New Delhi: Quickfire half centuries from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya enabled India to hit their third highest score in T20 World Cups, during their group stage match against Namibia on Thursday.
Kishan continued his pinch-hitting form with a 24-ball-61 at the top of the batting order after India were sent in to bat at the Arun Jaitley Stadium while Pandya carried on the bat with 52 off 28 deliveries to propel India to 209 for nine.
It was the defending champions’ fourth score in excess of 200 and third highest after 218 for four against England in 2007 edition and 210 for two against Afghanistan in 2021.
Kishan’s superlative stroke-play had made him the first choice opener for the tournament and the left hander justified his billing with five sixes and six boundaries, completing his half century in 20 balls.
Sanju Samson got the nod to open alongside Kishan in place of the rested Abhishek Sharma and began in rousing fashion with three sixes and a boundary but then chipped a slower delivery straight to deep mid-wicket for an eight-ball 22.
Pandya’s four sixes and as many boundaries kept the momentum going but once he was dismissed in 18.2 overs, India hobbled from 205 for five to 209, losing five wickets in the last 10 balls of their innings.
On a slowish track where the odd ball kept low, Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus (4/20 in 4 overs) gave food for thought for the Indian strokemakers for their Pakistan game on Fenruary 15.
Used to playing on the up, the home batters couldn’t dispatch Erasmus’ side-arm deliveries and had Tilak Varma (25) caught on the boundary line with a delivery bowled from behind the crease.
It was a however a good dress reherseal for the Indian batters who would face a bowler of similar trajectory and action in Usman Tariq against Pakistan on Sunday.
India’s 200-plus totals in T20 World Cup
218/4 vs ENG, Durban, 2007
210/2 vs AFG, Abu Dhabi, 2021
209/9 vs NAM, Delhi, 2026
205/5 vs AUS, Gros Islet, 2024
Fastest fifties for India in T20 WC (in terms of balls)
12 – Yuvraj Singh vs ENG, Durban, 2007
18 – KL Rahul vs SCOT, Dubai, 2021
19 – Rohit Sharma vs AUS, Gros Islet, 2024
20 – Yuvraj Singh vs AUS, Durban, 2007
20 – Ishan Kishan vs NAM, Delhi, 2026
Source: Cricbuzz
Comments are closed.