Virat Kohli’s 55 inspires Indian win over Pakistan
World T20, 19th Match, Super 10 Group 2: India v Pakistan at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Mar 19, 2016
Pakistan 118/5 (18 of 20 ov) Ahmed Shehzad 25 off 28 balls 3 fours, Umar Akmal 22 off 16 balls , 1 four and 1 six, Shoaib Malik 26 off 16 balls 3 fours and 1 six, A Nehra 20-1, RA Jadeja 20-1, SK Raina 4-1, HH Pandya 25-1, JJ Bumrah 32-1
India 119/4 (15.5 ov) Virat Kohli 55 not out off 37 balls 7 fours and 1 six, Yuvraj Singh 24 off 23 balls 1 four and 1 six, MS Dhoni 13 not out off 9 balls 1 six, Mohammad Sami 17-2, Mohammad Amir 11-1, Wahab Riaz 16-1
India won by six wickets with 13 balls remaining.
India defeated Pakistan 6 times in ODIs and this was the 5th tome in T20Is. India needed to win this match to stay in contention for the World T20. Kholi executed two scorching cover drives when the bat rarely strayed away from his body and he reached his fifty without much twist and turn as jerk and veer, breathing life into their hopes of reachinghte World Twenty 20 semi-finals.
Earlier Pakistan’s lower order knocked 51 runs off the last 5 overs through Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal. Earlier Anhmed Shehzad gave Pakistan a dream start 25 off 28 balls but others could not capitalise on this.
The entire match was dominated by the surface on which it was played as it assisted the spinners and at times batting was impossible.Pakistan mis-read the conditions and omitted left-arm spinner Imad Wasim in favour of Mohammad Sami who bowled Shikar Dhawan and Suresh RAina in successive deliveries.
Pakistan face the challenge of New Zealand on 22nd March 2016, Tuesday in Chandigarh, while India meet Bangladesh in Bangalore on Wednesday 23rd March 2016.
Pakistan have never won against India in six World Cup Matches in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2915. They also did not fare well in the four World Cup T2o encounters two in 2007,2012, 2014.