THE KING is back! Not even Martin Scorsese's movies will give you the chills that India-Pakistan games does. The jump-scares, the oomph factor, some thrilling cameos and others producing enthralling exhibition of energy. Over 90 thousand packed MCG was electric today.
Virat Kohli, one of the best finishers of the game, showed the magic he creates. Once looking like an impossible target to achieve, Kohli made sure to take India over the line. This would be all from our side, we wish all our readers a very Happy Diwali.
The DECIDING over:
INDIA BEAT PAKISTAN
Total runs scored: 16
Ball by ball: W 1 2 N6 Wd B3 W Wd 1
19th Over:
The all important over! Rauf's over, came out like a wonder but only Kohli's magic would have justice. He hits on the top of the bounce for a magnificent six. Another maximum! Kohli on FIRE!
Total runs scored: 15
Ball by ball: 1 1 0 1 6 6
18th Over:
Half century for Virat Kohli! It comes after a brilliant pull off Shaheen Afridi. Virat surely saves his best against Pakistan as he scores another 4. He scores another boundary on the last ball of the over.
Total runs scored: 17
Ball by ball: 4 Wd 2 4 1 1 4
17th Over:
Total runs scored: 6
Ball by ball: 1 2 0 1 0 2
16th Over:
Rauf bowled in excess of 145s, hit the pitch hard and was able to get extra bounce, and it was hard to fetch a boundary in his over by Indian batters.
Total runs scored: 6
Ball by ball: 0 1 0 1 Wd3 0 1
15th Over:
Naseem into the attack. After working out singles, Virat Kohli went again for a boundary, flicking it while dancing down the track for four.
Total runs scored: 10
Ball by ball: 2 1 1 4 1 1
14th Over:
Kohli shows his class, goes for a boundary on the first ball of Shadab.
Total runs scored: 7
Ball by ball: 4 1 0 1 0 1
13th Over:
Another fine boundary picket by Virat Kohli on the fourth ball. Over was dealt with singles previously. India on the march here. Shaheen, though, end the over with a cracker of a yorker, but Hardik survived.
Total runs scored: 9
Ball by ball: 1 2 1 4 1 0
12th Over:
First six by Hardik on the first ball of Mohammad Nawaz, deposited into deep mid-wicket. Virat Kohli later on tried flicking but the ball went up in the air, off the pads, and was caught by the keeper. Pakistan went for the review but was adjudged not out by the fourth umpire. He then dances and meets the ball for a beautiful six. This is still not over as Hardik went for a biggie again.
Total runs scored: 20
Ball by ball: 6 1 0 6 1 6
11th Over:
A much needed boundary in the second ball of Shadab Khan by Hardik Pandya on the on side. 9 from the over.
Total runs scored: 9
Ball by ball: 0 4 1 1 1 2
10th Over:
Spinners operating from both ends, it's going well for Pakistan. India still dealing in singles, just four from the over.
Total runs scored: 4
Ball by ball: 0 1 2 0 0 1
9th Over:
Total runs scored: 3
Ball by ball: 1 1 0 0 0 1
8th Over:
India in all sorts of trouble, only three recognised batters left. Virat and Hardik dealt the over in singles, and rightly so. But the run-rate has climbed up to 10 and the innings needs to be accelerated as soon as possible.
Total runs scored: 5
Ball by ball: 1 0 1 1 1 1
7th Over:
Total runs scored: 2
Ball by ball: W 0 1 0 1 0
WICKET!
Akshar Patel is run out.
6th Over:
WICKET!
After a brilliant four, Surya lost his wicket to Rauf. Pakistan on top and India in deep trouble. It has all fallen on Virat Kohli's shoulders now.
Total runs scored: 9
Ball by ball: 0 4 W 2 L1 2
5th Over:
Rauf did make Surya uncomfortable but he was able to weather good deliveries. India dealing in singles thus far.
Total runs scored: 5
Ball by ball: 0 0 3 1 0 1
4th Over:
After Rohit's wicket, Suryakumar didn't miss out on a full delivery and plays a wonderful off drive to get off the mark. There was a three post that.
Total runs scored: 7
Ball by ball: 0 W 4 3 0 0
WICKET!
Rohit Sharma is gone, edged it to the slips. Haris Rauf takes his wicket.
3rd Over:
Virat Kohli looks good as he almost got a boundary off Afridi. The last ball struck on his pads but umpire didn't seem interested. Kohli and Rohit will look to steady the ship.
Total runs scored: 3
Ball by ball: 0 1 0 2 0 0
2nd Over:
WICKET!
KL Rahul is gone. Naseem Shah takes his wicket.
After Shaheen's over where India didn't give any wicket, India lost KL Rahul to Naseem after he was played on. The pitch is not the same in the second innings and there has been no big movement so far but Naseem, with his extra pace, made sure to send Rahul back to the pavillion.
Total runs scored: 2
Ball by ball: 0 0 2 0 W 0
1st Over:
Total runs scored: 5
Ball by ball: 0 1 1 1 0 2
India's innings up next...
The Last Over:
Bhuvi started off with a wide but takes important wicket of Shaheen Shah Afridi. Afridi scored 16 important runs from just 8 balls. A missed yorker by Bhuvneshwar meant, new batter Haris Rauf cleared it easily for a six.
Total runs scored: 10
19th Over:
Masood scores a useful half-century and has immensely contributed to Pakistan's innings. But the highlight of the over was Afridi's pull for six against Arshdeep Singh. And this was not it as he scored a powerful boundary in the next ball. An expensive over for India, a good one for Pakistan.
Total runs scored: 10
Ball by ball: 0 4 4 0 1 1
18th Over:
Masood got the outside edge and the ball sped up to the boundary in the third man for four runs. He hits another one down the ground, accelerating Pakistan's innings.
Total runs scored: 10
Ball by ball: 0 4 4 0 1 1
17th Over:
Total runs scored: 9
Ball by ball: 1 2 1 W 2 Wd 2
WICKET!
Arshdeep removes Asif Ali!
16th Over:
Nawaz scored a boundary in the second ball off Hardik Pandya. And there was another one inside out, well through the covers. But Nawaz's innings soon came to a halt as a short delivery nicked his bat and went into the gloves of Dinesh Karthik.
Ball by ball: 1 4 0 4 W 1
-- At the end of 15 overs, Pakistan are struggling at the moment. Ashwin did well but missed out on wickets.
Ball by ball: 1 Wd 0 1 2 2 1
After 13th Over:
Hardik struck twice to dismiss Shadab Khan and Haider Ali. Pakistan in all sorts of trouble.
Ball by ball:
12th Over:
Ball by ball: 0 W 0 4 0 1
WICKET!
Super Shami bowls full and get rids of Iftikhar, the aggressor. A good half century by the Pakistan batter though. He scores 51 runs in just 34 balls.
11th Over:
3 sixes! Big over for Pakistan, thanks for Iftikhar. The run-rate has definitely accelerated due to this over by Axar Patel. 21 runs in the over.
Ball by ball: 6 0 6 6 0 3
10th Over:
After a missed catch, Ashwin went for a six off Iftikhar. The Pakistani batters have realised to up the ante now and are taking risks at the moment. However, expect Ashwin to comeback in the match soon. He had a decent over until the six.
Ball by ball: 1 0 2 0 6 1
9th Over:
Ball by ball: 2 1 1 4 1 L1
8th Over:
Shami almost had Shan Masood as Ashwin couldn't bring his finger underneath the ball after the top edge by Masood went up high in the air. Could have been wicket if Ashwin was tad faster while approaching the ball.
Ball by ball: Wd 0 L1 1 0 0 0
7th Over:
Hardik almost had Masood run out but a piece of bat was inside the crease. But a great fielding effort by Hardik. The Indian all-rounder is deceptively fast and has hit the pitch hard thus far. A boundary was conceded, however, through top edge.
Ball by ball: 0 3 0 1 1 4
6th Over:
The pitch seem to be going out of equation as the match progresses. Mohammed Shami's over proved to be an expensive one with a boundary, a three and a single and we come to the end of the power play. All in all, India is right up there in the game.
Ball by ball: 0 0 4 3 0 1
5th Over:
Pakistan are at 24/2 at the end of 5 overs.
Ball by ball: 0 3 2 0 4 0
4th Over:
What a wonderful addition Arshdeep has been. He bowled an enthralling over, kept the batters on toes and removed one of the most consistent Rizwan with a bouncer as he tried to pull it but the ball took the upper edge and was caught by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Ball by ball: 4 1 0 0 0 W
WICKET!
Arshdeep on Fire. Removes Mohammad Rizwan.
3rd Over:
Another brilliant over by Bhuvneshwar. India is on top at the moment and will look to make the best of the conditions. Shan Masood struggled in the over with Bhuvneshwar pin-point swinging deliveries.
Ball by ball: Wd 0 0 2 0 1 0
2nd Over:
Arshdeep bowled an exceptional over barring the last delivery where he conceded a boundary. Dismissed Babar Azam and swungg the ball off the pitch that had the batters struggling.
Ball by ball: W 0 0 0 1 4
WICKET!
Arshdeep Singh swings it in with an upright seam to dismiss the big fish. Babar Azam is gone for a duck.
1st Over:
The second ball off Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck Rizwan's hand. Bhuvneshwar has had a terrific start to the match, extracting enough swing and bounce to disrupt the Pakistani opener. The condition are overcast and there is enough movement on offer for the India bowler. Just one run off wide in the over.
Ball by ball: 0 0 0 0 0 Wd 0
Sensational atmosphere, decibel would certainly be crossing the legal limits here. The two Pakistani openers -- Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are on the crease.
National Anthem plays....
Hardik Pandya: Have many fond memories here, I made my T20I debut in Australia, and from there the journey has continued. It's good to be back here, you can't get a better place to play sport and enjoy. The body is fine, I think you should put that topic about my body on rest, you will see me bowling. We are playing international cricket, it's not only about Pakistan bowlers. Any team which is playing will have quality bowing at this level, international cricket has certain standards. So we all are aware about it and as a batting unit we have had a word about it. We have worked very hard to come here. The team that plays well, wins the contest.
Melbourne: India won the toss in the all-important Super 12 fixture against Pakistan and chose to field here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.
What the captains said?
Babar Azam: Toss is not in our hands. We'll try to post around 160-170. We have prepared well, and we are ready for this big game. We won a series back home, we played a tri-series in New Zealand, so we are prepared. We have three fast bowlers and two spinners.
Rohit Sharma: We are going to field first. Looks like a good pitch, it's always nice to bowl with overcast conditions. Think the ball will swing around a bit, and we need to take its advantage. Preparations have been good. We played a couple of practice games in Brisbane. Time to come out and enjoy ourselves now. We were expecting nothing less than this, hopefully we'll entertain them (the crowd). We have seven batters, three seamers and two spinners.
Teams:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Pitch report: The pitch has a decent grass cover and will assist pacers at the beginning who should be able to extract good pace and bounce. All in all, it's a good batting surface and we might be in for good scores from each side. The trick would be to weed out the pressure and take on the bowlers fearlessly.
Welcome to the live updates on mother of all clashes -- India vs Pakistan. It is that time of the year when the giants of the games lock horns in a full-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Nothing better than to see crowd cheering the team, singing national songs, using that perfect riff of the guitar and beating drums in unison. Hold on to your seats with plenty to snack on as the enthralling contest won't provide you any breather.
