India v Pakistan LIVE: Result and reaction from T20 World Cup in New York as India defend low total in win
India beat Pakistan by six runs at Nassau County International Stadium
India beat Pakistan by six runs in the most highly-anticipated group match of the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York.
Pakistan were left reeling after a shock super-over defeat to the United States in Dallas on Thursday but failed to bounce back in one of the fiercest rivalries in sport as they restricted India to 119 all out from their 20 overs but then were heled to 113-7 themselves.
Only two teams will qualify from Group A and India look all but through after they had started their campaign with a dominant victory over Ireland before this win, as they went into the tournament among the favourites, despite not having won a major international event since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
However, there have been serious questions raised about the playing surface on the pop-up stadium in Nassau County, with the ICC admitting the pitch is not up to standard and would be subject to ‘remedies’ before the flagship game.
Relive all the live action in the blog below.
DROP! Pakistan 19-0 (3 overs) - Rizwan 8; Babar 9 - Pakistan need 101 runs off 102 balls
Jasprit Bumrah, who maybe should have bowled the opening over, comes on to bowl the third. Probably the best bowler in the world across all three formats - can he provide some magic?
Rizwan slices him for two runs but Bumrah peppers the crease with length balls. And Shivam Dube DROPS a sitter of a catch! Rizwan flicks off his legs, it goes straight to Dube at fine leg but he somehow shells it. India simply cannot afford to be putting down chances like that if they’re going to defend 120.
Pakistan 15-0 (2 overs) - Rizwan 5; Babar 8 - Pakistan need 105 runs off 108 balls
Mohammed Siraj into the attack and Babar Azam greets him with a punch straight down the ground for FOUR! Classy from the Pakistan captain, who has more than 2,000 runs in this format.
After a single, Siraj responds with a beauty that flies past the outside of Rizwan’s edge. Ooohs from the India fans in the crowd.
Pakistan 9-0 (1 over) - Rizwan 4; Babar 3 - Pakistan need 111 runs off 114 balls
Nice stroke by Rizwan through the off-side for three runs off the opening ball and Babar follows him off the next delivery, with the same result.
Then Rizwan gets away with one as he chops the ball past his own stumps for one! That was agonisingly close to hitting. Arshdeep throws in a wide before tightening up.
Ten runs off the first over though - that sort of strike-rate will be more than enough for Pakistan and it came without any big hits.
India v Pakistan - Pakistan require 120 to win
Here we go. Both teams back out - can knock these off at just a run a ball or will India’s bowlers step up?
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam opening for Pakistan, with Arshdeep Singh to bowl.
Mohammad Amir reflects on India total
Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir has had his say on the India total of 119
“I think we did well as a bowling unit, but this is a decent total on this track. We need to bat well and sensibly. It’s a bit tricky. We need to start well and finish well.”
WATCH: Pakistan restrict India to 119 all out
A couple of highlights from that India innings
India 119 all out - Pakistan require 120 to win
It’s not easy scoring on this pitch, so 120 is competitive-ish from India, although they would have loved 20 or 30 more runs. Pakistan will need to bat well but this is very gettable. And they may need to chase ti down to keep their qualification hopes alive.
WICKET AND ALL OUT! Arshdeep Singh run out (Babar Azam/†Mohammad Rizwan) 9 (India 119 all out, 19 overs)
And that’s that. Final ball of the 19th over. The ball bounces just short of Babar Azam at mid-on but he fires it into the wicketkeeper and Mohammad Rizwan whips off the bails to run out Arshdeep Singh.
A few silly extra runs conceded at the end but Pakistan should be delighted with that.
India all out for 119 and Pakistan will need 120 to win!
India 119-9 (18.5 overs) - Siraj 7; Arshdeep 9
Afridi on to bowl his fourth and final over. Decent running between the wickets gains them an extra run off the first ball when a shy at the stumps misses, allowing an overthrow and they scamper two off the next delivery as well.
A third consecutive two when some very ordinary fielding at the bowler’s end concedes another overthrow. Then an appeal for caught behind - Pakistan may as well review and they do. Nothing on ultra-edge so Siraj survives.
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