(Reuters) – As India chased 160 to beat Pakistan in their World Cup Twenty20 opener in Melbourne, India needed 16 points for the final against Mohammad Nawaz, with the batsmen Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya in the crease.
19.1 PAKISTAN RUPTURE OF PARTNERSHIP
Pandya (40) had struggled with the rotation and Pakistan drew first blood when the versatile player tried to kick the ball in the side of the leg, only to send the ball to the covers where captain Babar Azam pocketed the catch .
19.2 KARTHIK TURNS THE STRIKE
New batsman Dinesh Karthik went on the front foot as soon as he came in and made contact with a full pitch to take a single and give the in-form Kohli the strike.
19.3 FOUR BALLS, 15 TO GET
Kohli orders a yorker to stay long and takes two to keep the strike. Three bullets, 13 required.
19.4 PENDULUM CHANGES
Nawaz’s high, full throw is smashed by Kohli on a deep square leg, where the defender on the ropes gets his hands on it but fails to keep the ball in play and it goes for six.
The referee also calls a ball step for height and his counterpart Marais Erasmus steps square-legged to appease the Pakistani skipper, who was fuming over the call.
19.4 THE PRESSURE IS ON NAWAZ
The bowler can’t keep his composure and he throws a yorker wide – way too wide and the umpire signals a wide.
19.4 RETURNS A FREE KICK
Kohli is casted as the ball hits the stump but he already runs to the non-attacking end as it is still a free kick. With the ball headed for the third man, Karthik, 37, runs well between the wickets as they take three.
19.5 TWIST IN STORY
Karthik tries to make room for a shot but the ball hits his pad. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan reacted quickly on seeing his counterpart outside his crease, pulling the bails to complete the stumping and give Pakistan the lead.
19.6 ONE BALL, TWO TO WIN, ONE TO TIE
Kohli is blocked at the end of the non-attacking and the fate of the chase is in the hands of Ravichandran Ashwin – until the pressure is on Nawaz and he makes a wide on the side of the leg qu ‘Ashwin happily leaves.
19.6 INDIA SNATCH VICTORY
As the Pakistani defenders close in to stop the single and force a Super Over, Ashwin collects the ball over the inner circle and runs to the other end with his arms raised as Indian fans among the 90,000 at Melbourne Cricket Ground burst with joy.
India win by four wickets and Kohli is voted player of the match for his unbeaten 82 under pressure, breaking six fours and four sixes.