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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PHOTOS: India, Pakistan register comprehensive wins
This article was first published 10 years ago

PHOTOS: India, Pakistan register comprehensive wins

March 23, 2014 23:25 IST

Image: West Indies' Chris Gayle (left) leaves the field as India's fielders celebrate his dismissal during their ICC Twenty20 World Cup match at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka
Photographs: REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

India produced another authoritative all-round performance to get the better of defending champions West Indies in a group league encounter in the ICC World T20 in Mirpur.

Having restricted the West Indies to a modest 129 for seven, the champions of the inaugural edition then knocked off the runs with two balls to spare, with seven of their wickets intact.

Scorecard

Virat Kohli, in the middle of a great patch, again batted well to smash his way to 54 while Rohit Sharma did his cause no harm by notching up an unbeaten 62.

Earlier, Indian spinners yet again put on a dominating show as the West Indies batsman were tied down throughout.

Chris Gayle (34) was the top scorer but was not at all in his element as the other West Indies batsmen showed their ineptness against a quality spin attack.

Gayle, despite getting two reprieves, wasn't able to break free and was eventually run out after a horrible mix-up with Marlon Samuels. 

 

India lost Dhawan early

Image: West Indies' wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher (centre) and captain Darren Sammy (R) appeal for India's Shikhar Dhawan's dismissal successfully
Photographs: REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

Chasing a modest total, Team India had to wait for an additional 10 minutes after a confusion about the target.

But once the match started, only blip was Shikhar Dhawan (0) being adjudged lbw off leg-break bowler Samuel Badree.

Kohli and Rohit were not in a mood to delay the proceedings as they tore apart the West Indies bowlers with some clean hitting, putting on 106 runs for the second wicket.

By the time Kohli was dismissed, cleaned up by Andre Russell, only the formalities remained. 

With back to back wins over Pakistan and West Indies, India are now on top of Group 2 and a win over Bangladesh would clinch a last-four berth.

Umar Akmal scored a scintillating 54-ball 94

Image: Pakistan's Umar Akmal celebrates after scoring a half century against Australia as teammate and brother Kamran Akmal (right) congratulates him
Photographs: REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

In the day's opening match Pakistan brought their campaign back on track with a convincing 16-run victory over tournament favourites Australia.

Having been put into bat, Pakistan rode on Umar Akmal's scintillating 54-ball 94 to score a formidable 191 for five. Australia were bowled out Australia for 175.

At 25 for two, Umar joined Kamran and the two brothers counter-attacked the Australian bowling in a swift manner, adding 96 runs for the third wicket. While Kamran was happy playing the second fiddle, Umar showed why he is such a highly rated batsman in world cricket. 

Umar was six short of a well-deserved century when he gave Mitchell Starc the charge but couldn't clear Maxwell at long-on.

Maxwell's 33-ball 74 wasn't good enough

Image: Australia's Glenn Maxwell celebrates after scoring a half century against Pakistan
Photographs: REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

Having contributed in the field, Maxwell also played a significant role when Australia came out to bat. 

Coming in to bat with his team in trouble, at eight for two, Maxwell helped Aaron Finch (65) add 116 runs for the third wicket. 

While Maxwell was on a hitting mission, Finch quietly accumulated runs with occasional fours and sixes as they batted for 10.4 overs.

However, Maxwell's belligerent 33-ball 74, his first half century, wasn't enough.

Afridi's dismissal of Maxwell raised hopes of a Pakistan comeback

Image: Pakistan's fielders congratulate Shahid Afridi after his dismissal of Australia's Glenn Maxwell
Photographs: REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

Maxwell was finally caught by Ahmed Shehzad off Afridi's bowling to raise hopes of a Pakistan comeback.

The turning point was the 18th over bowled by Ajmal in which he gave only one run and also dismissed Aaron Finch (64, 55 balls), who was still carrying on the chase.

The win ensured that Pakistan stayed in the competition, having lost their opening game to India.