that they didn’t relinquish till the end. Gambhir and Viru rode their luck and provided India a blistering start. Their good work was continued by the others. Yuvi accelerated towards the end and that meant India crossed 300. Sachin’s absence wasn’t felt and that is saying a lot.
It was a total surrender by Pakistan. Batting first, the Indian openers Viru and Gambhir continued from where they left in the IPL. The duo looked fit and in form. Sharp singles stole the tooth away from the in form Pakistan Pacers Gul and Tanvir. They were helped on their way by some lackluster fielding by the Pakistanis. Three dropped catches in the first ten overs, Younis Khan being the main culprit, along with some sluggish fielding meant that India was already in the driver’s seat – a position that they didn’t relinquish till the end. Gambhir and Viru rode their luck and provided India a blistering start. Their good work was continued by the others. Yuvi accelerated towards the end and that meant India crossed 300. Sachin’s absence wasn’t felt and that is saying a lot.
Chasing a mammoth target, Pakistan crumbled like a pack of cards. Praveen Kumar managed another stand out performance with the ball while Ishant continued his magnificent run. Akmal and misbah flourished for a while before they fell prey to the thirst for quick runs. Akmal seemed to be stuck in the T20 mode, throwing everything including the kitchen sink at the ball. But his charge was short lived and there ended the flimsy Pakistani fight back. Chawla made merry while Malik was left ruing the missed opportunities. India was the better fielding side and that’s a pleasant change. The Youth brigade toppled the experienced Pakistani line up.
If Pakistan doesn’t step up its game by a few notches, then there is only one team which is gonna lift the cup and that ain’t Pakistan. (With the Indian team in this form, Bangladesh shouldn’t even be a competition)
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