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Kishan, Hardik guide India to 266 despite Afrdi’s four-wicket haul
Flanked by collapses on either side, India’s saving grace after opting to bat was the 138-run stand between Hardik Pandya (87) and Ishan Kishan (82). The duo ensured that India got a fighting score on board – 266 – after slipping up against Shaheen Afridi.
The start of the innings was peppered with rain-enforced breaks, but after the first of those breaks, Afridi started hitting a better rhythm. He had been flicked off the pads for a four and a six initially by Rohit Sharma, with the ball predominantly moving in. As soon as Afridi implanted some doubts by taking the ball across Rohit, he earned dividends having the India captain clean bowled with one nipping off the surface. Afridi topped this up with the wicket of Virat Kohli in his very next over, having him bowled off an inside edge reducing India to 27/2.
Another rain break intervened before India stuttered again, with Haris Rauf striking in the midst of an indifferent spell. He had Shreyas Iyer pulling a long hop straight to midwicket before getting past the defence of an unconvincing Shubman Gill with an incoming delivery.
At 66/4, India’s innings was meandering uncertainly when Ishan was joined by Pandya. With spin being Pakistan’s preferred mode of attack during this period, the duo went about the course correction with little trouble. They milked their way to a 50-run stand initially before gradually shifting gears.
Pakistan’s spin attack was off-colour with Shadab Khan, in particular, dealing in full tosses and long hops. Kishan, playing a new role at No. 5 was as watchful as his senior partner but did not lose opportunities to strike big, lofting Mohammad Nawaz for a six down the ground to bring up the 100-run stand in the 33rd over. Hardik too chanced his arms against Nawaz later in the innings, hitting him for a six. He cashed in in an over from Rauf, where the bowler erred in lengths and went short, giving Hardik three boundaries in the process with the pick being a fiery pull through midwicket.
Just as the duo were threatening to take the score towards 300, and eyeing a big finish, Pakistan struck back with the introduction of the pacers. Rauf had Kishan, who had picked up a groin strain by then, caught at mid on while Afridi had Pandya caught at cover off a slower ball. Afridi made sure India were not going to add more in the death overs having Jadeja caught behind while Naseem Shah dismissed Shardul Thakur off a leading edge.
Although Jasprit Bumrah struck a few eye-catching boundaries, India ended up losing their last five wickets for just 27 runs to be bowled out for 266.
Brief Scores:
India 266 in 48.5 overs (Hardik Pandya 87, Ishan Kishan 82; Shaheen Afridi 4-35, Naseem Shah 3-36, Haris Rauf 3-58) vs Pakistan