T20 World Cup: India crush Pakistan by 61 runs

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP):

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan declined to shake hands before and after the most-anticipated game of cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup, with India easily winning by 61 runs yesterday to secure their Super 8 spot.

India opener Ishan Kishan scored 77 off 40 deliveries in a match in Colombo which almost didn’t take place after Pakistan had threatened a boycott earlier this month before reversing their decision.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and India captain Suryakumar Yadav didn’t shake hands at the toss, which Pakistan won and chose to field. India and Pakistan players had refused to shake hands at last year’s acrimonious Asia Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates that took place amid diplomatic and military tensions between the two neighbours.

India made a competitive 175-7 yesterday on a sticky pitch at R. Premadasa Stadium. In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs. Despite the heavy defeat, Pakistan can still advance from Group A. They play Namibia in their last group game.

Yesterday’s game was the first time the teams have met since the Asia Cup, won by India.

EARLY SETBACK

Agha’s decision to bowl first surprised many because the ground has a history of not favouring run chases.

“Our bowlers didn’t bowl well according to the situation, and when it came to batting we didn’t apply ourselves, they didn’t give us a chance to go deep in the game,” Agha said.

Yadav was pleased with how losing the toss had turned out.

“Batting first was a better option on this wicket,” he said.

But India’s batting suffered an early setback when their most aggressive batter, Abhishek Sharma, was dismissed without scoring. Agha bowled the first over with four dot balls and had Sharma caught by Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Kishan pulled India back with a six and one four in the following over, and he dominated an 87-run stand for the second wicket off 46 deliveries with Tilak Varma.

Kishan’s innings included three sixes and 10 boundaries before being bowled by off-spinner Saim Ayub.

Ayub took two consecutive wickets in his last over to finish with his career-best T20I bowling of 3-25.

Yadav (32 off 29) and Shivam Dube (27 off 17) made useful contributions for India.

POOR START

Seam bowler Hardik Pandya gave India an ideal start with a wicket-maiden over, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan in the fourth delivery.

Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets in the next over — Ayub (leg before wicket for six) and Agha (six by Pandya for four).

Spinner Axar Patel bowled Babar Azam (5), leaving Pakistan 34-4.

Usman Khan resisted with a 34-ball 44 but was stumped when he stepped out to hit Patel.

Pandya, Bumrah, Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took two wickets each.

Agha said his team must now focus on securing their place in the last eight.

Second-placed US and third-placed Pakistan have four points each in Group A, but Pakistan still has a game to play.

“You have to see the bigger picture,” Agha said, “we need to win that game and qualify ... and then a new tournament starts.”

India and Pakistan could meet again in the semi-finals or final. That game would also be played in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament with India.