NEW YORK: Jasprit Bumrah was the hero as India beat Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring T20 World Cup thriller in New York on Sunday.
India were bowled out by Pakistan for 119 in 19 overs but while Mohammad Rizwan made 31 for Pakistan, in a well-paced innings, Bumrah delivered crucial wickets and his 3-14 in four overs proved decisive as Pakistan fell just short ending on 113-7.
Despite a tricky batting surface that made batting difficult, a crowd of 34,028, a record attendance for an international cricket match in the USA, were given a tight contest that ebbed and flowed.
Bumrah picked up the vital wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam (13) and then the breakthrough dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan (31) in the 15th over when Pakistan were 80-4.
Then, handed the ball for the penultimate over, with Pakistan needing 21 to win, Bumrah conceded just three runs and removed Iftikhar Ahmed with his final ball.
That left Pakistan needing 18 from the final over, a steep task on a difficult batting surface and it got more tricky when Arshdeep Singh trapped Imad Wasim lbw with the first ball.
Naseem Shah made a valiant effort, hitting the fourth and fifth balls of the over for fours but India avoided any late drama to secure their second win of the tournament.
For Pakistan, their loss, coming after the shock defeat to the USA, leaves them without a point and with a lot of work to do against Canada and Ireland if they are to fight their way into the Super Eight stage.
Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers had given their team a fighting chance with Naseem and Haris Rauf claiming three wickets each as India were dismissed with a full over remaining of their alloted 20.
But Rishabh Pant’s 42 from 31 balls gave the Indians something to work with after they lost openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply.
Rain delayed the start of the game, played in front of a packed 34,000 fans, the majority of whom were backing tournament favorites India.
Pakistan captain Babar won the toss and opted to bowl and their was a huge roar when Rohit clipped Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ball of the day over mid-wicket for six.
But after just one over, the rain returned forcing a 36-minute delay and when play resumed Pakistan’s attack got the start they had dreamt of.
Naseem Shah removed Kohli with the the third ball back, the Indian opener reaching at a wide delivery and finding Usman Khan at point.,
Rohit tried to put Afridi off the midwicket boundary again but this time he was caught by Haris Rauf in the deep to leave India at 19-2 with both star openers gone.
But only 24 runs were added for the last five wickets and India lost their final wicket to a run out with six balls remaining.
That could have proved costly but Bumrah delivered when it mattered for a big win for the tournament favorites.
Jasprit Bumrah delivers as India beat Pakistan in low-scoring thriller at T20 World Cup
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Jasprit Bumrah delivers as India beat Pakistan in low-scoring thriller at T20 World Cup
- India were bowled out by Pakistan for 119 in 19 overs
Estudiantes beat Racing on penalties to claim Argentine Clausura title
- Estudiantes de la Platas will face Apertura champions Platense in Champions Trophy
- Estudiantes had a difficult buildup to the final, with their president Juan Sebastian Veron and the team’s starting lineup being handed suspensions by Argentina’s FA last month
SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO: Estudiantes de La Plata goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s heroics inspired his side to a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Racing Club in the Argentine Torneo Clausura final at the Estadio Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
The win sealed a first title for Estudiantes since they won the 2010 Apertura and will see them face this year’s Apertura champions Platense in next weekend’s Champions Trophy.
“This team is incredible,” Uruguayan Muslera said.
“I have no words to describe the emotion and joy I feel now for having contributed to getting here when at one point we weren’t close.”
Tempers flare
Tempers flared in the second half after Racing’s Adrian Martinez committed a heavy foul on Santiago Nunez, sparking protests from the Estudiantes players and calls for a red card.
However, he escaped with a yellow card, a decision met with jeers from sections of the crowd.
The 57th minute brought some nervous moments for Racing as goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses collided with Guido Carrillo during a corner and required medical treatment twice before being declared fit to continue.
The breakthrough came 10 minutes from time when a miscommunication in Estudiantes’ defense allowed Martinez to pounce, drilling the ball past Muslera to spark wild celebrations among the Racing supporters.
Estudiantes fought back in added time, with Carrillo directing a header on target following a set piece to level the match and send the encounter to extra time.
“It’s an inexplicable emotion. This is the reward for supporting a club that always bounces back, even when it seems to be down and out,” said Carrillo, who missed a string of key games for Estudiantes due to a four-match suspension for a dangerous challenge.
“It was unjustified that ban. The last few weeks have been very difficult, but this group secured the victories, which is a testament to their character and ability to rise to the occasion in the most challenging of situations.”
Extra time and penalties
Racing’s Adrian Fernandez had an excellent opportunity to score with seconds remaining in extra time but he blasted his shot wide from tight angle, a miss that Racing would go on to rue.
Both goalkeepers made excellent saves to send the penalty shootout to sudden death, with Estudiantes substitute Facundo Rodriguez holding his nerve to send an effort squirming past Cambeses and give his side a 5-4 lead.
Franco Pardo stepped up to keep Racing’s hopes alive but his effort was diverted onto the post by Muslera to ensure victory for Estudiantes.
Estudiantes’ path to final
Estudiantes had a difficult buildup to the final, with their president Juan Sebastian Veron and the team’s starting lineup being handed suspensions by Argentina’s FA last month after refusing to form a guard of honor for Rosario Central.
Rosario, who were declared league champions after a rule change, won the new title by ending the regular season of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments with a combined 66 points.
Estudiantes’ players turned their backs on Rosario’s players when they walked onto the pitch for Sunday’s Clausura last-16 game, protesting at their opponents being crowned champions, a title not bestowed based on combined points in the competition’s original rules.
