King Kohli reigns over Pakistan with an unbeaten century

By K.R. Nayar

Dubai – King Kohli reigned supreme over Pakistan with a sparkling, unbeaten century after Prince Shubman Gill set the tempo for a six-wicket victory in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium. India restricted Pakistan to 241 in 49.4 overs and chased it down with partnerships of 69 runs between Kohli and Gill (who scored 46) and another 114 runs with Shreyas Iyer (who scored 56). Kohli walked off to a standing ovation after scoring an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, laced with seven boundaries.

India's impressive win over Pakistan

India has strengthened their chances to reach the semifinal through this win. If New Zealand beat Bangladesh in their next match, Pakistan’s campaign will be over regardless of the result of their last match against Bangladesh.

Pakistan pays the price for unimaginative batting

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Their former captain, Babar Azam, one of the finest batters in the world, started well. His first boundary was an elegant flick off Harshit Rana, followed by a classy cover drive two balls later. When he lifted Hardik Pandya over mid-on for another boundary in the second over, it seemed he had settled in for a big knock. However, in the ninth over, Pandya forced him to edge one to wicketkeeper KL Rahul, bringing his promising innings to an end at 23 runs off 26 balls, which included five boundaries.

Imam-ul-Haq follows in his uncle’s footsteps

In the next over, Imam-ul-Haq replicated what his uncle, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, was infamous for—getting run out. He attempted a risky single and fell short despite a diving effort, courtesy of a direct hit from Axar Patel at mid-on. He departed for just 10 runs.

Dropped catches that didn’t prove costly

From 47 for 2, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel steadied the innings with a steady partnership. However, Rizwan was dropped on 44 at wide mid-on by Harshit Rana off Hardik Pandya when the score was 150. Fortunately for India, the drop did not prove costly, as Rizwan was soon bowled for 46 while attempting a wild swing against Patel.

Two balls later, Shakeel (on 57) had a lucky escape when Kuldeep Yadav dropped a catch at wide long-on. However, this too did not cost India much, as Pandya dismissed Shakeel for 62, caught by Patel at deep mid-wicket.

With only 15 overs remaining, Pakistan needed their set batters at the crease to accelerate the scoring, but instead, they found themselves with two new batters. Unfortunately, Tayyab Tahir lasted just six balls before being bowled by a tossed-up delivery from Ravindra Jadeja for four runs. With three quick wickets, India tightened the pressure. Khushdil Shah, coming off a fighting 69 against New Zealand in his previous match, joined Salman Agha at the crease.

Kuldeep Yadav strikes

Agha was dismissed in the 43rd over, swinging across the line and getting caught by Jadeja at point for 19. Shaheen Afridi fell leg-before to the very next ball, giving Yadav a chance at a hat-trick. However, Naseem Shah survived the hat-trick delivery, though Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble at 200 for 7.

A couple of sixes—one each from Khushdil and Haris Rauf—briefly lifted the spirits of Pakistani fans. The duo added 19 runs before Rauf was run out by a brilliant throw from Patel at deep midwicket for 8. Khushdil followed soon after, lofting Rana to Kohli at mid-wicket for 38, bringing Pakistan’s innings to an end at 241 in 49.4 overs. Yadav finished with figures of 3 for 40 in nine overs.

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill 

India off to an electrifying start

India’s chase began with Rohit Sharma slashing a boundary over the slips off Naseem Shah, followed by a six over deep backward square leg into the crowd. Gill, too, asserted his dominance, hitting two crisp boundaries off Shaheen Afridi. The ease with which he stepped out and lofted Shah over mid-off was a delight to watch. When Sharma also lifted Afridi over the covers for a boundary, Indian fans erupted in celebration. However, Afridi silenced them momentarily with an in-swinging yorker that bowled Sharma for 20.

Gill thrills the crowd

 In the seventh over, Gill smashed three boundaries off Afridi, including a straight drive reminiscent of Sunil Gavaskar’s textbook shots. In the ninth over, he played a stylish cover drive off Afridi with a smile on his face. When he took 14 runs off an over from Afridi, it seemed India was in a hurry to finish the chase. His innings had a stroke of luck when Khushdil dropped him on 35 off Rauf at mid-wicket.

Kohli reaches 14,000 ODI runs

Kohli reached another milestone, surpassing 14,000 runs in ODI cricket with a fluent off-drive for four off Rauf. However, India suffered a setback as leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed clean-bowled Gill for 46 in the first over after the drinks break. With 142 more runs needed from 32.3 overs, all eyes turned to Kohli. He reached his 73rd  ODI half-century in 62 balls.

Iyer’s half-century

India’s 150 came up in 29 overs, with the team needing 82 more runs in the last 20 overs. Iyer, on 25, was dropped by Saud off Khushdil, and he celebrated his reprieve by smashing Salman Agha for a massive six over mid-wicket. He went on to register his 21st half-century in 63 balls before falling for 56 to a flying catch by Imam off Khushdil’s bowling.

Kohli’s race to his century and India’s victory

Hardik walked in and hit a lofted boundary off the first ball off Afridi’s over but fell to the last ball of that over for 8. Kohli needed another 14 runs for his century and India needed 19 runs more to win. In the end it was 10 runs to win and 10 runs for his century. Afridi bowled a wide to make it nine runs to win. 

Shreyas Iyer

After two more runs were scored it was six for his century and five to win. A single resulted in four to win and five for his century. In the end it was two runs for India’s win and four runs more for his century and he reached his 51st century to give India an emphatic six wicket win with 45 balls to spare through a boundary through the covers off Khushdil.