India extended their superb record against Pakistan in World Cup matches by recording a 76-run victory, Virat Kohli the star performer with his 107
- Read the full match report of the game
- Morgan defends England’s poor form after Australia thrashing
- 1992 World Cup finalists – the most ill-fated group of cricketers ever?
Kohli is man of the match, unsurprisingly.
Cheers for reading, and here’s a run down of the record between these two teams to leave you with and chew over.
#IndvPak in #CWC 92 won by 43 runs 96 won by 39 runs 99 won by 47 runs 03 won by 6 wickets 11 won by 29 runs 15 won by 76 runs #CWC15
So, that’s 6-0 to India in World Cup matches against Pakistan, and a most heartening win to kick off their campaign. Obviously the cornerstone of the performance was Virat Kohli’s century, but props to the bowlers too, with Shami and Mohit providing fine pace, and Ashwin bowling well in patches (although he bowled eight overs, three of which were maidens, but still conceded 41 runs - work that one out). For Pakistan, one would forgive Misbah for punching the wall at the frustration of having to do it all on his own. Again.
Khan shuffles a slower one round the corner for two, then gets a single after digging out a yorker down the ground. Irfan then leaves one - sensible, don’t want to lose any silly wickets at this stage, shrewd game management from the big bowler. He gets the hell off strike, allowing Khan to take a huge swing at a shot that basically goes vertical, and drops neatly into the hands of Yadav at mid-on, and that is game over.
46th over: Pakistan 220-9 (Khan 4, Irfan 0) - Pakistan need another 81 runs to win
Mohammad Irfan in now. Just the 81 from 24 required. It’s on!
Shami getting involved in some dying embers larks by coming around the wicket to Misbah, bouncing him first up before a tired pull goes high, drops safe and he turns down a single - possibly because he wants the strike, possibly because he can’t be arsed, possibly because he wants to have a sit down by getting out. Which he does next ball, another leaden-armed pull going straight up again, and into the waiting paws of Rahane at mid-on. Smashing innings from Misbah though, left to do the whole thing on his own.
45th over: Pakistan 220-8 (Khan 4, Misbah 76) - Pakistan need another 81 runs to win
Khan getting in on the late fun now, rocking back and pulling a four between mids wicket and on, before a beastly wide down leg adds another to this forlorn total.
Misbah reminds me of Liam Neeson in Taken, if Liam Neeson had waited a few weeks before bothering to try and find his family.
44th over: Pakistan 215-8 (Khan 0, Misbah 76) - Pakistan need another 86 runs to win
Words between Kohli and the batsman, perhaps because Virat doesn’t believe a game should go by without getting involved in aggro of some description. Misbah then wearily hoiks a four over straight mid-on, before flipping a pair of fine sweeps past fine leg for another couple of boundaries.
43rd over: Pakistan 203-8 (Khan 0, Misbah 64) - Pakistan need another 98 runs to win
And so, Sohail Khan is the latest man to flap unconvincingly at one end while Misbah sighs at the other.
Misbah leaves one outside off. Leaves one. A decent ball, but still. The next one is a bit better as he whacks a full-toss out to straight deep mid-wicket, but it’s straight to the fielder on the bounce. Shah then flaps a pull/hook out to deep square leg where Shami dashes in to take the catch, but it lands inches in front, but Shah has no such luck with the next ball, cuffing the ball straight to Yadav at mid-on.
42nd over: Pakistan 200-7 (Shah 11, Misbah 63) - Pakistan need another 101 runs to win
Oh! Lovely slap sweep there from Shah, larrumping one from way outside off to the fence in front of mid-wicket off Ashwin. He tries another slog-sweep which strikes his pads, the Indians go up but that look high, something that Ian Gould agrees with.
41st over: Pakistan 196-7 (Shah 7, Misbah 63) - Pakistan need another 105 runs to win
Yadav tickles Shah’s ribs, but then bowls a colossal wide down leg, possibly after slipping a little. Shah tucks another off his hip, and Misbah rather curiously turns down the single with Raina scampering to his left at square leg. Shah does well to control a swat off his chin as Yadav goes short again, and while Misbah is playing a few attacking shots, it must be said he doesn’t seem to be going all out for this. Some net run rate-related pragmatism, perhaps?
40th over: Pakistan 194-7 (Shah 6, Misbah 63) - Pakistan need another 107 runs to win
Oh, well, that is absolutely delicious, from Misbah, playing a delightful reverse sweep an eluding a scampering short third man to collect four. A couple more singles before Misbah takes a massive hoy at a sweep, but misses entirely.
39th over: Pakistan 188-7 (Shah 5, Misbah 58) - Pakistan need another 113 runs to win
Misbah backs away and thus can’t reach a wideish one from Yadav, but it’s slightly generously signalled as a wide. Misbah then goes the other way, going across the stumps but Yadav bowls a good length so he can only defend it. Misbah now appears to have ditched the ‘keep strike at all costs’ policy, giving Shah a go with a single, which is a little curious. A couple more from the over, four from it in total, meaning Pakistan require a hair more than two runs a ball from here.
38th over: Pakistan 184-7 (Shah 4, Misbah 56) - Pakistan need another 117 runs to win
Jadeja manages to keep the first couple tight, then perhaps an even worse result for Pakistan sees Misbah take a single, and a little surprisingly takes a two from a wee dab from Shah past the slips. Just the three from that over.
God love Misbah. What a magnificent bastard. #CWC15
37th over: Pakistan 181-7 (Shah 2, Misbah 55) - Pakistan need another 120 runs to win
Shah’s job here is to obviously get singles and get the hell off strike, which he does efficiently, allowing Misbah to bloot one down the ground for four off Shami. Misbah reaches his 50 with a dab past the slips, but he doesn’t look overly enamoured by the milestone. He then effortlessly flicks a full-toss off his shins to the mid-wicket ropes, and India just have to be careful they don’t let Pakistan have a little dart at this one. A single keeps Misbah on strike, 12 from the over.
36th over: Pakistan 169-7 (Shah 1, Misbah 44) - Pakistan need another 132 runs to win
Ashwin’s the new bowler, and Misbah is going down swinging - he belts a colossal one over mid-wicket for six, then decides that he’s going to do this on his own by turning down an easy single to deep backward square. Then a wide, then two through point, then he finally takes a single from the fourth ball of the over. Another single brings Misbah back on strike, and he collects four with a fine cut behind point, but it’s too little, too late now, surely.
35th over: Pakistan 154-7 (Shah 0, Misbah 31) - Pakistan need another 147 runs to win
Yasir Shah the new man in, and unless something extraordinary happens his job will be to usher this game home to its now seemingly inevitable conclusion.
Misbah nails a single, new batsman Wahab Riaz flicks a four very, very fine just past Dhoni, but then plays a ghastly shot from a short, slightly wide one from Shami, feathering an edge through to the keeper. And that, you would imagine, is that. If that hadn’t been that a while ago.
Ah. Well. Then there’s that. After a brief glimpse of light for the chasing team, Afridi makes something of a guff of a highish full toss, skewing the thing high in the air for Kohli to catch, running backwards from cover. It’s briefly reviewed for the possibility of a waist-high full-toss, but that’s fine, and Afridi is gone.
34th over: Pakistan 149-5 (Afridi 22, Misbah 30) - Pakistan need another 152 runs to win
After a drink, Yadav is given the ball, and Misbah’s attempts to hit inside out finally come off, piercing the infield and out to the cover fence, before he collects another boundary by swiping a bloody awful full-toss off his knees and past short fine-leg. A couple more singles, ten from the over and that’s more like it from Pakistan.
33rd over: Pakistan 139-5 (Afridi 21, Misbah 21) - Pakistan need another 162 runs to win
And lively they seem keen to get, as Pakistan have taken the powerplay. Shami is back into the attack, starting off with a yorker at Afridi’s toes, which squirts off his pads for a leg-bye, then a well-directed bumper is only just avoided by a ducking Misbah. Misbah then tries to give himself room, hits a bullet of an inside-out drive but it goes straight to cover, before mistiming a back-foot pull-type shot to mid-on, then gets one with a similar, straighter shot. Some intent here from Pakistan, but they’ve scored just seven runs from the last four overs.
32nd over: Pakistan 137-5 (Afridi 21, Misbah 20) - Pakistan need another 164 runs to win
Jadeja drops short, but Afridi’s pull isn’t particularly well struck and they get only a single. Misbah pushes rather airily at one off the back foot and gets another single, before Afridi sweeps at one that might have been an off-side wide had he left it, lapping out to the man on the square-leg fence for one. Three from the over, and while these two have done a solid job of stabilising the innings, it’s probably time to get lively now.
Meanwhile...
@NickMiller79 A rather late observation: those World Cup graphics must have crawled their way out of Too-early-Saturday-morning-children-TV
31st over: Pakistan 134-5 (Afridi 19, Misbah 19) - Pakistan need another 167 runs to win
Good first couple of balls from Mohit’s over, before Misbah mistimes a pull and it dribbles to an unattended area in the circle, but far enough for them to grab a single. Afridi then does get hold of a similar shot, but it goes directly to the fielder on the bounce, out in the deep, and they only get a single for it. Two runs from the over, and that simply isn’t enough now.
30th over: Pakistan 132-5 (Afridi 18, Misbah 18) - Pakistan need another 169 runs to win
Milk, milk, milk. Four relatively alarmless runs come, before Afridi goes down on one knee and wipes a sweep out to the square-leg boundary. Good over for Pakistan, but they basically need that every over for the remainder of the innings, with only five wickets left.
29th over: Pakistan 124-5 (Afridi 13, Misbah 15) - Pakistan need another 177 runs to win
Another bowling change, and Mohit is given the ball once more, skipping and hopping and jerking to the crease. Not much is pitched up, and Afridi waves at a very unconvincing pull attempt from a short one that was around shoulder height. Mohit then tries a yorker, but Afridi manages to dig it out for a single. Misbah then walks across the stumps for a single, and a few more come from the over. These two steadying things a bit, now.
28th over: Pakistan 119-5 (Afridi 11, Misbah 12) - Pakistan need another 182 runs to win
Ashwin’s back, and it’s a superb over. A maiden, in fact, halting what could have been the start of an onslaught by Pakistan. It probably helped that it was Misbah on strike rather than Afridi, but still fine bowling.
27th over: Pakistan 119-5 (Afridi 11, Misbah 12) - Pakistan need another 182 runs to win
It was only a matter of time before Afridi cut loose, and he’s basically invited to by Jadeja who drops one a little short, and ol’ Boom Boom booms it over the mid-wicket fence for the first six of the innings. He tries another next up, this time over cover, but doesn’t quite get hold of it and it drops just - just - short of the man rushing in from the fence. Good over for Pakistan, a few more singles getting them ten from it.
26th over: Pakistan 109-5 (Afridi 3, Misbah 10) - Pakistan need another 192 runs to win
Some short stuff now from Yadav, that Misbah deals with reasonably well. Afridi a little less so, but they both collect singles. Four of them from the over, in fact - two each.
Peter Miller is back:‘Turns out my comments about Kohli hadn’t factored in Pakistan cocking this up like a modern apprentice left alone doing an MOT without supervision.’
@NickMiller79 cricket, bloody hell!
25th over: Pakistan 105-5 (Afridi 1, Misbah 8) - Pakistan need another 196 runs to win
Here’s Shahid Afridi, and he plays a confident enough stroke first up, getting a single, before Misbah does the same so at least they salvage something from that over.
More trouble for Pakistan, as Jadeja gets one past Akmal’s edge and Dhoni goes up straight away. Not out is the initial decision, but India refer it straight away. Snicko doesn’t really pick up anything of note, but the slo-mo replays hint at an edge. There doesn’t look to be enough real evidence to overturn the decision, but overturned it is! Out, and Pakistan are in real trouble now. Akmal didn’t look overly vexed walking off, if you want to read anything into that.
24th over: Pakistan 102-4 (Akmal 0, Misbah 6) - Pakistan need another 199 runs to win
Umar Akmal is the new batsman, and he manages to avoid getting out in the last two balls of the over, but Pakistan have gone from ‘Relatively Comfortable’ to ‘Confirmed Wobble’ in the space of an over.
Sohaib Maqsood is the new man in, but before he can do any damage he plays a slightly rash flash outside off, getting an edge that bullets to Raina at slip, who holds a good catch just above his head. Great over for India.
That’s a fine catch, at the second attempt. Yadav bowls a not particularly threatening delivery, a bit short and a bit wide, and Shehzad properly gets hold of the cut. However, it’s too close to Jadeja at point, who reacts quickly to get his hands to it, juggles it a bit before clinging on second time around. Good fielding, largely because he didn’t panic after ‘dropping’ the first attempt.
23rd over: Pakistan 101-2 (Shehzad 47, Misbah 5) - Pakistan need another 200 runs to win
Jadeja continues, Misbah picking up one with a nice inside-out drive, before Shehzad brings up the Pakistan hundred with a back-foot punch. Misbah finds the rest of the over a little tricky to get away, collecting just one more single with a push down the ground.
Meanwhile, Peter Virgo writes: ‘Love your coverage but have to say that I hate that you cannot watch the game without having pay TV.’ And therein lies a lengthy debate.
22nd over: Pakistan 98-2 (Shehzad 46, Misbah 3) - Pakistan need another 203 runs to win
Yadav back into the attack, which is mildly curious, unless Dhoni is aware of keeping Ashwin back for later in the innings. That said, he keeps things tight with a single from Misbah first up, but Shehzad is looking increasingly skittish, jumping around the crease and waving at a short, wideish one outside off without really looking like he was going to make contact. That one looked like a man playing with a bat made of lead. He makes sound contact with the final ball of the over, but the straight drive is stopped well by the bowler, and it’s just one from Yadav’s return.
21st over: Pakistan 97-2 (Shehzad 46, Misbah 2) - Pakistan need another 204 runs to win
India really rattling through these overs now. Five from this one by Jadeja, Misbah pushing the first, then Shehzad picks up a couple of couples, firstly wide of cover then dabbed to third man.
20th over: Pakistan 92-2 (Shehzad 42, Misbah 1) - Pakistan need another 209 runs to win
Misbah goes ballsy first up facing Ashwin, attempting a big sweep that...well, we’ll just say it didn’t go brilliantly. He gets off the mark with a push to mid-on, before a rare error by Ashwin gives Shehzad a long hop that he hungrily pounces on, cutting behind square. Shehzad then gets his second boundary in a row by coming down the track and lofting a perfectly safe shot over mid-off.
Meanwhile, here’s a fine man with some thoughts. Peter Miller (no relation, writes: ‘First, India’s #WontGiveItBack hashtag is looking even more farcical. My kids tell me the same thing in ToysRUs
19th over: Pakistan 83-2 (Shehzad 34, Misbah 0) - Pakistan need another 218 runs to win
Shehzad cuts one from Jadeja out to third man and it almost goes for four, but they have to settle for two. He then plays a similar shot for what looks like a simple single, but they come back for an inexplicable and needless second, the throw comes in and Dhoni gathers superbly and flicks to the stumps, with Shehzad just - just - making his ground with a dive.
18th over: Pakistan 79-2 (Shehzad 30, Misbah) - Pakistan need another 222 runs to win
Belting over, and now the captain, Misbah ul-Haq, is in for Pakistan.
Ashwin again, and he keeps things tight, making Sohail defend the first four. A bit of turn, some nice overspin, some smart changes of pace - and then a wicket! Ashwin, from round the wicket, gets one just short of a length, pitching around middle/leg, to properly rip and catch a surprised Sohail’s edge, and Rohit Sharma gathers a regulation catch at slip. Genuinely superb bowling, that.
17th over: Pakistan 79-1 (Shehzad 30, Sohail 36) - Pakistan need another 222 runs to win
Another bowling change after drinks, and it’s Ravi Jadeja with the ball. A few singles from the first three, one more from the fifth then a nice cut gets Sohail three, and it would’ve been four were it not for some fine fielding from Jadeja’s fellow moustache Shikhar Dhawan.
16th over: Pakistan 72-1 (Shehzad 28, Sohail 31) - Pakistan need another 229 runs to win
After that maiden from Ashwin, the batsmen have a little more luck keeping that scoreboard a tickin’, three singles coming from the first three balls of the over. A leg slip comes in, and Shehzad almost gives him a pouch straight away, the ball falling just short of the man, before another single gives them five from the over.
15th over: Pakistan 67-1 (Shehzad 26, Sohail 28) - Pakistan need another 234 runs to win
Pakistan get rather more luck from Mohit’s pace, with Sohail flicking two round the corner - which is the drawback of coming round the wicket, in that the angle will make even something on middle-and-off ripe for a legside shot. A single brings Shehzad up, and he moves around in his crease like he’s trying to force the matter. And force it he does, flinging his front foot out somewhere towards mid-wicket and flashing a terrific shot over mid-off and to the ropes. He tries the same next up, but it goes straighter and while it’s high, it’s not timed, plugs about ten yards short of the fence and they get just the two.
14th over: Pakistan 58-1 (Shehzad 20, Sohail 25) - Pakistan need another 243 runs to win
Just the one over for Raina, as Ravi Ashwin is into the attack. Shehzad tries desperately to get the ball away, but there’s just enough turn and bounce, with the odd smart change of pace from Ashwin, to keep them to a rare maiden. Lovely bowling, that.
13th over: Pakistan 58-1 (Shehzad 20, Sohail 25) - Pakistan need another 243 runs to win
Woof! A conversation about the run rate between overs, perhaps? Shehzad takes a step down the track, he’s spotted by Mohit who bangs it in short, but no matter because the batsmen changes his shot mid-movement and Zorros a flamboyant pull out to the straight mid-wicket ropes. Shehzad then advances again, but that one is fuller and he only succeeds in yorking himself, the ball slipping well past the leg stump, before collecting a rapid single from a push to mid-on.
12th over: Pakistan 53-1 (Shehzad 15, Sohail 25) - Pakistan need another 248 runs to win
Suresh Raina has the ball for India, which given the mood the batsmen seem to be in, could be the start of some serious milking. Indeed, Sohail pushes a single first up, Sohail pierces the field for two, then perhaps misses out on a ropey long-hop but still collects a couple, before finishing the over with one down the ground. And, without any alarms or surprises, that’s an easy six from the over.
11th over: Pakistan 47-1 (Shehzad 10, Sohail 24) - Pakistan need another 254 runs to win
It’s been a steady start for Pakistan, and while they might have wanted a few more runs they have plenty of time to up the rate a touch. Sohail flips a single through mid-wicket off Mohit, but again that’s all, although Shehzad gave the umpire a lingering stare after a borderline high bouncer from the final ball.
10th over: Pakistan 46-1 (Shehzad 10, Sohail 23) - Pakistan need another 255 runs to win
A single for Sohail (which sounds a little like a coming of age play at a provincial theatre), but that’s yer lot from a drum-tight over by Shami.
9th over: Pakistan 45-1 (Shehzad 10, Sohail 22) - Pakistan need another 256 runs to win
Good over from Mohit...well, until he drifts onto the pads of Sohail, who casually whips one off said pads and out to fine leg for a single. Mohit, with his slightly curious run-up, then ends the over with a blooter outside off, that Shehzad is befuddled by and can probably surmise that it was a fine result that he didn’t get any bat on it.
I like to imagine Mohit Sharma’s run up was inspired by a coach telling him there was an invisible monster chasing him.
In t’other game, Zimbabwe’s chase is predictably in vain, bowled out for 277 chasing South Africa’s 339-4.
8th over: Pakistan 44-1 (Shehzad 10, Sohail 21) - Pakistan need another 257 runs to win
Shami gets a short one right, Shehzad arcing his back just enough to avoid the ball taking a layer of skin from his nose, but then Shami gets a short one just a touch wrong. Not quite short enough, a tad too straight, and Shehzad is emboldened enough to swish a pull over a wideish mid-wicket for four. Next up is a big old wide, and that’s that from the over.
7th over: Pakistan 39-1 (Shehzad 6, Sohail 21) - Pakistan need another 262 runs to win
That really was surreal from Dhoni. Not only did he not throw to the danger end, but he didn’t even seem aware there was anything amiss 22 yards away from him. Perhaps he didn’t get a shout. Anyway, Mohit Sharma is into the attack, and he is called for a front-foot no-ball, meaning Sohail has himself a free hit. That ball is short, and Sohail plays a cross-batted shot over mid-off for a couple. From the final ball of the over, Sohail strokes one through the covers but doesn’t quite time it, and they pick up two.
Meanwhile, for balance...
or another fact @NickMiller79 Pakistan has chased down 300+ targets only 5 times....4 of them have been against India!!!
6th over: Pakistan 34-1 (Shehzad 6, Sohail 17) - Pakistan need another 267 runs to win
Shehzad pushes a single off his pads, before Sohail leans onto the back foot and plays another lovely shot, thumping a couple through the off-side ring. Shami bowls another high wide, then comes round the wicket, an approach that seems to have a little more success, beating Sohail’s edge with a lovely line and length with just enough shape off the seam. Shami then tries another bumper, but again it’s too high and again a wide is given.
Then, high comedy. Sohail dabs past the slips for a regulation single, but for reasons best known to himself turns and darts back for a second that was never on. The throw reaches Dhoni with Shehzad scrambling halfway back down the pitch, but bafflingly the Indian keeper takes off the bails at his end, where Shehzad is safely in his ground, rather than throwing to the other, where Sohail is most certainly not. Terrible, hugely entertaining cricket all round.
5th over: Pakistan 28-1 (Shehzad 5, Sohail 14) - Pakistan need another 273 runs to win
Single for Shehzad, before the left-handed Sohail flashes outside off stump, it bullets through about where a third/fourth slip’s head would have been, but since there is no third/fourth slip everyone is safe, and it goes just fine of third man for four. Yadav gives a bouncer a bit of extra juice, but there’s too much juice in that one and, in the words of the prophet Richie, it would’ve taken Joel Garner standing on Joel Garner’s shoulders to reach that, and it’s a wide. The next two are pitched up, the trouble being that the first was on Sohail’s pads and he flicks it delightfully to the wide mid-wicket fence, and the second perfectly in the lefty’s off-drive wheelhouse, and that one rockets to the opposite side of the pitch. Couple of smashing shots, even if they were basically from throw-downs.
4th over: Pakistan 14-1 (Shehzad 4, Sohail 2) - Pakistan need another 287 runs to win
Haris Sohail is the new man, and he gets off the mark with a push through mid-wicket, which Mohit Sharma misfields turning one into two.
Oh, well that is a snorter from Shami, banging one in at Younis’s ribs and he gets into a frightful muddle, trying to flap the thing down to fine leg, but he only succeeds in flipping it in the air over his shoulder, and Dhoni pouches a simple catch.
3rd over: Pakistan 11-0 (Shehzad 4, Younis 6) - Pakistan need another 290 runs to win
Oh, that’s lovely. After that circumspect over, Younis breaks out a rather more fluent shot, flicking one through straight mid-wicket for the first boundary of this knock. The next ball turns him around so he ends up with his chest facing down the track, getting an edge, but soft hands and all that ensures the ball stays down and it’s a single rather than a wicket. Shehzad misses out on a delicious-looking buffet ball of a long-hop, but picks up two with a nice push to the on side. Good over for Pakistan.
2nd over: Pakistan 4-0 (Shehzad 2, Younis 1) - Pakistan need another 297 runs to win
Mohamed Shami is the other opening bowler, and unlike his colleague he’s on point straight away, serving Shehzad a nasty wee rib-tickler first up. The next one goes off a thick outside edge for a single, and Younis plays out the rest of the over with some caution until the last ball, when he swings at a slightly shorter and wider one, getting his first run off the cue-end of the bat. Surprisingly for such an experienced player, Younis doesn’t have a lot of practice in this position...
Younis Khan has only opened the batting twice before in his 262-match ODI career scoring 0 and 4. #CWC15#IndvPak
1st over: Pakistan 2-0 (Shehzad 1, Younis 0) - Pakistan need another 299 runs to win
Yadav bundles up to the crease...important to get this first ball right...first impressions and all that...statements etc...and it’s a big legside wide. A few more balls are played out cautiously before Shehzad gets off the mark with a clip off his hips. Younis’s first ball is nice line and length one that shapes away slightly, but the old-timer fishes at it badly and makes the ball look like Javagal Srinath in his prime. Decent first over from Yadav.
The players are out. Ahmed Shehzad and Younis Khan are the opening batsmen, while Umesh Yadav has the ball for India.
Stat for you, via Cricinfo: Pakistan have never chased more than 263 successfully in a World Cup match, so perhaps India have more than enough to have victory in the bag. We shall see. The Pakistan innings is imminent.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Zimbabwe are chasing 340 against South Africa, and they’re currently 218-4 in the 38th over. Prospects: optimistic.
Morning all. Nick Miller here. Any thoughts on Pakistan’s prospects? The score looks probably just about par, maybe just above, although in an admittedly small sample size, the average first innings total in this World Cup so far is 328. Email Nick.Miller@theguardian.com with any pearls of wisdom you might have.
Well, this should be a game. India batted really well at the start and through the middle, but couldn’t quite accelerate as they planned - thanks in significant part to some thoughtful and menacing death bowling from Sohail and Wahab. If Pakistan can get a good start - and they could, because India’s atack is not exactly fearsome - they could be onto this. And even if they don’t, ten overs of Afridi at the end could do the job. And whatever happens, this looks set for a suitable thriller.
Anyway, thanks all for your company - Nick Miller will take you through the rest of the day.
Shami decides to slog, edges, and they run one. Ashwin then bumps a single on the leg side, and Shami slogs again at the last ball, carving two on the off-side. Pakistan are very happy with their efforts, and Sohail Khan walks off brandishing the ball.
Good one too, a yorker that completely does Shami but misses off-stump by a smidgeon.
Fivefer for Sohail! He completely foxes Rahane with a slower one, making room to smash on the off-side, and clips the leg bail. After all the platform construction and reinforcement, this is going to be a gettable total. Here comes the hat-trick ball!
Dhoni mistimes a heave, beaten for pace by a shorter one, and top edges to Misbah, running in from mid-off.
Now we know why Misbah let Raina get going against the spinners. At the end of a brilliant over, a slower one does for Jadeja, who swings again, misses again, and this time it’s straight.
49th over: India 296-4 (Dhoni 18, Jadeja 3) Jadeja hits one to cover, has no interest in a run, but Dhoni does and Afridi shies when he might throw to the keeper; he misses, and backing up, Shah shies, and he misses too. Then, singles from each of the next three balls too - Riaz is bowling really fast here, no especial one-day tricks, just stuff that’s not fun to face. And there’s one that’s too quick for Jadeja who swings and misses, and then...
48th over: India 292-4 (Dhoni 16, Jadeja 1) Dhoni gets a single, then so does Jadeja, but the final ball’s a high full toss, and Dhoni’s never missing it, administering an almighty zetz over midwicket for six.
Raina heaves another one over to the leg side, and Haris Sohail does really well to hang on after he overruns it. That’s a crucial wicket for this game, but as regards the tournament, that’s another Indian batsman who’s located nick.
48th over: India 284-3 (Raina 74, Dhoni 9) Sohail Khan’s bowled well today, and after Dhoni takes a single Raina pulls over to the off-side in response to his first ball. He misses, it passes leg stump but not by much, and the umpire doesn’t call wide - Raina’s not impressed, but that looks a good call.
47th over: India 283-3 (Raina 74, Dhoni 8) Here comes Wahab Riaz again, and, after a long talking-to from Misbah, a dot. Raina clatters the next ball over the top of midwicket, but only for one, and Dhoni then connects equally well earning nothing. We’re told that Dhoni’s been working hard on his batting in the nets - er, isn’t that his job? - and he gets a single, before Raina edges a slower bouncer over his right shoulder, which drops short of the fielder and they run one. Then, just a single from the last ball, that’s a very acceptable over, just four from it.
46th over: India 279-3 (Raina 72, Dhoni 6) Pakistan were very pleased to get that wicket, but all it does is bring Dhoni to the wicket - and, second ball, he shmices with a straight bat through cover. Then, after a dot, a typical flick, wrists turning over, over the top to square-leg - they run two - and he looks in the mood.
Kohli slashes at a wide one outside off, and even Akmal can’t drop this. What an innings, though, perfectly constructed and perfectly paced. In particular, the running between the wickets was superb.
46th over: India 259-2 (Kohli 107, Raina 72) Shane Warne’s been pleading for yorkers, at least just for reasons of practise, and there’s one first ball from Sohail Khan, which earns him a dot.
45th over: India 273-2 (Kohli 107, Raina 72) No one puts Kohli in the shade, so, first ball, he cracks Irfan over midwicket. Next, a sternum-high full-toss - somehow, it’s not called no-ball, and they run one. All this does it bring Raina on strike, Irfan’s angle, from around the wicket, inviting the pull - and there it is, two bounces, four. Then a single, then Kohli pulls to the fielder at midwicket, one bounce, so Irfan responds with a full-bunger that would’ve cleared the head of Robert Walpole - no-ball, and a warning. He’s lucky the umpires missed the first one, else that’d be it for him.
44th over: India 259-2 (Kohli 101, Raina 65) Review! Raina makes room, edging to the leg side, and Wahab follows him - there’s an appeal, a not out call, and Misbah asks to go upstairs. For a second it looks like there’s been a glove, but it was off the pocket - great decision, Umpire Gould, even if he might have called wide. Then, after a dot, another that’s on leg, and Raina seizes upon it, helping it and whipping it for four, before steppoing well away from one on leg stump, hammering it down the ground for four more. Oh, and there’s another four, one bounce to square-leg, but he can’t get the fourth, instead clipping two to midwicket - that’s 14 from the over.
43rd over: India 245-2 (Kohli 101, Raina 51) Kohli nudges the first ball of the over to long-on, and that’s a very accomplished ton in the bag. What a player he is, and that’s him and Dhawan, coaxed into form - ominous for everyone. Next delivery Raina celebrates in style, quickly down on one knee to cream one over the square-leg rope, hitting with spin and bounce. Then, after three singles, one of which gives Raina fifty, the umpires call over early.
42nd over: India 235-2 (Kohli 99, Raina 43) Yasir returns, so it’s wrist spin from both ends, and after a single to Kohli, Raina takes two down to long-on - the straight boundaries are long, and the fielder’s not alive to it. But no need for him next ball! Raina ambles down the track and clobbers one with the spin for six over midwicket! What a shot that was, picked up, legs out of the way, arms free, so quickly. Single next ball, then one to Virat, taking him to 99.
41st over: India 224-2 (Kohli 97, Raina 34) Afridi returns, and Kohli mistimes an aggressive pull so gets only one. Next ball, Raina heaves with the spin, over the infield, but the sweeper cuts it off at the rope and they run two. Then a single of each of the last four balls, and still India haven’t stepped on it.
40th over: India 217-2 (Kohli 94, Raina 30) Surely the push will start now. Or not, as the case is, India content to bunt it about. But Raina is intimating authority, stepping to off and glancing a cross-batted pull towards the square-leg boundary like a man who knows exactly what he’s doing - most likely because he does. Just 25 from the powerplay.
39th over: India 213-2 (Kohli 92, Raina 28) With Irfan forced around the wicket, he slants his first ball into Virat’s pads, and it’s easily glanced away for four - Misbah experiences displeasure with him, and Afridi experiences the same with Misbah. Irfan responds well, with two dots and a single, earning the luck when a leg-side slower ball is turned by Raina, straight to the man at 45. He wastes it, though, with a bouncer that’s called wide, and then another wide one, this time outside off-stump, is stretched for a single down to point.
38th over: India 205-2 (Kohli 87, Raina 27) In comes Wahab, and over the top goes Raina, he doesn’t get hold of it exactly as he’d like, but with all but three fielder in the circle, he knows he’ll have to miscue majorly to get out. Then a pull gets a single to square-leg, before Wahab goes around the wicket, firing a lifter at Kohli that rushes him - it’s quick - and misses the edge. Great ball. And a pretty good over, too, everything back of a length to force the batsmen back, into the wind, too.
37th over: India 200-2 (Kohli 86, Raina 22) Irfan’s back, around the wicket to preserve his presence. He starts with a classic of the genre, a wide yorker that’s bumped for one to mid-off. Then Raina takes two into the covers, and next ball, plays one down to Shehzad at point. He’s keen for a single, but once bitten forever smitten, Kohli sends him back - he makes it, just.
36th over: India 196-2 (Kohli 85, Raina 19) India take the powerplay, and Riaz returns. I’d wager a lot of money that Raina is a spectacular cuddler, and he edges the first ball here to third man. Kohli retorts with a single of his own, and then Raina guides one through point for one more, and then Kohli flays one to a similar area.
35th over: India 192-2 (Kohli 83, Raina 17) Good over from Afridi, this, just two from it - but Raina is set now. Hard to see this ending well for Pakistan, though on the other hand, if they’d not got Raina and bowled a frontliner, they could suffer even harder at the death than they’re going to.
34th over: India 190-2 (Kohli 82, Raina 16) After a quiet start to the over, Raina thumps his core into one and Shah dives on the midwicket fence, only to palm it over the bar at his top right-hand corner for six. If he’d been stuck on, as he should’ve been given the shortness of the boundary, he’d have caught that easily.
33rd over: India 181-2 (Kohli 80, Raina 9) Afridi replaces Shah, and Raina takes two then one, before Kohli edges one through his legs precisely to where Irfan is being hidden at fine leg. He’s tall, you see, which is very funny, you see, and they run an improbable, probable three.
32nd over: India 173-2 (Kohli 76, Raina 5) Haris Sohail continues his left-arm tweaks - the question, I suppose is whether Pakistan rush through his overs now, while Raina plays himself in, or try to get another wicket with a frontline bowler, on the basis that he’ll score off whoever once he’s comfy. Oh and there’s a drop! Kohli goes forward and edges, thick enough to see with the naked eyes, and it goes in and out of Akmal’s gloves - as, I’m afraid, you might expect.
31st over: India 170-2 (Kohli 75, Raina 3) Shah continues, racing through his over for the cession of five singles. When will India get after it?
30th over: India 165-2 (Kohli 73, Raina 0) India send out another lefty, ahead of Rahane and Dhoni - gosh, it’s hardly worth getting a wicket. Kohli drives to cover for two.
Poor man, poor man, poor man! Kohli rocks back to a full one, nudges to square-leg and Dhawan wants a single - it’s his call. Even so, Kohli sends him back, he listens, and Shehzad’s throw beats him. Excellent fielding.
30th over: India 163-1 (Dhawan 73, Kohli 71) Two to Dhawan one to Kohli, and then Kohli cuts a short wide one to the fence; of course he does. But then!
29th over: India 156-1 (Dhawan 72, Kohli 65) Kohli turns one away on the leg side for two, but Shah is still enjoying himself. At which point my computer crashed, but Dhawan smote two boundaries, it would seem.
28th over: India 144-1 (Dhawan 63, Kohli 62) Haris Sohail into the attack, filling in - that’s not how Misbah would’ve wanted it, I shouldn’t wonder - and Kohli takes two to cover off his first ball. India could chose to go after him, or they could choose to further furnish their platform - for now, it’s the latter.
27th over: India 139-1 (Dhawan 62, Kohli 58) Kohli nudges one past short cover and once it’s beaten the fielder, takes a single. Then, Dhawan bumps one to midwicket, they run two, Wahab hits the stumps with his throw, and the umpires go upstairs for no reason. The crowd don’t mind, but, hollering when the not out verdict appears on the scoreboard. Anyhow, the platform has been constructed; time to watch it, I fancy.
26th over: India 134-1 (Dhawan 59, Kohli 56) Irfan’s warned for running on the wicket, which, of course, elicits more commentary box chuckling about his being tall. Did you know he was tall? Yes! Kohli sneaks a quick single, and the throw hits him on the back - the crowd enjoy it, and he smiles a grimace and grimaces a smile. Gosh, another warning for Irfan, who’s blowing hard and losing form - if he does that once more, he’s out of the attack. This is going to test him mentally as well as physically, and he goes to around the wicket, while the batsmen bring up the 100 partnership. Loud music’s pumping out of the speakers - it should be the Jaws music, but it’s not.
“From an Indian watching in India,” starts Deepak. “Good match, not quite a classic yet. That’ll come when India get to 320, Pakistan start brilliantly, suffer a middle-order batting collapse, and then Afridi, helped by ineffectual Indian death bowling, clobbers them to within 5 of the target, runs himself out and hands India the match. I hope.” Me and all - but I can’t see this being close now.
25th over: India 131-1 (Dhawan 58, Kohli 54) Whenever I hear the name Shikhar Dhawan I find myself singing the below, and now I’m inflicting it on you. You’re welcome. Yasir Singh’s bowling pretty quickly here, as he does - and this is a good over, just four from it.
24rd over: India 127-1 (Dhawan 57, Kohli 52) Pakistan are calmly desperate here, bringing Irfan back into the attack - but not setting him the kind of field that will help him break this partnership. The batters take a single each, then, fourth ball, Irfan’s called wide for a bouncer as Warne extols the skill of Shah and his ability to intimate sidespin and employ overspin. Irfan then encourages Kohli to p[lay away from his body, waving the bat gently - the ball whizzes just past its edge, but that was a lovely delivery.
23rd over: India 122-1 (Dhawan 55, Kohli 50) “Looks like he’s just bowling deliveries,” says Warne of Singh, rushing in trying to bowl dots, with no plan. He advises a slower process. But Kohli’s not fussed - after a single each, he prances down the track to paste one down to long-on with those nails writs - where, inexplicably, Irfan is stationed, collapsing well over the top of it. Then a single gives him his 50, and, last ball, Shah coaxes one into Dhawan’s pad - they appeal, contemplate a review, do nothing.
22nd over: India 115-1 (Dhawan 54, Kohli 44) Dhawan bottom-edges an attempted cut and that’s 50 for him, an excellent, skilful, disciplined effort - just what he and his team needed. Kohli’s looking to move things on now, standing tall and whacking to cover, but only getting one. Warne reckons India have decided to keep wickets in hand for a slog at the end - and he’s right, obviously, as regards today - but through the tournament. And Dhawan shows how it’s done, slamming a wide one for four over point. Not so good from Wahab.
21st over: India 109-1 (Dhawan 49, Kohli 43) Lovely shot Kohli, skipping to leg, freeing his arms, and crunching an inside-outer over mid-off. Shah comes back well next ball, but then Kohli snaps onto a quicker one, cutting the flipper behind square for four more, and people are going to suffer for their studiousness.
20th over: India 98-1 (Dhawan 47, Kohli 35) Wahab comes around the wicket to Kohli, and he’s found a fair lick, 147.7 kph. But the batsmen are confident now - their running has been excellent - and they take four consecutive singles. At some point, these two are going to go mad - you can almost hear the self-denial - but, for the meantime, they’re making sure.
19th over: India 94-1 (Dhawan 45, Kohli 33) Right then, here comes Yasir Shah, with a skip and pivot, starting well with three dots. But then Kohli pulls a short one to cover for one, and Dhawan leans back to spank one through cover for four.
18th over: India 89-1 (Dhawan 41, Kohli 31) My days, just looking at what South Africa did - 111 off the last six overs, 30 off the last. That’s illegal in some countries. Kohli inside-edges onto his pad, and still wants a single - Dhawan says no. Then, a single next ball, a dot, and one wide, leg-side, that sits up - Dhawan’s not missing out there, helping it on its way to the fine leg fence, bringing up the 50 partnership.
17th over: India 82-1 (Dhawan 36, Kohli 29) This is fascinating stuff, but it also feels like we’ve had the slow middle overs from the start. Dhawan’s beaten by one in the flight but recovers to grab a single anyway, and then Kohli stands tall as a flipper from Afridi rushes him - he edges a pull for two. A further single each, and that’s over; Pakistan badly need a wicket.
16th over: India 75-1 (Dhawan 34, Kohli 24) Wahab runs through the crease first ball, then Dhawan digs him out down towards mid-on and they run one. Trying to maintain, I flip, fill the clip to the tip, excuse me, I was overtaken by rhyme for a moment. The batsmen are starting to take charge now, Kohli flicking one off his hip and dragging Dhawan through for two. Then another single, then Wahab sending down an aggressive bouncer; that’s a bit more like it.
15th over: India 71-1 (Dhawan 33, Kohli 21) Dhawan drives a single down to long-on, then Kohli takes two to cover, helped by Irfan’s slowness, before swiping a sweep across the line, hard, for four. Drinks.
14th over: India 62-1 (Dhawan 31, Kohli 14) Wahab Riaz into the attack and third ball, he sends one into Dhawan’s slot outside off. He flashes hard, and it’s only just wide of the diving Shehzad - they run two. Four others come from the over, and this is now almost peculiar, both teams happy to pootle.
South Africa finished on 339-4 - deaire me, what a partnership between Miller 138* and Duminy 115*, 256. Miller hit nine sixes a World Cup record.
13th over: India 56-1 (Dhawan 28, Kohli 11) Again, singles off the first three balls - Afridi won’t mind that at all - and four from the over in total. Both sides are probably quite pleased with things. Ahhhhh.
12th over: India 52-1 (Dhawan 26, Kohli 9) Singles off Sohail’s first three balls, then a dot, and then Kohli pulls one low from outside off-stump - he’s powered this off his back foot - and it’s four. Still, this is a pretty nifty start from Pakistan.
11th over: India 45-1 (Dhawan 24, Kohli 4) Afridi into the attack, and Dhawan snaps his first ball off the pads for one. Then, Kohli pulls one over the top of midwicket and Shah skates around the boundary - it’s a great catch if he takes it, a steepler in reverse that ends up down by his ankles - but also one he should perhaps take once he’s there. He doesn’t. Mark Nicholas compares it to this one, but it’s nowhere near as hard.
10th over: India 42-1 (Dhawan 22, Kohli 3) Kohli gets another one behind square on the off side, and we’re compensated for the slow start by a quick MOmentum from Brett Lee. He’s very enamoured of Sohail’s action, but as you’ll see from Wasim’s masterclass that specifically references Lee, a beautiful action makes it easy to see the ball; a washing machine style, not so much.
9th over: India 40-1 (Dhawan 21, Kohli 2) Kohli flashes a dab at a wide one, adding a second single to third man. Then, Dhawan flips one around the corner, gets less of it than intended, and it speeds away even faster and finer, to the fine leg fence. Also, she sells seashells on the seashore.
8th over: India 35-1 (Dhawan 17, Kohli 1) Presusre in these two batsmen now - Dhawan is trying to play himself back into form, and Kohli is Kohli. He’s welcomed to the wicket by some tremendous noise, and finds a single third ball to get underway, cutting to wide third man. That ought probably to have been four.
Oh, this could be a huge moment! Sohail bowls back of a length, Sharma swipes to go send a drive sizzling over the top of midwicket, it’s not that short so he’s on the front foot, and it also moves away, so he top edges, and loops one to Misbah trotting in from mid-off.
7th over: India 33-0 (Sharma 15, Dhawan 16) India must really fancy their middle order - with good reason, it’s true, but even so, they appear to have decided that a decent total will be enough to win, so aren’t aiming for a monster. But, as I type that, Dhawan gets under one - he doesn’t quite middle it, but with no fielder at square-leg, it goes for six. Irfan won’t mind that too much if Dhawan’s prepared to keep going, though most likely, he took the chance because no fielder was anywhere near his intended area. Then, Dhawan dabs one to point, charges off, and Younis shies at the striker’s end, missing as Rohit makes his ground. Two more off the final ball, and that’s nine from the over.
6th over: India 24-0 (Sharma 13, Dhawan 9) Dhawan pulls to long leg for a single, as Warne reminds us that the pitch is a road. “Roads?” no one says when they should. Rohit nurdles one to midwicket, then Rohit twists one behind and they amble another.
Meanwhile, at Hamilton, South Africa are fighting back superbly against Zimbabwe. From 83-4, they’re now 220-4 off 43, Miller 82 not out and Duminy on 59.
5th over: India 13-0 (Sharma 12, Dhawan 8) Rohit is ready for Irfan first ball, leaning into one that’s too straight and flicking it hard, in the air but perfectly safe, wide of midwicket. But he responds well, with three dots, and then another, extra bounce and movement taking it away from the batsman. The final delivery, though, is yorker length, on the face of it, handy enough, but Rohit somehow makes room to get his bat underneath, carving it away for four more to cover-point.
“Have the commentators mentioned how big this Pakistani chap is yet?” asks Edward Pritchard. I’m not sure, but I think the first hour is crucial.
4th over: India 13-0 (Sharma 4, Dhawan 8) Warne tells us that Wasim Akram was the most skilful bowler he ever faced - and, if you’ve never seen his masterclass, do; it’s below. Back at Adelaide, a single a piece, and then the gentle pace of Sohail sits up for Dhawan, who spanks a square-cut to the point fence for the first boundary of the game.
3rd over: India 7-0 (Sharma 3, Dhawan 3) Apparently Kohli was taking left-arm throwdowns from someone on a stool to get ready for Irfan, and he’s started well here. Sharma thick-edges a single to third man, and then a bouncer jags menacingly close to Dhawan’s newtons. Oh, and there’s another that gets big, Dhawan dropping the wrists but unable to get out of the road, relieved to see the ball rush wide of second slip. They run one.
2nd over: India 5-0 (Sharma 2, Dhawan 2) Sohail Khan with the ball and his first one rushes Dhawan, who digs it out. Sohail wants a review, and is summarily dismissed with an irritated gesture that Dhawan’s middled it; oh dear. Dhawan takes a single, then a wide, then another single. Good start for Pakistan.
1st over: India 2-0 (Sharma 1, Dhawan 1) Pakistan can’t be chuffed to have lost the toss; inferior teams have got to be better getting themselves in the game, especially on these tracks, rather than having it taken away from them. Or, put another way, what on earth was Eoin Morgan thinking? Anyway, Sharma lets the first two balls go by outside off, then plays a forward defensive and then opens the face guide one to point. Dhawan wants another - it’s never on - and is sent back. There’s a brilliant racket in the ground, and Warne’s telling us that on his plane, there were chants of “India! India!”. Another single, then Sharma plays inside Irfan’s final ball, if we’re being generous, which, of course, we’re not - he’s beaten by a pearler.
Mohammad Irfan is going to open the bowling.
India v Pakistan, yeah.
Dhawan and Sharma trot out. India v Pakistan!
MS Dhoni has sensible hair. I don’t really know what to think about anything anymore.
Question 1: When watching sport at peculiar hours of one’s day, does one: sleep the previous afternoon to get some miles on the clock, or go to bed early and get up before time?
Question 2: Sleeping tips that don’t include 17 tins of Personality Provider.
And here they come! The desiderby is upon us!
Our teams:
India: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, AM Rahane, SK Raina, MS Dhoni*†, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin,UT Yadav, MM Sharma, Mohammed Shami
If Virat Kohli gets going here, Pakistan are going to have a problem - and everyone else too. It’s hard to see India bothering the better teams on the one hand, but, on the other, one-day cricket is a batsman’s game, a department in which they’re not short.
One billion.
They reckon in excess of one billion people will be watching this little conflab. Just think about that for a second - or don’t.
AJ Strauss has been watching too much football - he’s taken to prefixing every use of “match” or “ball” with cricket. At least there are no clubs in the international game.
Biscuit news: I’m currently conversing with quadruple chocolate cookies. At how many uples will it all end?
“It’s almost like a freakshow,” says AJ Strauss of facing Mohammad Irfan. And then explains that the bounce at Adelaide can be a bit sticky, and hard to get on top of.
As well as being hotter than Lord Flasheart’s pants, the pitch is hard and dry - I imagine India will be looking at 320 minimum.
It’s 39 degrees in Adelaide.
India have picked three quicks and two spinners, Pakistan have Umar Akmal keeping to sneak in another bowler - Sarfraz Ahmed is out and Younis Khan will open the batting.
The ground’s already noisy as teamsheets are swapped and MS tosses the special coin. Misbah calls heads, unaware that tails never fails, and tails it is; India will bat.
Misbah and MS are on their way to the middle for the toss, accompanied by enthusiasm’s Mark Nicholas.
Every evening at Wagah, the border sitting between Amritsar, India and Lahore, Pakistan, takes place a choreographed ceremony: amidst much pomp, pomposity, marching and spectators, the flags of each country are lowered, each military trying to impart as much disgust towards the other as possible. There exists rivalry.
Rivalry that transposes into the middle. There is no greater conflict in cricket, perhaps not in all sport, except that because it’s sport, it’s wonderful, magnificent, spectacular and wonderful.
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