Ind vs Pak T20 World Cup Blog; Live cricket scores and commentary

Ind vs Pak T20 World Cup

MATCH SUMMARY: When Gambhir departed for a duck, Pakistan might have sniffed a chance. However, Kohli once again batted brilliantly and took the attack to the opposition. He negotiated the Pakistan spinners brilliantly as they coasted to the target. However, they would be slightly disappointed that they did not get to the target in 16.4 overs.
Before this match started, it was written that a jinx might be broken today. For millions of Indian fans, their jinx was broken. India have finally snapped a seven match losing streak in the Super Eights by registering a eight wicket win over Pakistan. This will go a long way in boosting their confidence after they were hammered by Australia.
THE EQUATION: The NRR of Pakistan currently is -0.43 and India's is -0.45. This throws the group wide open. The situation now is that both Pakistan and India are on 2 points. Australia are on four points and they have a great NRR. So, Australia are almost through. This throws a life-line to South Africa who have to win their last match against India and hope that Australia beat Pakistan.
10:17 pm | 16.6 overs: It's all over! Ajmal to Yuvraj, 1 run, India win, oh boy, Pakistan just cannot defeat India in a World Cup, flatter ball on the middle and leg stump, Yuvraj closes the bat face and works it to long leg to seal what has been a comprehensive 8-wicket win for India.
10:15 pm | 16.5 overs: Ajmal to Virat Kohli, 1 run, quick and full ball on the pads, Kohli flicks it to backward square leg, India's NRR cannot go above Pakistan now.
10:12 pm | 15.6 overs: Umar Gul to Virat Kohli, FOUR, full and wide delivery outside off, Kohli reaches out for it and bludgeons the drive to the extra cover fence, the fifty partnership is up and 16 runs have come in that over
10 pm | 12 overs: In reply to Pakistan's 128 all out, India are 84/2 at the stage with Virat Kohli (52) and Yuvraj Singh (1) in the middle.
9:58 pm | 11.3 overs: Ajmal to Virat Kohli, 2 runs, flatter ball on the pads, Kohli clips it to deep square leg for a couple, gets to his 4th T20I FIFTY, what a player, truly a masterclass.
Yuvraj Singh, left handed bat, comes to the crease
9:52 pm | 10.3 overs: WICKET! Shahid Afridi to Sehwag, out Caught by Umar Gul!! This time he perishes. Good catch by Gul. Afridi floats this full delivery just outside off, Sehwag looks to launch it over the ropes at long off, but he does not time it well, Gul takes the catch over his head and he backpedals, he is close to the ropes but he manages to keep his balance and stop before his back foot touches the ropes. Sehwag c Umar Gul b Shahid Afridi 29(24) [4s-4] (India 75/2 in 10.3 overs)
9:50 pm | 10 overs: India are 70/1 at the stage with Virender Sehwag (25) and Virat Kohli (43) in the middle.
9:49 pm | 9.5 overs: DROPPED! Arafat to Virat Kohli, no run, catch dropped by Umar Akmal, oh my, that is a fantastic effort but he could not latch onto it, good length ball outside off and it stops on Kohli, he drives it uppishly and Umar at backward point flies to his left, the ball pops out as he falls to the ground and Kohli survives, that could have been the catch of the tournament.
The last time India and Pakistan clashed in an international match, Gambhir departed for a duck. Hafeez had dismissed him. Virat Kohli then stole the show and bludgeoned 183 runs to give India victory. Can he do it again?
9:11 pm | 0.2 overs: WICKET! Raza Hasan to Gambhir, out Caught & Bowled!! What a start for Hasan. Wonderful stuff. The bowler stays round the wicket and bowls a tossed up delivery on middle, Gambhir charges down the track and drives it straight back to the bowler who takes it, Hasan has got one of the best players of spin early in the Indian team and this will boost Pakistan. Gambhir c and b Raza Hasan 0(2) (India 1/1 in 0.2 overs)
9:10 pm | 0.1 overs: Raza Hasan to Gambhir, wide, a loose start for Hasan, quick ball but down the leg side, Gambhir misses the sweep and he starts off with a wide
INDIA INNINGS: Gambhir and Sehwag are at the crease. Gambhir is on strike. Raza Hasan will open the attack

9:10 pm | 0.2 overs: Raza Hasan to Gambhir, out Caught&Bowled!! What a start for Hasan. Wonderful stuff. The bowler stays round the wicket and bowls a tossed up delivery on middle, Gambhir charges down the track and drives it straight back to the bowler who takes it, Hasan has got one of the best players of spin early in the Indian team and this will boost Pakistan. Gambhir c and b Raza Hasan 0(2)

Team India comes to play: Gambhir and Sehwag are at the crease. Gambhir is on strike. Raza Hasan will open the attack.
PAKISTAN INNINGS SUMMARY: Zaheer lost his line and length in the first over but Irfan Pathan sent back Nazir cheaply. Afridi came out at No.3 but the experiment failed to yield any results. Hafeez could not get going but a 47 run stand between Malik and Umar Akmal revived Pakistan. However, once that stand was broken, none of the other batsmen managed to hang in there. Yuvraj Singh was awesome with the ball and in the field as he pegged Pakistan back consistently. Pakistan have been bowled out for their lowest score in the T20 Cup and India will look to chase it down without any hassles. Join us in a bit.
9:02 pm | 19.4 overs: WICKET! And that's innings for Pakistan. Balaji to Ajmal, out Caught by Dhoni!! India will be very happy with this effort. Full ball just outside off, Ajmal attempts the paddle scoop but ends up tamely lobbing it to short fine leg, Dhoni runs back and takes the catch as another fielder almost comes in the way, Dhoni is not amused but Pakistan's innings has folded up here. Ajmal c Dhoni b Balaji 1(2). (Pak 128/10 in 19.3 overs)
Raza Hasan, right handed bat, comes to the crease
9:00 pm | 19.3 overs: WICKET! Balaji to Umar Gul, out Caught by Dhoni!! No heroics from Gul this time. Balaji comes round the wicket and bowls a full toss outside off, Gul looks to launch it out of the stadium, but he ends up mistiming it completely, Dhoni jogs to his right and takes a simple catch. Umar Gul c Dhoni b Balaji 12(10) [4s-1 6s-1]. (Pak 128/9 in 19.3 overs)
8:58 pm | 19.2 overs: Balaji to Umar Gul, SIX, vintage Gul shot! A low full toss sliding onto the pads, Gul latches onto it and thwacks it well back into the stands at deep backward square leg
Saeed Ajmal, right handed bat, comes to the crease
8:55 pm | 18.1 overs: WICKET! It's a run out... Zaheer to Arafat, out Arafat Run Out!! Awesome fielding from Yuvraj. Oh yes, it seems like he is regaining his magic here. Short ball bowled from round the wicket, Arafat slaps it to backward point and takes off for a quick single, Yuvraj lines it up and fires a rocket throw, he scores a direct hit and Arafat is just short of the crease. Arafat run out (Yuvraj) 8(11) [4s-1] (Pak 115/8 in 18.1 overs)
Umar Gul, right handed bat, comes to the crease
8:50 pm | 17.3 overs: WICKET! Ashwin to Umar Akmal, out Caught by Raina!! Umar departs. Ashwin bowls this delivery with a pause and lands it on a short of length just outside off, Umar rocks back and pulls but he does not time it well, he holes out to Raina at deep square leg who points to the crowd. Umar Akmal c Raina b Ashwin 21(18) [6s-1] (Pak 115/7 in 17.3 overs)
Yasir Arafat, right handed bat, comes to the crease
8:43 pm | 15.2 overs: WICKET! Ashwin to Shoaib Malik, out Caught by Rohit Sharma!! Ashwin sends back the dangerous Malik. This is the wicket India really needed. Ashwin stays round the wicket and bowls a flighted delivery across just outside off, Malik bends down and looks to mow the slog sweep, but he ends up toe-ending it and Rohit Sharma takes the catch at mid wicket, the 47 run stand has ended. Shoaib Malik c Rohit Sharma b Ashwin 28(22) [4s-3] (Pak 106/6 in 15.2 overs)
8:40 pm | 14.5 overs: Balaji to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, poor line from Balaji, length delivery but sliding onto the pads, Malik helps it along the way by using the pace and flicks it to the fine leg fence. And that brings up the 100 for Pakistan.
8:36 pm | 13.6 overs: Ashwin to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, Malik sashays down the track and Ashwin shortens the length of this carrom ball on middle, Malik pushes it to long on. Pak are 97/5 at the stage with Shoaib Malik (21) and Umar Akmal (18) in the middle.
Umar Akmal, right handed bat, comes to the crease
8:18 pm | 9.5 overs: WICKET! That one's for Virat... Virat Kohli to Hafeez, out Bowled!! Hafeez's tortured stay at the crease has ended. He was just not playing naturally today. Good length ball slanted in on leg stump, Hafeez backs away a touch and looks to chop it down to third man, he gets an inside edge that knocks back the leg stump. Hafeez b Virat Kohli 15(28) [4s-1] (Pak 59/5 in 9.5 oveers)
Shoaib Malik, right handed bat, comes to the crease
8:15 pm | 8.2 overs: WICKET! Another one for Yuvi. Yuvraj to Kamran Akmal, out Caught by Dhoni!! Yuvraj gets another one. Oh boy, is there anything Yuvraj cannot do? The bowler stays round the wicket for the right hander and bowls a flighted delivery, he gives it a bit more air and the ball spins away a fraction, Kamran looks to smash it through cover, he gets an outside edge that is snapped up by Dhoni, sharp take that and Yuvraj is all pumped up. Kamran Akmal c Dhoni b Yuvraj 5(6) (Pak 49/4 in 8.2 overs)
Kamran Akmal, right handed bat, comes to the crease
8:05 pm | 6.4 overs: WICKET! Yuvraj to Nasir Jamshed, out Caught by Dhoni!! Another one bites the dust but Jamshed is not amused. Yuvraj stays round the wicket and bowls a nicely flighted delivery angled across just outside off, Jamshed bends down and attempts the slog sweep, he seems to have gotten a faint outside edge and Dhoni pouches it, Jamshed is still not happy. Replays show that it was a faint under-edge. Nasir Jamshed c Dhoni b Yuvraj 4(5) (Pak 43/3 in 6.4 overs)
Nasir Jamshed, left handed bat, comes to the crease. Two slips in place for Jamshed.
7:58 pm | 4.4 overs: WICKET! Balaji to Shahid Afridi, out Caught by Raina!! Afridi's luck has run out here. Another short delivery just outside off, Afridi looks to muscle the pull shot but he ends up miscuing it, the ball sails to deep mid wicket where Raina takes the catch just in front of the ropes. Shahid Afridi c Raina b Balaji 14(12) [4s-2] (Pak 35/2 in 4.4 overs)
What a surprise in a tension-filled game. Afridi comes in now.
7:40 pm | 1.2 overs: WICKET! Irfan Pathan to Imran Nazir, out Lbw!! Irfan strikes with the new ball. Short of a good length ball and it again darts back in, Nazir walks to the off side and looks to work it to square leg, he misses it and the ball hits the back thigh guard, Irfan appeals and umpire Tucker gives him out, it looked like it was going over the stumps and Nazir is very disappointed. Replays show that the ball was hitting top of middle. Imran Nazir lbw b Irfan Pathan 8(5) [4s-2] (Pak 17/1 in 1.2 overs)
7:38 pm | 1.1 overs: Irfan Pathan to Imran Nazir, FOUR, inside edged but safe, Pakistan are lucky here, full ball angled across from Irfan and it bends back in, Nazir limply goes for the drive and gets an inside edge that just goes past leg stump, rolls to the fine leg fence
7:00 pm | 0.1 overs: Zaheer to Hafeez, wide, loose start for Zaheer, full ball slanted across and it snakes away wide of the off stump, Hafeez lets it go and wide is conceded

Hafeez and Imran Nazir are at the crease. Hafeez is on strike. Zaheer will open the attack

Hafeez and Nazir are striding out to the middle. The Indian fielders are already in position. Will Dhoni open with Irfan Pathan or will he start with spin? Zaheer will start off proceedings and Hafeez will be on strike. Sehwag is standing at slip. Here we GO!
Teams:

India (Playing XI): Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji

Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Hafeez(c), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal(w), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan

Dhoni: "This pitch may turn a bit. We were going to bowl first. Bhajji and Chawla are out and Balaji and Sehwag return. Pakistan play spin well and we have got part-timers who can exploit the conditions. We want to do well in front of a big crowd."

Hafeez: "We will bat. We have variety in the team and we want to put up a good score. The guys are playing positive cricket. We are looking forward to this game. There are no changes in the team".