Indian bowlers have been stunningly correct however Pakistan managed to submit a aggressive 241 courtesy Saud Shakeel’s polished fifty and Khushdil Shah’s cameo in the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday (February 23, 2025).
Shakeel (62, 76b, 5×4) was largely fluent and added 104 runs for the third wicket with skipper Mohammad Rizwan (46), however Pakistan by no means actually managed to interrupt the shackles after opting to bat.
IND vs PAK, Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE
The pitch expectedly grew sluggish as soon as the match entered the center passage, and the precision of Indian bowlers made the run-making a laboured activity with left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep led the way in which (3/40).
There was a interval in Pakistan innings when each Rizwan and Shakeel failed to search out the boundary rope for 55 consecutive deliveries.
However, they have been additionally pressured to traverse a cautious path due to the early departure of Babar Azam (23) and Imam-ul-Haq (10).
Azam seemed million {dollars} whereas taking part in these trademark cowl drives for a couple of boundaries off Harshit Rana and Hardik Pandya.
But that need to drive introduced his doom as properly. Pandya instantly pulled the size again after getting pushed for a 4 and Azam’s full-throttle shot took an edge en path to KL Rahul’s large gloves.
Soon, Imam took off for a non-existent single and Axar Patel at mid-on simply needed to hit the stumps, a activity he completed with none ado.
At 47 for two, Pakistan had their activity lower out in a high-pressure match however Rizwan and Shakeel introduced some stability to their innings with composed knocks.
India additionally had a few worrying factors at this stage as veteran pacer Mohammed Shami and skipper Rohit Sharma needed to keep off the sphere for a while.
Shami needed to are likely to his shin whereas Rohit seemed in some discomfort primarily due to the warmth right here. However, each of them returned to the sphere to allay the issues.
Amidst all this, Rizwan and Shakeel took Pakistan to 151 for two in the thirty fourth over, and it was a burgeoning platform for them to purpose for a complete in the neighborhood of 300.
But Rizwan’s adventurous shimmy down the observe in opposition to Axar noticed him shedding the stumps, and from thereon Pakistan went on a downward spiral.
Shakeel, who performed the pull with some conviction, perished to the identical shot in opposition to Pandya, skying a easy catch to Axar in the deep.
Thereon, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah fell to Kuldeep’s guile as India tightened their grip.
Khushdil (38, 39 balls) performed a few large pictures, together with the primary six of Pakistan innings, that helped his facet attain a wholesome complete in difficult batting circumstances.
Published – February 23, 2025 07:03 pm IST
