Farhan’s fifty in vain as India ease past Pakistan
In the space of 22 runs, Pakistan lost three wickets.
When Sahibzada Farhan pulled Axar Patel's short-of-length delivery over wide long-on for six, the Pakistani supporters in the stands erupted with joy. Pakistan had been thrashed by India in the group stage, but this shot signalled a fightback. Reaching his fifty with that blow, Farhan celebrated with a gun-toting gesture, as if to say "Ladke lenge jeet"—we will fight for victory!
By 9.3 overs, Pakistan had raced to 90 for 1. With nine wickets in hand and 10.3 overs left, a 200-run total looked possible. The chants of "Pakistan jeetega" ("Pakistan will win") echoed in the stands. But that was the high point. In the space of 22 runs, Pakistan lost three wickets, slowing down the scoring rate. Eventually, they could set India a target of only 172.
Even associate nation Oman had posted 167 against India in the group stage. For an in-form Indian side, Pakistan's total was never going to be enough. India proved it by winning comfortably with seven balls and six wickets in hand.
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Perhaps Pakistan could have made a contest of it if they had struck early with the ball. But the first breakthrough didn't come until the 9.5-over mark, when Shubman Gill fell for 47 off 28. By then, India were already 105 for no loss, needing just 67 from 61 balls. The asking rate was 6.70, while India had been scoring at over ten an over.
Gill's dismissal was followed by Suryakumar Yadav's duck in the next over. Yet the 105-run opening stand with debutant Abhishek Sharma had already sealed the game. India losing from there looked less likely than Pakistan winning.
Abhishek was the star of the chase, smashing 74 off 39 with six fours and five sixes, reaching fifty in just 24 balls. Haris Rauf, who dismissed both Suryakumar and later Sanju Samson (13), ended as Pakistan's most successful bowler. But India's grip on the chase remained unshaken. At no point did Pakistan look like winning.
Earlier, sent in to bat, Pakistan posted 171 for 5. Sahibzada Farhan laid the foundation with 58 off 45, laced with five fours and three sixes. He added 72 runs off 49 balls with Saim Ayub (21 off 17) after Fakhar Zaman (15) fell at 21 for 1. But a middle-order wobble—losing Ayub, Hussain Talat (10) and Farhan within 22 runs—halted their momentum.
Shivam Dube was the pick of India's bowlers, taking 2 for 33.
