Colombo: Team India’s stranglehold over Pakistan just got tighter.
In a one-sided T20 World Cup clash at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, Suryakumar Yadav’s boys thrashed Pakistan by a staggering 61 runs – the highest victory margin in terms of runs in this famous rivalry.
India thus made it 8-1 in nine T20 World Cup clashes against their arch-rivals.
With three wins in as many games, India marched into the Super Eights stage from Group A.
Ishan Kishan’s breathtaking 77 (40 balls, 10×4, 3×6) on a slowish pitch helped India post 175/7 after Salman Agha won the toss and chose to bowl first. Not surprisingly, there was no handshake between the captains.
The importance of left-handed opener Kishan’s knock can be gauged from the fact that no other batter went close to 50 in the entire game.
India’s bowlers then dismantled the Pakistan lineup with an efficient and businesslike performance. Hardik Pandya (2/16) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/17) set the tone in the first two overs itself, reducing Pakistan to 13/3.
Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy played their part with two wickets each, while Kuldeep Yadav and part-time spinner Tilak Varma also got among wickets.
BRIEF SCORES
India 175/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32; Saim Ayub 3/25).
Pakistan 114 in 18 overs (Usman Khan 44; Hardik Pandya 2/26, Varun Chakravarthy 2/17, Jasprit Bumrah 2/17, Axar Patel 2/29).
Result: India won by 61 runs.
Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan.
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