MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):
Virat Kohli produced an astonishing performance to lead India to a stunning final-ball triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan in a dramatic Twenty20 World Cup opener on Sunday.
Arriving at the crease with India under pressure, Kohli delivered one of the finest innings played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to steer India to a four-wicket victory in the Group 2 Super 12 opener.
The thriller played in front of 90,293 fans was stark in contrast to a Group 1 match played earlier on Sunday in Hobart where Sri Lanka coasted to a nine-wicket win over Ireland.
Kohli set the tempo of his innings perfectly, batting conservatively early in partnership with Hardik Pandya before stepping up late as India reeled in Pakistan’s tally of 159-8.
Describing it as the finest T20 innings of his career, the India legend finished unbeaten on 82 from 53 balls but was stuck at the non-striker’s end in a surreal finish to the match.
When Mohammad Nawaz removed Pandya for 40 off 37 balls with the first ball of the final over, India still needed 16 runs for victory. But the Pakistan spinner then lost his nerve.
NO-BALL
Kohli struck a six from a no-ball on the fourth ball of the over and Nawaz then bowled a wide. He then bowled Kohli, who had the benefit of a free hit courtesy of the wide.
Alert to the ball ricocheting from the stumps, the Indian batters ran three byes to reduce the target to two runs off two balls. But that left Kohli off the strike.
Nawaz had Dinesh Karthik stumped with the second last ball, but then bowled another wide, leaving Ravichandran Ashwin needing only a single to secure victory for India.
“It’s a surreal atmosphere. I honestly have no words. I have no idea how that happened,” Kohli said.
After sending their rivals in, India placed Pakistan under significant pressure when removing star batter Mohammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam in the first four overs.
Pakistan struggled to find rhythm in overcast conditions until a surge from Iftikhar Ahmed midway through their innings helped them to a competitive tally.
Ahmed made 51 from 34 balls, at one stage striking four sixes in six balls, with three of them coming from off-spinner Axar Patel. He was well supported by Shan Masood, who finished unbeaten on 52 from 42 balls.
After India fell to 31-4 when Axar Patel was judged run out in a contentious decision, Kohli and Pandya set about resurrecting their nation’s hopes.
The pair, who combined for a partnership of 113, worked the ball around the spacious MCG and brought up India’s 100 with five overs remaining. This left India requiring 60 from 30 balls.