On this day in 2017: Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Pakistan defeated Team India in a high-Voltage match
It is not very often that we see Pakistan trounce India in an International Cricket Council (ICC) organized event. The story has always been very one-sided. It has mostly been India, who have gotten the better off their neighbours in high-voltage ICC events and have time and often established their credentials as a dominant force. But on this day, way back in 2017, we witnessed something unexpected. Sarfraz Ahmed-led Pakistan laid their hands on the silverware, beating the new skipper of Team India, Virat Kohli.
On a less surprising note, India had outclassed Pakistan in the group-stage match of the Champions Trophy and thus when Pakistan beat England to qualify for the finals, it was India who were touted as favourites to lift the trophy. But it was a different story altogether!
Batting first, Pakistan started off really well after a mishap from Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah had dismissed Pakistan opener, Fakhar Zaman, for 3 runs and then the umpires decided to take a look at the front-foot no-ball. And to everyone’s disbelief, it was in fact a no-ball. The southpaw cashed in on this lifeline provided by the Indian speedster and then plundered 111 more runs. He got out when he was 114 but had inflicted the damage on the way.
Experienced middle-order batsman Mohammad Hafeez gave the finishing touch to a magnificent first innings display of cricket from the Pakistan cricket team. India had to chase 339 and it was always going to be an enormous mountain to climb.
Mohammad Amir started the innings with sheer brilliance as he kept piling up pressure on the Indian batsmen with his quick pace and accuracy with the line and lengths. He also got movement in the air and that aided in the ball swinging in both ways. He dismissed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in quick succession and surmounted pressure continuously. The Indians were never really in the driving seat of the game and they kept losing wickets at quick intervals.
At the end of 16 overs, India were 72-6 and were staring down at the barrel, But Hardik Pandya had some other plans. He played a Herculean innings and almost gave the Indians a second chance of staging a comeback in the innings. He targeted both spinners and pacers and smashed a quickfire knock of 76 (43).
But he was unfortunately run-out after a misunderstanding with Ravindra Jadeja and he burst into flares over the disappointment on the field. The Pakistani bowlers did not take much time from there on to wrap up things for India and re-wrote the history books. It was a game that still haunts the Indian cricket team!(Times now)