Batsmen let Pakistan down against India

By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan’s batting exposed as India downed the Green-shirts by six runs in a crucial game of the ICC T20 World Cup in New York on Sunday.
The defeat also dented Pakistan’s Super 8 chances. They are now to face Canada and Ireland in their remaining two matches on June 11 and 16.
Set to score 120 Pakistan were restricted to just 113-7, losing the game and thus broke the hearts of the people of Pakistan both at home and abroad.
In front of the jam-packed venue Pakistan were right in control for most part of its batting until Mohammad Rizwan’s fall on 31 to Bumra that sparked a collapse which mounted the required rate and in the last couple of overs it was seen that Pakistan lost the show and it indeed was the case.
The chase was going well as they reached 72 for 2 in 10 overs, Pakistan then started losing the plot. Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Usman Khan all three scored 13 runs each but could not hang on to earn the win for Pakistan. Even Shadab Khan (4), and Iftikhar Ahmad (5) could not come to the rescue. Mohammad Rizwan (31) was the only one showing some guts. Once he lost his wicket, India came back strongly with Jasprit Bumrah (3-13) leading the way.
Gary Kirsten who spoke to the media blamed the poor execution of the plan as a reason for defeat. “At 72 for 2, we were well on target. Disappointment indeed. You make mistakes, you have to pay. Run a ball and we were on the target. Though it was not an easy target on a tricky wicket, we could have won it easily.
We have the game in our hands for 35 overs before losing it by ourselves,” Gary Kirsten said, adding that everyone should be blamed for the defeat barring bowlers who presented Pakistan with a good opportunity to put their campaign back on track.
“I thought 140 could be a difficult target on the wicket but chasing 120 target, we should have won it easily. Batsmen could not manage it despite having a stranglehold on the match during almost the entire time barring the last couple of overs.”
The message was to look for the odd boundary. “We lost wickets and then we stopped scoring. For 15 overs we were there. But we lost the plot mainly because we could not go according to the plan set forth for the chase.”
Gary praised the bowlers, saying that Pakistan bowlers had proved their worth. “We are that bowling side that could bowl out the best team. Even Imad bowled well today but all the good work wasted.”
Earlier, Pakistan’s fast bowlers utilized the early overcast conditions to perfection, bowling out India for 119. Hot favourites India suffered a rare batting collapse with the likes of Virat Kohli (4), Rohit Sharma (13), Suryakumar (Yadav (7), Shivam Dube (3) and Hartik
Pandye (7) all losing their wickets playing risky shots against pacers. Naseem Shah (3-21) was the pick of the day.
Following early threats of rain, when the play finally resumed, Naseem Shah made early inroads, removing Virat Kohli (4) who tried to play over cover only to see the ball in the safe hands of Usman Khan. Sharma could not stay long holding out at deep square leg as Haris Rauf grabbed a skier off Shaheen Afridi to reduce India to 19 for 2.
Usman dropped a tough catch of Mohammad Amir as Rishat Pant lofted one over cover, India was yet to reach 50 which they later did at the end of the power play. Another skier missed by the same fielder this time of Imad bowling. Pant again was the beneficiary when the total score reached 65. Besides Naseem Shah (3-23), Haris Rauf (3-21) also bowled well.