India (119/10) triumphed over Pakistan (113/7) by 6 runs in a nail-biting finish at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Invited to bat first, India initially looked promising, but a subsequent collapse left them with a meagre total of 119 runs. The dangerous pitch was troubling Pakistan, but Jasprit Bumrah’s (3/14) outstanding performance worsened it.
India’s openers began positively, but Pakistan swiftly dismissed Virat Kohli (4/3) and Rohit Sharma (13/12). Axar Patel (20/18) and Rishabh Pant (42/31) countered effectively, propelling India to 50 runs by the end of the powerplay.
Despite Pant’s efforts, the Indian batting order crumbled after the 10-over mark, culminating in just 119 runs. Pakistan’s chase started promisingly until Bumrah’s brilliance triggered their collapse.
Under pressure, Pakistani batters faltered as India bowled with precision. Consequently, Pakistan’s lineup disintegrated, enabling India to exploit the conditions and secure the win.
This defeat places Pakistan on the brink of elimination, relying on Ireland to defeat the USA. Conversely, India, while pleased, must address their batting frailties.
Key moments that shaped the match:
Pant’s Risky Slogs
With India in trouble after losing two wickets on a challenging pitch, Rishabh Pant audaciously attacked Mohammad Amir (2/23) in the final powerplay over. Despite two dropped catches in consecutive balls, Pant scored 12 crucial runs.
Pant’s Confidence Against Rauf
Struggling initially, Pant found his rhythm against Haris Rauf (3/21) in the 10th over, scoring 13 runs and pushing India’s total past 80. This early aggression was vital for India to reach 119 despite subsequent setbacks. 
Bumrah’s Breakthrough
Pakistan started steadily, causing concern for India. However, Bumrah’s dismissal of Babar Azam in the 5th over provided a crucial breakthrough, restoring confidence in the Indian camp.
Zaman’s Key Wicket
Fakhar Zaman (13/8), one of Pakistan’s main threats, was dismissed by Hardik Pandya (2/24) after a promising start. His wicket at a critical juncture left Pakistan vulnerable, preventing a potential game-changing innings.
Bumrah’s Penultimate Over
With Pakistan needing 21 runs from the last two overs, Bumrah delivered under pressure, conceding just 3 runs and taking the wicket of Imad Wasim (15/23). Arshdeep Singh (1/31) defended the remaining runs, securing India’s victory.
India’s bowlers clinched the match from a precarious position, but the batsmen received a stark reminder of their responsibilities. India will face the USA on June 12 at the same venue, with victory likely securing their next-round spot. Current betting odds favour India heavily, at 1.066x against the USA. Pakistan, facing a critical juncture, must rely on Ireland’s performance to advance. They play Canada on June 11, with odds favouring Pakistan at 1.111x.
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