Pakistan beats India in THRILLER!

AIRTEL T20 SERIES

I N D I A          V         P A K I S T A N

at Bangalore Cricket ground

The 2 Power houses of cricket in Asia & world cricket in general, India and Pakistan faced off for the first time in any type of series against each other in 5 years. A lot has happened between the 2 feuding Countries since the last time they pitted against each other in a Series way back in 2007-08,  With a lot of the goings on happening off the pitch ,Between the 2 Countries and be described as very volatile at best with them. As the Mumbai Attacks being one of the biggest reasons for the strain in relations between the two in recent years, And why neither has approached the other to try and quell the troubles or calm it down. By suggesting what seems to re-unite the two Countries together. That being cricket as not only do people who live within the respective countries love the battles between the sides on the pitch. But also does tend to bring harmony between the governments too as the world cup semi final shown in India a couple of years back.

But it could be argued it is bigger and more far more looked upon as the most biggest series in International cricket than "the Ashes". As the Ashes is a very intense series with England and there commonwealth neighbours Australia so to speak. As heated and bad tempered as those clashes can get, They seem like a little "lovers tiff" compared to the fiery rivalry that happens when you put India v Pakistan in anything, whether it be cricket, hockey or tiddlywinks!

pic: bbc sports

But getting back to the the actual game, it was a massive crowd as always in India, And adding to the fact they were playing their fierce Arch-rivals from over the border, It was always going to make for a interesting atmosphere in Bangalore.
And what they served up was a terrific thrilling game between the 2 sides!

Pakistan had won the toss and chose field first, Giving a 1st T20 start to Mohammad Irfan. India were coming into the game on the back of a drawn Twenty20 series with England and were hoping that they could put that & test series they lost at home to England to back of their minds, As they started this short 2 game day/night series.


India were going along very nicely in their Innings as Rahane and Gambhir were scoring freely with Pakistan failing to make any headway or get anything out of the pitch. It looked like it was going to be a big total going to be set, As Rahane was hitting 4`s for fun and giving the home side a great start. But Pakistan made the breakthrough as a shot by Rahane found Akmal on the Boundary as he took well after a delivery from Shahid Afridi and he was sent packing for 42 as India was on 77 for 1.

The Tourists then got the wicket of Gambhir next as he hooked one to the onside and as he was coming back for the 2nd run, Tanvir threw one to the Wicketkeeper and Gambhir was Run-out for 43 and that started the collapse of the Indian innings. Yuvraj Singh joined Kohli at the crease and with his first ball faced slogged it high over the fielders and into the stands for a massive 6 much to the delight of the home fans in the packed crowd.



Kohli was having a good battle with Irfan ,But he soon found himself on his way too as he swung his bat & nicked it behind in the gloves of Kamal Akmal as he took the catch to put India 103 for 3. As Kohli went  for just 9 runs and put the home side in trouble. Mohammad Irfan wasn`t having a great debut with the ball , As in 1 over he bowled 3 wides and gift India easy runs in the process. He looked to be trying to hard it seemed on debut, So with that they brought on spinner Saeed Ajmal and it paid dividends as he got Dhoni out for 1 with a straight arm ball that just clip the stumps, with the bail eventually falling off in the end, And  India were 4 down for 108.

pic: bbc sports

Umar Gul then came into the attack and got the wicket of Yuvraj Singh, As his attempted big hit came off the toe of the bat and into the hands of Umar Akmal again by the rope. Pakistan were starting to think that they had a real chance of winning, As India were giving their wickets away cheaply by now. Singh departed for 10 and left India in all kinds of problems as their top order batsmen weren`t performing.
Ajmal beautifully bowled Raina out for 10 with a low turning delivery hitting the stumps, And they were in real danger now of posting a poor to modest total and the home fans were silenced even more as their countrymen were being out played and out thought by the tourists.



Pakistan could sense blood and was playing some great cricket, India were struggling to get back in the game as Jadeja and Rohit Sharma were running hard for 2 runs. Went Shoaib Malik picked up the ball and launched it at the stumps and run out Sharma by miles with a great direct hit as he went for 2.
Jadeja used up one of his lifes as well , As he was nearly Run out. But when reviewed by the 3rd Umpire, The ball hit the wickets but didn`t dislodge the bail till after he was in.



However it prolonged the inevitable, As Jadeja went next ball as an outside edge was taken by Akmal behind and so left India reeling on 124 for 8 with the home crowd quiet. Sharma then came into bat for home side, And he isn`t someone you look to help get the scoreboard ticking, as it showed with a Umar Gul "Yorker". Hitting middle stump and so Gul was on a Hat Trick now, India had lost their last 4 Wickets for just 2 runs.



Ohja and Dinda put on a mini resistant batting the remaining overs out as they Finished on 133 after 20 Overs. And Pakistan could consider it a job well done indeed, thanks mainly to the bowling of Saeed Ajmal & Umar Gul! taking 2 -25 and 3 for 21 respectively.




So Pakistan just had to chase a low 134 runs to win on Indian soil. So it seemed easy after the Indian failed to fire on all cylinders. But things didn`t go to plan for the Pakistan team, as they lost Jamshed for 2 as Ojha clean bowled him, knocking the off stump out of the ground.
Shehzad was soon too follow as he edge an Ohja delivery to MS. Dhoni for 5, And when Umar Akmal was out for a duck too,Pakistan was now 12 for 3 wickets. And were now having niggling thoughts in the back of their minds, Had they themselves lost the advantage.

However Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik steadied the ship as both batsmen shown India who was boss and completely swung the game back in their favour. Both men produced some big hitting for the Green shirts, With Hafeez getting a couple of 6`s and six 4`s in his innings and Shoaib Malik got three 6`s himself &helped himself to to three 4`s in his respective innings too.


Hafeez brought up his half century as he came down the pitch and struck one of his sixes to help his side regain control of the match as Pakistan were going along at 99-3 at that point.
Pakistan were cruising along at 118 for just the lost 3 wickets, After the 2 batsmen helped repair the damage done after the first 3 overs.
But as always good things must come to an end & with the target of 16 runs needed from 23 balls. Hafeez tried to smash one off the bowling of Sharma ,but instead of hitting it over the rope for 6, it hung in the air down to Third Man where Ojha was on hand, to take the catch in front of the Tourists dugout and got rid of the Pakistani captain as he went for a fantastic captains knock of 61.



Pakistan now had to get 16 runs of the final 17 balls to win and go 1 up. But as we said they ain`t the friendliest of neighbours and a little flashpoint occured ,When Sharma bowled a good delivery to Akmal, but Akmal didn`t take kindly to something Sharma must have said on his follow through from the delivery and so both men squared up one another with Kamar Akmal looking up up and up at his opponent.  As Sharma who towered above him, Exchanged words and fair to say it wasn`t about exchanging Christmas cards thats for sure!


Though in a way the tactic worked as Sharma had got under his opponent skin as after the umpires and Indian players led Sharma away, it had rattled Akmal clearly. And the match now was getting a bit spicy as we had these 2 having their own battle and also the Contest was nearing the end with Pakistan looking favourites at one point to now slowly losing their way and the Momentum swinging one way and then another, which was making for a great contest between the 2 foes.

pic: bbc sports

There was a still enought time for a little twist to come, as India thought they had Malik out for 47, setting off scenes of jubilation one and off the pitch, as the home fans in the stadium were celebrating the wicket only for the 3rd Umpire to be called upon. And on further inspection, the 3rd umpire gave feedback to the umpires in the middle that he was safe, Though the batsman skied it and was caught. The replay shown both his feet were off the floor as he stretched to hit the ball, so the delay and consultation his findings was a NO-BALL, much to the shock of the players and Indian fans alike.

The game was getting stranger,Malik who you could arguably say was lucky to still be there got his 50 and Pakistan as we approached the final looked too be in charge again. Only for Akmal to throw the bat and the ball flying off straight to the fine third man, where surprise surprise Sharma was. The emotion he shown as he took the catch,was evident as he you could tell he clearly enjoyed that wicket more than than anyone else on the field.


And so as headed into the exciting last over, the Tourist needing only 11 Runs off the final 6 balls, Jadeja was the Indian bowler chosen to bowl the final allotted overs. If you had to pick 2 experienced batsmen to try and give you shot at chasing down this target, then Shahid Afridi & Shoaib Malik would be those 2 men.


1st ball bowled was given as Leg byes adding one to the score,  2nd ball delivered Afridi got off the mark pushing it away to the offside as run hard for 2 runs and in trying to get the second run, was nearly run out in the process, getting his bat back just as the throw to the striking end was accurate to the wicketkeeper.

3rd ball of the over was delayed as Jadeja and Dhoni discussed on field placing as the match was getting more tense with players swapping ideas and the crowd praying & chewing their fingernail. As this was going to be a very nerve jangling climax. Eventually it was bowled with Afridi attempting to smash it out the ground but all he could do was hit his pads and run for the Single.

So halfway through the final Over, They needed 6 runs off the final 3 balls to win the match. And Shoaib Malik didn`t want to bring it down to the last ball so as Jadeja bowled to him ,he smashed it right back over Jadeja head just over the ropes for a big 6 and giving the Green shirts victory on Indian soil. As they won by 5 wickets and go 1-0 in the 2 match series.



With the next epic encounter set for Friday in Ahmedbad in another day/night match.