In a nail-biting match that saw Pakistan facing a formidable opponent, the team's performance fell short, leading to a disappointing defeat. Captain Babar Azam shared his insights post-match, highlighting several key factors that contributed to the team's loss.
In a nail-biting, low-scoring Group A encounter at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, India clinched a narrow six-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their second match of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan, who appeared to have a solid start with an unblemished first over, faltered as skipper Babar Azam fell victim to Jasprit Bumrah after scoring just 13 runs. The early setback put pressure on the Green Shirts, who struggled to build momentum despite Mohammad Rizwan's determined efforts.
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Reflecting on the game after the match, Babar Azam acknowledged that the team “could not bat well in the first six overs,” setting a challenging tone for the remainder of the innings.
“I think they bowled well after 10 overs. We were chasing 120, we were running a ball for the first 10 overs, but back to back wickets, and then [we left too much in the end],” Babar said in his post-match comments.
He further said that the tactics were simple: play normally, rotate strike, five to six an over. “But in that period, we had too many dot balls, the pressure was on us, and we lost three quick wickets. Can't expect too much from tailenders,” he lamented.
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“We were not up to the mark in the first six overs, we targeted 40 to 45 runs. We have not capitalised properly.”
Babar further said: “The pitch looked decent, ball coming nicely. A little bit slow, some balls are bouncing a bit more, but you expect it with a drop-in pitch.”
The match reached a crucial turning point when Bumrah clean-bowled Rizwan, who had scored 31 runs and seemed poised to guide Pakistan to victory. With Rizwan's departure, Pakistan's chances dimmed, culminating in a final tally of 113-7 in 20 overs. Bumrah was the star for India with three wickets, while Hardik Pandya took two, and Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel claimed one each.
