The stage was emphatically set for an India-Pakistan contest, but once the first Twenty20 of a two-match series commenced here on Tuesday, cricket lovers only witnessed diffidence from the home team though debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar proved to be an exception while Pakistan won by five wickets.
Chasing India’s 133 for nine, the visitor scored 134 for five in 19.4 overs with Shoaib Malik (57 n.o.) making a mockery of the required 10 from the last over with a straight six off Ravindra Jadeja.
Much ahead of the climax, the strange medley of nerves and quick wickets that often plague the pursuit of meagre targets in cricketing lore, was again on view as Pakistan stumbled to 12 for three in three overs. Bhuvneshwar, fresh with a tally of 27 wickets in the current Ranji season, swung appreciably and castled Nasir Jamshed in the first over.
The 22-year old Uttar Pradesh seamer then struck a double-whammy in his second over, forcing Ahmed Shehzad to nibble at one that moved away and uprooting Umar Akmal’s stumps with a delivery that darted in. Bhuvneshwar’s dream spell (4-0-9-3) was, however, destined to be lost in defeat’s despair.
Pakistan found its saviours in skipper Mohammad Hafeez (61) and Malik. The duo’s 106-run fourth-wicket partnership proved to be the game-changer. R. Ashwin was missing in the Indian ranks and the spin option provided by left-armers Yuvraj Singh and Jadeja or the gentle seamers that Virat Kohli offered, were gleefully lapped up as Hafeez and Malik initially oiled their armour with singles.
The two then distributed their sixes between Yuvraj and Jadeja and the game had inexorably turned Pakistan’s way though there was no shortage of drama.
Hafeez fell off the first ball of the 18th over that Ishant bowled. Malik was caught off a no-ball (second bouncer). And Ishant got embroiled with a needless slanging match with Kamran Akmal, who later succumbed to Ashoke Dinda while the match veered towards its tense final over.
Opting to field on winning the toss, Mohammad Hafeez unleashed the left-arm pace combine of Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Tanvir. For India, Gautam Gambhir struggled for timing, squirting one towards point and spooning another off a leading edge. Rahane, too, was cramped by the steep bounce that Irfan extracted but he eased his nerves with a four off the lanky speedster, who was constantly clocking 145 kmph.
The opener then picked another boundary off Tanvir and both those strikes on the off-side finally helped the crowd exhale with relief.
Rahane (42) continued unabated as he made room to pound Irfan past sweeper-cover but when Gambhir got into a tangle while hooking the same bowler, the contrast within India’s opening pair was glaringly evident.
Gambhir (43) hoisted the 23rd delivery he faced for a six off Umar Gul over mid-wicket. He then clouted Shahid Afridi through the same region while Rahane relished the fuller length that Saeed Ajmal initially peddled.
Quite inexplicably, against the run of play, Rahane’s strength on the off-side also contributed to his downfall as he spooned Afridi down long-off’s throat.
The procession begins
Gambhir was now expected to shore up the strike-rate and when he found his range on the off-side, there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel. However, he was run out and India’s descent into chaos began, with Yuvraj Singh’s first-ball six off Afridi being the lone act to rejoice.
Irfan came back for his final over and prised out Virat Kohli. M.S. Dhoni walked in to profuse cheers and was left stunned when Ajmal grazed the off-stump like a whisper on a dark night. Gul then steamed in and Yuvraj promptly found the fielder on the square-leg fence.
Sadly, India’s batting depth, with Ravindra Jadeja coming in at No. 8, offered no insurance as Pakistan repeatedly breached the Indian defence. When Gul bowled a niggardly 19th over, conceding just two runs and scalping two wickets, even the dreams of a death-over flourish died under the winter skies.
India scored 75 for no loss in the first 10 overs; the final 10 produced only 58 for the fall of nine wickets. The openers had scored 63.90 per cent of the runs and the rest faded without a fight against an attack that largely remained incisive and was backed by fielding that had resolve and intent written large over it.
The two run-outs in the Indian innings were a pointer to Pakistan’s desire to excel in all departments of the game.
(The Hindu)
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