King Kohli Helps Team India Defeat Pakistan

King Virat Kohli played a stunning innings to help team India defeat Pakistan in the first game of the T20 World Cup in Melbourne. It was a nail biting match as team Indian needed 16 runs of the last over and India won on the last ball.

Before that Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first. Indian bowler Arshdeep Singh gave a good start for team India by dismissing Pakistan captain Babar Azam for a golden duck and then the number one T20 batter Mohammad Rizwan. But Shan Masood and Iftikar Ahmed played superbly for their team and both the batters scored 50s and guided Pakistan to post 159 runs at the end of their 20 overs.

Chasing the target, team India made a horrible start. Lokesh Rahul and skipper Rohit Sharma were dismissed quickly by Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf respectively. Middle order batter Surya Kumar Yadav who is in superb form also short lived in the crease and then came Axar Patel who headed to the pavilion following run out.

It was Hardik Pandya’s turn and with Virat Kohli, both put up a fight. Post the first ten overs, Kohli and Pandya kept the score card ticking with fours and sixers. When the decider over came, Hardik attempted a big shot but was caught by Pakistan skipper Babar.

Team India needed 13 runs of the last three balls and Pakistan bowler Nawaz bowled a full toss which was given a ‘NO BALL’ by the umpires. The score came down to seven off three balls. Nawaz bowled a wide and then for the ‘FREE-HIT’ India received three byes. The final two balls needed two runs but Dinesh Karthik was stumped behind by Rizwan. Ashwin replaced Karthik in the crease and he sensed Nawaz to bowl leg side which eventually turned another wide and that leveled the scoreboard. On the final delivery, Ashwin sent the ball to the boundary and team India won a thrilling match.

Virat Kohli was adjourned ‘Man of the Match’ for his unbeaten 82 of 53 balls which included six fours and four sixes.