India vs Pakistan, Highlights, Champions Trophy 2017 final, cricket result: Sarfraz and Co upset Kohli's men to lift the title

How do you begin to describe this? What do you say to do justice with what this team has achieved? How do you explain anything? Is this how fairytales are supposed to be? Is this how heroes are meant to get their rightful place? ODI cricket in 2017: Pakistan got a little late but they have arrived!

Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan captain: Specially first of all thanks to Almighty Allah. After the India match, I told to my boys that the tournament is not over yet. Thanks to the team management. And look we are here today. I think he (Fakhar Zaman) is a very great impact player, he played like a champion player. All credit goes to my bowlers. They bowled really well. It is a very young bunch of team and a lot of credit goes to the team management for backing us. When we came here, there was nothing to lose. Very proud moment for me, my team and my country. Thank you very much Pakistan, keep praying for us.

Man of the Series awards in ICC CT:

1998 – Jacques Kallis 

2004 – Ramnaresh Sarwan 

2006 – Chris Gayle 

2009 – Ricky Ponting 

2013 – Shikhar Dhawan

2017 – HASAN ALI*

Man of the Match in ICC CT finals:

Jacques Kallis,1998

Chris Cairns,2000

Ian Bradshaw,2004

Shane Watson (2006 and 2009)

Ravindra Jadeja,2013

FAKHAR ZAMAN,2017*

India skipper Virat Kohli: I want to congratulate Pakistan. They had an amazing tournament, and proved yet again today that they can upset any side. Really proud of them the way they turned things around, and reached the final. This is what happens in sport. You can’t take anyone lightly. With the ball, we could have had a few more wicket-taking opportunities. We’ve always tried to do our best in certain situations. (On Bumrah’s no-ball) Small margins can be massive in cricket. All said and done, we’ve not won the final, and we’ve lost a game of cricket.

The Indian players are now collecting the runners-up medals. Deafening boos for Indian captain Virat Kohli.

Hasan Ali, ‘Player of the Tournament’: I wasn’t nervous at all, there was no pressure on me (before the final against India). It was very special to take the last wicket, it was indeed a special moment for me.

Champions Trophy winners:

1998 – South Africa

2000 – New Zealand

2002 – India/Sri Lanka

2004 – West Indies

2006 – Australia

2009 – Australia

2013 – India

2017 – Pakistan

Champions Trophy runners up:

1998 – West Indies

2000 – India

2004 – England

2006 – West Indies

2009 – New Zealand

2013 – England

2017 – India

Hasan Ali wins the ‘Golden Ball’ award for the most wickets in the tournament (13).

Shikhar Dhawan wins the ‘Golden Bat’ for the most runs in the tournament, scoring 330 at an average of 67.

Fakhar Zaman is the Man of the Match for his performance of 114 from 106 balls!

Shadab Khan (18y 257d) becomes the youngest player to win an ICC ODI tournament final. The previous youngest was Aaquib Javed (19y 233d), 1992 WC final.

Most wickets in a single edition of ICC CT:

13 – HASAN ALI,2017*
13 – Jerome Taylor,2006

Biggest wins for PAK v IND in ODIs: (By runs)

180 – The Oval, 2017 *
159 – Delhi, 2005
143 – Jaipur, 1999

Sensational stuff from Pakistan, and there’s a half-hearted pitch invasion from a few supporters as the final wicket is taken. Only about five or six fans who don’t receive a very warm welcome from the pitch security. Comprehensive win for the huge underdogs.

Pakistan winning ICC events:
1992 ODI World Cup
2009 World T20
2017 ICC CT

Sad end to a great run in the tournament. India looked the best team in the tournament. Yet, on the day when they had everything going for them by way of winning the toss and having the drop on Pakistan, they frittered it away. The bowling was awful, with only Bhuvi and Pandya redeeming themselves. The pressure was too much for Bumrah while Ashwin and Jadeja were pedestrian. No balls, wides, indifferent fielding set the tone for a day of extreme bumbling. Did Kohli err is opting to bowl first? Probably.  It allowed Pakistan to take advantage of Bumrah’s wayward bowling and calm their own nerves. They set up a massive target of 339 and went about defending it gloriously Mohammed Amir was brilliant. His three wicket-burst at the top ripped the heart out of the Indian batting. The loss by 180 runs with around 19 overs remaining on a placid pitch was as humiliating as it could get. But it brought to the fore that India V Pakistan matches are generally lop sided. Very few have gone to the wire.

Hassan Ali, sharp short ball at Bumrah first up and the batsman gets nicely behind it, defends. Not bad, that technique — the perfect back foot defense, one of the rarest shots now in international cricket.

A ball later, it is all over. Very quick, very sharp bouncer at Bumrah’s head, he waves his bat, trying to fend it off, gets the top edge up in the air and a delighted Sarfraz barely waits to get the ball in glove before he celebrates. And now the whole team lines up to touch their foreheads to the ground. 

That then is it, folks. And all you can say is, the best side on the day won, which is what is supposed to happen in sport.

Most matches lost in ICC events’ finals:
6 – England 
4 – Sri Lanka
4 – INDIA*

Biggest winning margins in ICC events’ finals:
180 – PAK v IND.The Oval,2017*
125 – Aus v Ind,Johannesburg,2003

Pakistan lift the Champions Trophy 2017 by thrashing India by 180 runs. Jasprit Bumrah is the last man to fall, he top edges it to the keeper and it seems quite apt that Hassan Ali is the one who dismissed him.

After 30 overs,India 158/9 ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1 , Jasprit Bumrah 1)

Hassan Ali encouraging the fans to make some noise, and they oblige as Junaid runs in. Just a slip in place, Bhuvi on strike and defending on line of off. Waves his bat at the next ball, angled across him, lucky not to touch through, not that it matters much at this point anyway. Junaid has a wry smile, comes back and bounces, Bhuvi goes under it.

The batsman then has a huge swipe at the next one, puts it high in the air and manages to land it between three converging fielders, no one knows how. Single for it takes him off the mark; Bumrah ends the over with a single.

After 29 overs,India 156/9 ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar 0 , Jasprit Bumrah 0)

Hassan Ali resumes and WICKET. Quick, in the channel, very close to off, Ash had to play at it but he is only good enough to feather an edge through to Sarfraz behind the stumps, so we are now down to the final wicket.

Bumrah the last man in. Meanwhile, Hassan remains on top of the bowling tree in this tournament — the highest wicket taker by a distance. Almost cleans Bumrah up with the sort of yorker Bumrah sends down at others — very quick, an inch close to off, Bumrah jabs down on it a lifetime too late, beaten there for length and pace. Defends to the next ball, on off. And then does it again — looking quite competent when the ball is pitched up and on the stumps.

OUT! India are falling apart after Pandya’s wicket. Hasan Ali takes Pakistan little more closer to the ICC Champions Trophy. Ashwin edges it to Sarfraz Ahmed.

After 28 overs,India 156/8 ( Ravichandran Ashwin 1 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 0)

Okay, fun and games are over apparently. Junaid comes on for Fakhar, begins with a bouncer. Ashwin pushes to point and wants a run. Easily the slowest between wickets, Ash, and there was never a run there. Jadeja tells him to get the hell back. Single behind the wicket on the off brings Jadeja on strike as the senior partner — Junaid gives him a lifting delivery on length outside off and Jadeja chops it straight into the hands of first slip, so this is getting over quickly after that resistance from Pandya.

To lose is no disgrace, but what is going to hurt Kohli the most is the nature of this defeat — it has been a long time since any team has so totally outperformed India in all departments. The Pakistan quicks are finding pace, bounce and movement at will where Indian quicks were ineffective; their spinners are getting turn, including sharp turn on occasion, and the batsmen thumped the Indian attack without mercy earlier in the day. That is what will hurt — not defeat, but capitulation on all fronts.

Junaid meanwhile bowls out his over, with Bhuvi trying not to get bat to ball and inadvertently edge behind.

OUT! Would you believe it? A couple of overs later, Jadeja edges it to Babar Azam off Hasan Ali’s innings. His misery at the crease comes to an end. He walks back for 15 off 26 balls.

Most sixes in an ICC Champions Trophy match: 

15 – IND v PAK,The Oval,2017*
14 – NZ v USA,The Oval,2004
14 – SA v ENG,Centurion,2009

After 27 overs,India 155/7 ( Ravindra Jadeja 15 , Ravichandran Ashwin 0)

Hassan Ali finally gets the ball back from Shadab. And there is the breakthrough — huge mix up between Jadeja and Pandya, and good fielding at point, ends with Pandya run out by the length of the pitch, both batsmen finding themselves at the same end. Pandya lets fly some abuse at Jadeja, then nearly swipes the boundary triangle out of the ground in his anger.

That was a special innings all things considered, but it is over now, and Ashwin is the new man in as Hassan ends his comeback ove

Oh dear, it just gets worse for India. Pandya was playing a superb innings but he’s been completely sold down the river by Jadeja there. He’s absolutely furious. Enormous relieved cheers from Pakistan supporters in the ground who were perhaps starting to get a little worried by Pandya’s blasting.

OUT! Huge mix-up! This is absolute mental. Pandya is fuming. Jadeja pats this to to covers and Hardik sets off for a single. However, Jadeja refuses and Hardik is caught well short of his crease. He has to depart, Jadeja should have sacrificed his wicket there, but Hardik, the man who was hitting sixes at will, hast to depart for 73.

After 26 overs,India 152/6 ( Hardik Pandya 76 , Ravindra Jadeja 13)

Not going to complain about this, really, but keeping Fakhar on with India’s tail a wicket away from being exposed is a case of complacency on Pakistan’s part. Fakhar makes a decent fist of his part timers, primarily by keeping it on the stumps and not permitting the batsmen room to free their arms and hit through. For four balls, that is — then Pandya pounces, with back to back sixes; Pandya here is hitting sixes for sheer fun.

The hitting, particularly to the leg side of the ground, is awesome, even keeping in mind that he is facing a part timer here. Good to see the spirit; makes you wonder what could have been

After 25 overs,India 137/6 ( Hardik Pandya 63 , Ravindra Jadeja 11)

Shadab is persisted with and this time, to his relief, manages to send down a tight over, just three in the over. India in case you are keeping track need a further 201 runs, as Fakhar Zaman continues.

SIX! SIX! Pandya continuing his brilliant hitting. Slogs the second one out of the ground. He is keeping the hopes alive for Indian fans.

Pandya is playing a blinder and I am not sure why Sarfraz is not bringing on his pace bowlers to him. May be he wants the batsmen to play a false shot against Shadab. I’d be thinking about Amir and Hasan right about now!  

Hardik Pandya’s fifty from 32 balls today – the fastest in an ICC ODI event’s final. The previous fastest was 33 balls by Adam Gilchrist in the 1999 World Cup.

After 24 overs,India 134/6 ( Hardik Pandya 62 , Ravindra Jadeja 9)

Fakhar Zaman continues. And that spree of hitting pulls the ask rate below 8, by the way. both batsmen milk singles with ease, looking untroubled, but then Fakhar is at the very best a part time trundler. Six balls, six singles.

After 23 overs,India 128/6 ( Hardik Pandya 59 , Ravindra Jadeja 6)

Pandya’s defiance is good to see. Start of this over, he greets Shadab with another big six. And follows up with another big six. The first was tossed up, and heaved around the corner; the second, lofted straight back against the turn to clear the boundary over long on. And — incredible stuff this — ball three is a third successive six! All muscle and timing, ignoring the turn Shadab is getting, hitting each of these shots off the middle of the bat with imperious authority. Ends the over with a four and a single, gets 23 in the over, coasts past his individual 50.

SIX! SIX! SIX! Hardik Pandya goes absolutely bonkers. Whacks three maximums off Shadab Khan’s bowling and brings up his fifty in 32 balls.

After 22 overs,India 105/6 ( Hardik Pandya 36 , Ravindra Jadeja 6)

Fakhar Zaman gets to continue. Sarfraz could actually be attacking here, bringing back Amir or Junaid for a spell, instead of marking time with his spinners. But anyway, I guess he thinks even if he dawdles through the remaining overs there is no chance of India coming back, so what the hell. Interestingly, the run rate is still just a tick above 8 — it is the wickets that hurt India here. Three in the over.

After 21 overs,India 102/6 ( Hardik Pandya 34 , Ravindra Jadeja 5)

Shadab to Pandya. Really giving it a rip, the leggie, and he is getting good turn off length. Noticeable about this innings is the attacking lengths Pakistan is bowling; no freebies for India and that plus the pressure of a high chase is clearly telling on the chasing side. The batsmen now working singles around, one a ball for the first four balls, then Pandya breaks the monotony by going deep in his crease and thrashing a leg break through the covers, covering the turn away from him nicely and hitting with power and authority.

After 20 overs,India 93/6 ( Hardik Pandya 27 , Ravindra Jadeja 3)

Change in the bowling, Imad Wasim takes over from Hussain Ali, who by his standards has been unusually flat today. Spin now at both ends. Jadeja works a single, then Pandya whips the bowler off his pads for two. Meanwhile, recalling Azhar Mahmood’s prescient words now. In an interview to Cricinfo in the lead up to this final, he made a comment that deserves to be engraved on stone: Batsmen win you games, he said, but bowlers win you tournaments. Perhaps fitting then that the best bowling outfit is winning this?

Imad meanwhile tweaks something in his leg and has to go off, so Fakhar Zaman comes on to complete his over. Which he does without giving away any runs, so four in that

Imad Wasim bowls three balls and goes off the field. It won’t affect their chances though.

After 19 overs,India 89/6 ( Hardik Pandya 24 , Ravindra Jadeja 2)

Shadab continues, Sarfraz resisting the temptation to bring back Amir. Meanwhile, pop quiz — when was the last time India lost five wickets inside the first 15 overs in an ODI?

Pandya remains combative as usual — with wickets falling in a heap, he takes on Shadab and allowing for the break, lofts him for a huge six, high over long on, hitting against the turn. 9 in the over

Shadab Khan is now the youngest player ever (18 years and  257 days) to take two wickets in an ICC event’s final match. The previous youngest was Aaqib Javed at the age of 19 years and 233 days.

SIX! Hardik Pandya not giving up. He is playing his natural game. He kneels and tonks Shadab over long on for half a dozen.

After 18 overs,India 80/6 ( Hardik Pandya 17 , Ravindra Jadeja 0)

If you are looking for silver linings, there is this: India just beat Pakistan 7-1 in hockey. Anyway. Hassan Ali continues, and Pandya keeps finding runs — two with a square drive through point this time,

Then the upper cut, superbly played, to a fast bouncer on off stump. That was really quick and Pandya made that difficult shot look easy, landed it one inch short of the boundary. 8 in that over.

FOUR! Second boundary for Hardik Pandya, going for a cheeky ramp shot off a a back-of-length delivery from Hasan in the third delivery of the over. India 80/6

After 17 overs,India 72/6 ( Hardik Pandya 9 , )

Shadab to Hardik, who seems to be untroubled. Middling the ball nicely, driving the spinner at the pitch. Finds the fielder, changes tack, stays back in his crease to the next one and crames it past point for four. Thoughtful batting, that. And he follows up with a fierce hit, on the up, over the bowler’s head down the straight field. Fielded there by long on, single.

WICKET: Shadab drops it short, Jadhav tries to pull over  midwicket, the ball turns sharply away — the kind of turn none of the Indian spinners got — and finds the top edge, high in the air and Sarfraz runs around from behind the stumps and holds. Wicket number two to Shadab, and India folding with astonishing rapidity.

Incredible, really, that the defending champions saved their worst all round performance for this key game.

OUT! Jadhav skies the last ball of the 17th over while looking for a pull off a back-of-length delivery. Keeper-captain Sarfraz marks this one as his catch, and pouches it safely near silly mid-off. India 72/6

Jadhav c Sarfraz b Shadab 9(13)

After 16 overs,India 67/5 ( Kedar Jadhav 9 , Hardik Pandya 4)

Hassan Ali bounces Jadhav to start the 16th over, and the batsman just looks at it sailing over his head. Bounces again and this time the batsman weaves away and smiles down the track at the bowler. And then produces a superb shot — fuller length on off, an effortless flick sends the ball through midwicket. Perfectly timed and impeccably placed, four to end the over.

FOUR! That’s the second boundary for Jadhav, who hasn’t given up in what appears to be a lost battle already for the Indians. Guides this one towards cow-corner in the last delivery of the 16th over. India 67/5

Pakistan in dreamland. A flawless performance so far. An 18 year old kid is bowling like an experienced campaigner, Amir has redeemed himself & then again. Hasan is being Hasan & Junaid has kept on the pressure. This is #PeakPakistan

After 15 overs,India 62/5 ( Kedar Jadhav 5 , Hardik Pandya 3)

Shadab continues. Pakistan had hidden Hafeez when they played India in the league game; he looked vulnerable again here and that could have been a problem, but Shadab in his first over pulled off a good ball and an even better review to send back one of the better players of spin in the Indian side, and that was pretty much game over; the wicket of Dhoni was a bonus.

Pandya and Jadhav going through the motions here, but Jadhav decides he will go down fighting — with a short leg under the helmet and Hassan dropping short, the batsman rocks back and thumps him over wide long on to bring up a one bounce four.

After 14 overs,India 55/5 ( Kedar Jadhav 0 , Hardik Pandya 1)

The game is as good as over now; the only point of mild interest is the margin of Pakistan’s victory. Disappointed though the Indian fan is likely to be — and I confess to being one of them — the fact is that India has been thoroughly outplayed; its bowlers have been made to look ordinary, its batsmen haven’t had a clue against top class pace and swing bowling, and here Pakistan is even outfielding the Indians — Shadab just brought off a diving stop of the highest quality at point when Pandya played a fierce cut.

Hassan Ali to Jadhav, who lets one through outside off.

Pakistan are on an absolute roll! 

That googly from Shadab to Yuvi, the follow up leg spin and the confidence to insist for a close review. Remember Shadab is only 18 and this is an ICC event final against India. This is a different Pakistan team. They are playing like they belong at this stage and, boy, do they belong or what.

The wheels are really falling off India’s challenge. The pressure of chasing a big target is telling on the batsmen. Without a really good partnership at the top India are floundering. The loss of openers, Kohli, Yuvraj and Dhoni will be impossible to surmount. India have made a mess of this final. No doubt about that. Bumrah’s poor bowling started the rot. The team hit the skids from then on.

Kedhar Jadhav to the wicket, but it is Dhoni on strike to Hassan Ali. On the replay of the Yuvi LBW, meanwhile, you can clearly see Shadab on that LBW telling his captain, pehle pad, pucca, pehle pad. He called it right.

And WICKET!!! HASSAN ALI BOUNCES, DHONI HOOKS, NOT IN CONTROL, STRAIGHT DOWN THE THROAT OF BACKWARD POINT. India 54/5

Dhoni c Imad b Hasan 4(16)

What a talent Shadab Khan looks like being, he’s the youngest man to play in an ICC final and now he has a wicket. Impressive self-confidence to ask for the review there, he knew it was out and he made sure that DRS got used. Pakistan well on top and a few Indian fans look like they’re leaving the ground.

After 13 overs,India 54/4 ( MS Dhoni (W) 4 , )

Shadab Khan into the attack, Sarfraz rapidly rotating his options to find the best fit to partner Hassan Ali. Yuvraj eases the first ball through square leg for a single. Dhoni skips out, punches on the on, slight misfield as the fielder dives over the ball and they take two.

India’s best plan is to attack the 20 overs of spin, never allow Pakistan to get one bowler bowling steadily at one end. 

Shadab floats one across Yuvraj, who drives at it, misreads the line entirely. Beaten there and lucky not to touch. Next ball straightens, hits Yuvraj on the pads, huge LBW appeal. Umpire says not out, Pakistan reviews. Shadab insisted on the review, it is out, he insists and Sarfraz gives it to him.

On the replay, pad first and then the bat, impact bang in line and hitting the middle of middle. WICKET.

Shadab Khan produces the wicket out of nowhere.

OUT! Now it is the young spin prodigy Shadab’s turn to strike! Gets rid of Yuvraj with a delivery that skids through, and raps him plumb in front of middle. India 54/4

Yuvraj lbw Shadab 22(31)

After 12 overs,India 50/3 ( Yuvraj Singh 21 , MS Dhoni (W) 1)

After that one over from Hafeez that Yuvi took to the cleaners, Hassan Ali into the attack for the first time. Right arm, over, so the angle is across Yuvraj. One slip in place, standing a bit wide; Hassan pulls the length back, Yuvi pulls, good diving stop on the line keeps it down to two.

Again tries that line on leg and middle and Yuvi works it off his hips, one for it. Been timing well, Yuvraj, feet moving nicely and till date, looks unfazed by pace. MS gets one full length ball on off, pushes, finds mid off. MS seems comfortable watching, letting the ball go through if he doesn’t really have to play at it. The required rate is still 7.57, not yet in the danger territory if you discount the three big wickets gone.

After 11 overs,India 47/3 ( Yuvraj Singh 18 , MS Dhoni (W) 1)

Amir gets a sixth over on the trot and the way he is bowling, why not? Dhoni settling into his patented crab walk across his stumps to play defensively to the ball slanting across him by the left handed fast bowler. Two slips behind him, Sarfraz attacking flat out with another three in the ring on the off all well inside the circle. MS very watchful, quick to leave anything that looks like it is slanting past the stumps, banking on Amir not bringing it back in from that length. Nearly makes a mistake last ball, going across and lifting his bat high, ball hits the pad but impact is outside line of off. Just outside, but enough to mute the appeal.

MS Dhoni has scored 78 runs against Mohammad Hafeez in ODIs at an average of 78 and a strike rate of 70.91 before today.

After 10 overs,India 47/3 ( Yuvraj Singh 18 , MS Dhoni (W) 1)

Hafeez takes over from Junaid, and actually gets his first ball to turn into Yuvraj, middle to off. But the next ball has the batsman dancing down the track, lifting him easily from the pitch and through wide long on for four.

Fuller length beats the flick, hit on the toe but that is outside line of leg, no issues. Leg bye results. Hafeez now to MS Dhoni, who hasn’t come in to bat this early in a long, long time. Dhoni punches a single down the ground, gets off the mark with a single.

Yuvraj down the track to the 5th ball, second time this over, fluent drive through the on, beats the diving fielder and finds the boundary. And then, when Hafeez adjusts his line and goes outside off, Yuvraj stands tall and punches this time through mid off, places it perfectly to end with another four, three in the over to him

Yuvraj gets into the attack by hammering three boundaries off Hafeez in the 10th over. Comes down the track and flicks towards wide long-on in the first one, hammers down the ground on the second, before going inside-out towards deep extra-cover in the last delivery of the over. India 47/3

Mohammad Hafeez is introduced into the attack in the final over of the first powerplay.

It looked like Dhawan was getting an eye in but Amir has set him up beautifully here. He took the square leg fielder deep, created that extra bit of doubt in Dhawan’s mind and then stuck to that off-stump channel eventually forcing Dhawan to play one. Amir’s redemption is almost complete, one would feel. He is running away with the game here!

Amir again. Bowling with the sort of venom that seems irresistible. Just short, lifting around that off stump and leaving Dhawan late, finds the edge through to the keeper. This is just sensational bowling by a bowler who, till the semifinal, was doing everything he could without ever taking a wicket. Now he has three, and has broken the back of India’s batting — its three best batsmen are back in the hut and the middle order is now wide open.

After 9 overs,India 33/3 ( Yuvraj Singh 6 , )

After three nervous dots, Dhawan pushes the fourth delivery of Amir’s fifth over down the ground for a quick single. The fiery left-arm pace though, gets the big fish with a cross-seamer in the last ball of the over. It’s all going Pakistan’s way at the moment!

More misery for India, that’s the tournament’s top run scorer Dhawan gone as well now. The Pakistan sections of the crowd are not surprisingly getting pretty excited now. Going to take something pretty special from India to get back into this one. Mohammad Amir is on fire.

OUT! And now Amir gets rid of the big fish Shikhar Dhawan! What a spell he is having at the moment! Gets the tournament’s leading run-scorer’s outside edge with a cross-seamer. India 33/3

Dhawan c Sarfraz b Amir 21(22)

After 8 overs,India 31/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 20 , Yuvraj Singh 5)

Junaid starts with width outside off to the short length, and Dhawan smacks it through the covers, four. Does it again, even better, when Junaid loses  his length again and drops it marginally short outside off. Two fours in the over, Dhawan batting in peak form here. Flicks a single on the on off the fifth. 9 in  the over….

FOUR MORE! Dhawan at it again! Cuts the third delivery of the eighth over towards deep point! India 30/2

FOUR! Punched on the backfoot by Dhawan through the covers off Junaid! India 26/2

After 7 overs,India 22/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 11 , Yuvraj Singh 5)

The first innings of this game tested the depth of India’s bowling and found it wanting; this innings is testing the depth. Amir continues. Has to change his line and length since he is now bowling to two left handers from over the wicket. Concentrates on getting it off or just outside and looking for movement. The intent is to deny room for the batsman to hit through, and at the pace Amir is bowling, Yuvraj forced to defend, there is neither room nor lesser pace to work with. Yuvraj parks himself on his off and defends grimly at pretty much everything. Amir really grunting with effort now, giving it his everything — this is the fastest, and sharpest, he has bowled in this tournament. the only time Yuvraj gets room to drive is the last ball — and he picks out cover standing well inside the ring, no run. Just an LB in this over.

After 6 overs,India 21/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 11 , Yuvraj Singh 5)

Junaid to Dhawan who walks forward, flicks off his pads to the length which was good, but converted into fuller length by that walk, and gets it behind square leg for one. Yuvraj in his turn punches from his off stump, but finds mid on.

Junaid unlike Amir concentrating on line bowling, helps that he is bowling to two left handers, and he is bowling each ball dead straight, along the channel on a good length at his top pace. For a change, bounces the fourth ball, Yuvraj plays a clumsy hook, top edge gets him four behind the keeper. That reminds you of Fakhar Zaman in the Pakistan innings.

Junaid increases the length, to around the five meter mark, makes it lift off that length and flash past Yuvraj’s edge, beaten there and lucky not to touch to slip. Ends the over with a shorter ball that Yuvraj pushes on the off, no run.

FOUR! Top-edged by Yuvraj off a short delivery from Junaid, and the ball flies over the keeper’s head.

After 5 overs,India 16/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 10 , Yuvraj Singh 1)

Amir begins with an inswinging yorker to Dhawan, who can only dig it out. Ball two played to the leg side — there was a run there, but Yuvi was slow to respond and gets a glare from Dhawan.

Amir bounces, Dhawan controls a pull very nicely, hits it square and finds the fence, first four of the innings to the first hittable ball of the innings.

Pakistan fielding well here. Dhawan pushed the checked drive down the pitch, Shoaib Malik at mid on dives, stops four. BUt the next ball is outside off and Dhawan eases into the drive, plays it to perfection, gets four through extra cover. Pakistan removes the second slip now — and Dhawan off the back foot punches, in the air and luckily for him, just over point who leapt but couldn’t get to it, single to the deep to end a productive over.

This is unbelievable, Amir has returned from injury and magically rediscovered his swing. He got Kohli out twice in two balls, that is how good he has been in this first spell. Pakistan are in complete control. It will require a colossal effort from India to chase this from here. Pakistan must keep picking up wickets otherwise India will be back in it.

Finally some boundaries for the Indians, with Dhawan taking on Amir head on in this over. Pulls the third delivery towards backward square-leg boundary, before crunching one through the covers a couple of deliveries later. Some hope for the Indians as long as he’s around.

After 4 overs,India 7/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 1 , Yuvraj Singh 1)

Junaid continues. Bowling a good length here, full on and around off, getting to Yuvraj on the rise, forcing the defense. Then the bouncer, but outside off which causes no problem — Yuvi doesn’t like the fast bouncer on off and middle, so there should be a few of those, but this isn’t it.

Back to the full length, Yuvi shapes to pull but hastily brings his bat back into the vertical line and defends — that was too good a length for that shot. Junaid relentless around that off stump on good length — zero room for batsmen here and Yuvi defensive. Makes some room to the same line and tries a cover drive to the last ball, but finds the fielder well in the ring.

Junaid keeps the pressure on at his end. If you remember, Bhuvi bowled beautifully, but first Bumrah then Ashwin gave it away at the otehr end when India bowled

Two balls and the entirety of Pakistan cricket in those two balls. Excellent bowling, poor fielding, some more excellent bowling and King Kohli is walking back. This is a dream start for Pakistan and India should be worried now.

After 3 overs, India 7/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 1 , Yuvraj Singh 1)

Amir starts with a ball that squares Kohli up with late movement back in from a line outside off. Kohli gets a thick outer edge, through cover, two for it.

And a sensational ball next up. Very quick, slanting across, hits the line of off, leaves the right hander late, squares him again, finds the edge and Azhar Ali at slip drops the simplest catch you can imagine, straight into his hands and out again and Amir yells out an abusive word in frustration.

WICKET: Next ball, very full on off, Kohli drawn into the push, the movement finds the outside edge, the ball flies to point, caught well there and India have lost its second wicket, Kohli gone and India 6/2.

This has been just incredible bowling from Amir. Top pace, superb line across both right handers, considerable movement in the air and off the deck, great length forcing the batsmen to push at him. Fast bowling at its very best, and what a time for Amir to produce the sort of magic spell he used to be known for.

Yuvraj Singh the new man in. Checks a push to one on line of off, races down to the other end to turn the strike over. Amir ends the over with a good length ball into the middle stump of Dhawan, who defends.

OUT! Amir has his man. HUGE WICKET for Pakistan. Kohli departs! 

Kohli’s luck runs out. He was dropped off the last ball. This time Amir again bowles one that moves away. Kohli is early into his flick and gets a leading edge to backward point where Shadab makes no mistake. Pakistan go wild in celebrations.

DROPPED! Oh dear! Azhar Ali drops Virat Kohli at first slip. Amir with a beautiful outswinger. Kohli gets an outside edge and Azhar juggles before spilling it down.

Virat Kohli v Junaid Khan in ODIs:

Runs – 2

Balls – 22

Dismissals – 3

Average – 0.67

Strike rate – 9.09

One of the aspects of chasing a huge target is that the batting team has to be lucky all the time. The bowler has to be lucky just once. Of course a couple of big partnerships can turn this around for India. But for that the top order has to fire and get those lucky breaks early on.

After 2 overs,India 4/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 1 , Virat Kohli (C) 3)

Junaid, with two slips, to Dhawan. And here we go, he plays in front of him and comes running down the track, Kohli yells a no you can hear all over England. Dhawan has this habit of running down for everything.

Good length into off and middle, Dhawan defends. Ball four is short into Dhawan, who hooks, controls it and drags the ball down to fine leg, gets one, brings Kohli on strike to Junaid, who in 22 balls previously has taken Kohli out thrice. Starts with one slanting wide across the right hander, left alone.

The last ball is straightening on off, Kohli again works that single he likes, off his pads to backward square, keeps strike to Amir for the third over.

The highest target successfully chased in an ODI tournament’s final is 326  (by India v England at Lord’s in 2002).

Pakistan have not lost a match in ICC events after scoring 300-plus while batting first before today. Played – 6, Won – 6.

After 1 overs,India 2/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 0 , Virat Kohli (C) 2)

And here we go: India, with the toughest ask of this or any global championship in contemporary memory, needing to score at near 7 and over against a bowling attack that has depth and variety. Dhawan and Rohit will open, and one thing for sure, they will need to go fairly hard from the beginning, because you really can’t leave too much for the death against a Pakistan bowling unit adept at reverse swing.

Amir will open the bowling, and Rohit will take first strike. Ball one is wide of off on the slant across the right hander, with two slips waiting; Rohit pushes at it and then looks for it between his feet.

Ball two, lifting and angling across outside off, Rohit lets it through. And, WICKET: Ball three, quick, full, hititng line of leg and straightening down the line, Rohit misses with the attempted flick off the pads and is nailed in front of leg stump. India lose its first wicket with nothing on the board, and Kohli is in early.

Amir had bowled a dream over to Rohit in the first league game, every single ball slanting across and straightening outside off. Here he tested him with two down that line, then straightened his line to force the error.

Kohli, and what a delivery!! Angling across, landing on length at 145 k just around off, straightening, beaten Kohli hollow and flashing past the inside edge. Ball five, fuller, Kohli drives, tentatively, and mid off dives and fields, no run.

Last ball of the over, first runs for India — Kohli across his stumps, plays off to on with the shut bat face, through square leg and gets two.

Perfect start for Pakistan, India’s reliable opening stand broken at almost the earliest possible moment. Virat Kohli is known for being the best ODI chaser in world cricket, well he’s got a hell of one on his hands now. Fascinating start to this innings.

OUT! What a start for Pakistan! Amir traps Rohit LBW!

It’s a length delivery on middle, nips back in sharply. Rohit is comprehensively beaten by the movement as he looks to defend. The ball hits his pads and they all go up in a huge appeal. The umpire raises his finger. Rohit ponders a review but decides against it. Replays show it was hitting top of middle and leg. Umpire’s call!

Rohit Sharma v Mohammad Amir in ODIs:

Runs – 18

Balls – 39

Dismissals – 0

Strike rate – 46.15

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are out in the middle. Mohammad Amir will start off.

Back for the chase. The Pakistan players are out in a huddle.

Highest totals in ICC CT:

347/4 – New Zealand v U.S.A., The Oval, 2004
338/4 – Pakistan v India, The Oval, 2017 
331/7 – India v South Africa, Cardiff, 2013

Decent death bowling from India but Imad and Hafeez tried to get a little too unconventional at times. Pakistan have the runs on board in an ICC event final and the pressure is on India here. They don’t have to look too far away for inspiration though – India chased 329 against Pakistan at the 2012 Asia Cup with captain Kohli scoring 183 in that win. 

Standing ovation for Mohammad Hafeez, especially that last over 6 off Kumar. Unbelievable reach!

If it wasn’t for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India might well have been out if this match already. Brilliant death bowling by him prevented Pakistan from reaching 350. India’s bowling was below par & ill-disciplined today. Bhumra’s no-balls might cost India the trophy. Meanwhile Pakistan will be confident of defending this total, they have a very potent bowling attack which is in form. Pakistan have never lost a match after scoring 300+ in an ICC event.

338/4 by Pakistan today at The Oval is their second highest total against India in ODIs. The highest is 344/8 came at Karachi in 2004.

Pakistan batted with sustained aggression throughout its innings, powered first by Fakhar Zaman and then by Hafeez. And it has to be said that India was caught off guard — they didn’t seem to have anticipated such a start, and other than Bhuvi, every one of the bowlers lost their shape and control. To an extent, Pandya was okay, with a 5.3 rpo rate that looks very good in the midst of the carnage, but Ashwin and Jadeja between them went for 137 runs in 18 overs, and that was the killer blow.

India for the first time in this tournament has a tough chase on hand — and it so happens that it is against the best bowling attack of the tournament. Should be an interesting second half

About the only thing that can be said of India’s performance is that the pitch is flat and of no help to the bowlers. Spinners and pacemen have been smashed around. Only Bhuvaneshwar Kumar who bowled during tough phases of the innings has come out with reputation intact. Bumrah was a let down. He bowled so many no balls and wides that it looked like he cracked under the pressure of an India Pak final. He turned out to be the weak link among the three fast bowlers. He gave away 68 runs in 9 overs with 3 no balls and 5 wides. India need 339 to win, a very tough task no doubt. But on a flat pitch this could still be a contest if the Indian top order fires.

Highest totals in finals of ICC events:

359/2 Australia v India ,Johannesburg, 2003

338/4 Pakistan v India, The Oval, 2017*

291/8 West Indies v Australia, Lord’s, 1975

After 50 overs,Pakistan 338/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 57 , Imad Wasim 25)

Bhuvi continues, and shows his mates how it is done with an inch perfect yorker to start with, on off. Imad swings, but again, toe of the bat, single, is the best he can do. Ball two, Hafeez m,oves across his stumps so Bhuvi bowls him the slower yorker, and Hafeez can only poke it back to the bowler. This is sensational bowling.

Ball three, goes a long way outside off again but this time gets under the ball and hits a tennis forehand back down the ground. Goes high, but gets the distance to go well over the boundary. White line yorker next, and Hafeez gets one to point. Bouncer, ball five, and Imad swings but can’t connect — that was bowled at top pace, beat the batsman for speed and direction.

Ends with another bouncer, which Imad pokes out on the on side, and all he can get is one to end the innings on 338, leaving India a chase at 6.78 RPO.

Mohammad Hafeez’s fifty from 34 balls today – the second fastest in an ICC ODI event’s final. The fastest is 33 balls from Adam Gilchrist in 1999 World Cup.

After 49 overs,Pakistan 329/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 50 , Imad Wasim 23)

Bumrah! Imad moves a long way to leg, Bumrah follows him with a yorker length and again, the batsman can only get bat to ball and scurry one. Bumrah now goes round the wicket, bowls the yorker, nails it. Under the toe of Hafeez’s bat, hits the bottom of the stumps, bails stay in place after the off bail first goes up and then falls back down in the grove — how lucky is that?!

Another yorker, hit on the full, straight to the fielder at cover, no run. But then ends up bowling a no ball, giving the free hit. The free ball is a yorker but this time Hafeez steps to leg, makes room, drives to deep midwicket and runs two.

Walks down the track next up, to take the yorker on the full and drive to midwicket, single gets him to 50, off just 34. Imad steps away, slams a yorker taking it on the full, gets two to long on — and then finds he has bowled another no ball!!! Bumrah has been really off his feed today. Now tries a slower full toss, gives away just one and mercifully, comes to the end of his over, and his spell for today.

Amazing, though — Bumrah normally bowls well at the death no matter how badly he goes in the beginning, but today he hasn’t really found his yorker the way he is known to.

After 48 overs,Pakistan 318/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 46 , Imad Wasim 20)

Bhuvi to continue. Imad comes dancing down, but can’t get hold of it. Single to long on. Good move by Sarfraz to send Imad to pinch hit, by the way; he’s done his team proud so far with clean strikes down the ground.

Hafeez tries to go across his stumps to try and paddle, but Bhuvi follows him with the yorker length, so again all the batsman can do is push to off for one. Singles on offer now, but it is the fours that will hurt. Imad again can’t get under a low full toss looking for the yorker, another single.

Third man and fine leg both inside the circle now. Bhuvi goes for the white line yorker, again Hafeez can’t really get a free swing through the line, just one to bring up the 50 partnership off 31 balls. Short ball as Bhuvi sees Imad trying to move to leg, Imad does something that looks like an upper ut, ball hits the helmet, gets a leg bye. Good bouncer that, better still, Bhuvi spotted the move and countered it very well. Then the slower ball, beats Hafeez as he tries to cut. Superb over this — Bhuvi usually goes at 7.5 at the death, this over is better than his usual average and comes at the perfect time.

50-run stand comes up between Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim.

After 47 overs,Pakistan 313/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 44 , Imad Wasim 18)

Bumrah, with three overs to go, back in the attack. So he will bowl 47 and 49 and end with one over not bowled because of that extra over Jadhav sent down. Slower ball on yorker length starts the over, bowled wide of the off stump and just the one.

The third ball is finally the yorker, dug out by Hafeez for a single to Ashwin at third man. Bumrah tries the slower ball angling across the left handed Imad Wasim, who crunches that one, easy swing of the bat, through the straight field, beats the long on fielder and finds the fence on the bounce. Tries a reverse paddle to take advantage of the fact that third man is up, misses. Yorker length, taken on the full and driven for one to long on to end the over, 8 from it which is when you think of it not too bad at the death against a team with batting left in the hut.

Pakistan must not hold back now! 350 on the cards if Hafeez stays till the end. Is this the same team that played against India on 4th June? 

Kohli’s captaincy has been a little off color today. Bowling Ashwin out when he was going for runs and sticking with Jadhav for an extra over. King Kohli is a great batsman but still learning a trick or two as captain?

After 46 overs,Pakistan 305/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 42 , Imad Wasim 12)

Bhuvi in — will bowl 46, 48 and 50. Starts with the slower ball outside off, defeats Hafeez’s cut, dot ball results, which is gold just now. Short ball, the slower one and Hafeez stands tall, rides the bounce, lets it come to him and swings over midwicket and into the stands for six. Good batting this by Pakistan, really keeping the pressure up. That six gets them to the 300 mark, follows up with a single.

Ball four is the yorker length finally, Imad can only dig it out but does well to get one to the on side, through mid on. Bhuvi tries to go wide of the crease, Hafeez reaches a long way for it, gets enough of the toe of the bat to the ball and that is two to the point boundary region, should have been three though, slow running.

Full toss follows looking for the yorker, single to deep wide midwicket ends the over.

After 45 overs,Pakistan 294/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 32 , Imad Wasim 11)

Jadhav gets another over. Imad has a swing to the line outside off but the ball doesn’t get to him at any sort of pace, the best he can do is hit it to long on for a single, off the toe of the bat. 

Hafeez down the track to the next ball. Lofts. And manages to clear Pandya at long on, for a six that was about a foot too high for a leaping Pandya to complete the catch. And then Imad Wasim comes dancing down the track and hits straight, hard, clears the field and gets another six. Okay I was wrong — this Jadhav over is proving to be a mistake.

Imad again down the track but this time, gets the toe of the bat on it, single to long off and is disgusted with himself. Next ball is quicker, yorker length, dug out for a single that Jadhav should have stopped on the follow through. Kohli shakes his head in disgust, 16 in the over and Pakistan on course to go well past the 330-mark.

After 44 overs,Pakistan 278/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 24 , Imad Wasim 3)

Bumrah comes on at the end Bhuvi was bowling from. And will likely bowl through to the end. Hafeez on strike and whips the second ball, from line of middle, through square leg for four — lovely shot that, for once there wasn’t much wrong with the ball. A four and four singles from the over — and noticeably, no sign of the yorker; the length has been if anything on the short side fror most of the over. A bit surprising that Bumrah didn’t try the yorker length even once.

After 43 overs,Pakistan 270/4 ( Mohammad Hafeez 18 , Imad Wasim 1)

Jadhav back. India still trying to fill in that elusive over, since Bumrah and Bhuvi between them have seven overs left. AND THE MAGIC MAN DOES IT AGAIN: Floats one up, Babar tries to smash him out of London, the ball is too full, gets the toe of the bat on it and puts it high in the air for an easy catch to long on.

This guy is something else — his bowling looks like nothing worth worrying about, but he now has three wickets in two games, crucial ones at that.

No Sarfraz — it is Imad Wasim to replace Babar Azam.  Single apiece to Hafeez and Imad, Jadhav bowling at a very slow 73k. Three singles after the fall of that wicket. To my way of thinking, India should bowl Jadhav for a couple more overs. He is bowling tight lines, very steady, hard to get away.

And Jadhav gets Babar Azam. Still no Sarfaraz! This is a little surprising but Imad can hit out – as he showed last year in England. Pakistan will be looking to bat with at least 10 runs per over. Pakistan might have had the better of these 42 odd overs so far but how they bat in the last few overs is what will define the game.

It’s certainly pretty noisy here whenever anything goes well for India, although there hasn’t been much of that so far. Still another wicket down and a fresh man at the crease will make it harder for Pakistan to really put their foot down at the death. Kumar bowling well for India, they just need someone to support him from the other end.

OUT! Kedar Jadhav chips in with a wicket. Babar Azam dances down the wicket to tonk the offie over long off but miscues it to Yuvraj. He departs for a well-made 46. Imad Wasim is the new man in.

After 42 overs,Pakistan 266/3 ( Babar Azam 46 , Mohammad Hafeez 15)

Bhuvi into his 7th. Babar drives one to long off. Bhuvi bounces — again, well directed, over top of off, without room for the batsman to free his arms. Hafeez responds by dancing down the wicket and smacking the ball over wide long on, for four. Bhuvi tries another bouncer — well directed but too short, flies over the batsman’s head and is called wide.

Tries the yorker, doesn’t get the length. Hafeez flicks what turns into a dipping full toss off his pads, gets one to midwicket.

Babar replicates the shot, but to a length ball this time, and it is one more, to midwicket. And Hafeez ends the over with another single, this one worked off to on. Seven in the over, which is the most expensive by Bhuvi today by a very big distance.

Spinners Jadeja and Ashwin have simply not delivered against Pak batsmen. They are more adept at playing spin than other countries. Jadeja has been very expensive. Kohli must be ruing not going with Umesh Yadav or Shami instead of Ashwin. Indian spinners against Pakistan have been neither wicket-taking nor economical.

After 41 overs,Pakistan 257/3 ( Babar Azam 44 , Mohammad Hafeez 9)

Irony alert: Pandya has been bouncing throughout his spell, without anything going remotely to hand. Bhuvi just bowled his second bouncer in his 6th over, and out goes Malik.

Jadeja comes back. Bowls slower, shorter in length and Hafeez comes dancing down to the first ball he faces and slaps it down the ground, four to long off. Two dot balls folllow as Jadeja ups his length, but then he drifts down the leg side — that is a bad ball on a day studded with bad balls — and is swept to the fine leg boundary for four more. Single next, and Babar ends with a paddle sweep for a single. 10 in the over, and Jadeja ends another expensive over as India struggle to get to where they can ask Bhuvi and Bumrah to close this out

Huge wicket for India heading into the last 10 overs. With Malik gone, Pakistan don’t have a genuine hitter, they will need to rely on Hafeez & Babar’s skill if they are to reach a score close to 340-350. Indian spinners have been utterly woeful today, playing Ashwin over Umesh Yadav might come back to haunt them.

5th fielder outside circle will be allowed only after 40th over. India need to stifle singles and ensure new bat is exposed early. Need  another couple of wickets soon.

FOUR! Hafeez comes down the track and lofts Jadeja over the bowler’s head. Some way to get off the mark.

After 40 overs,Pakistan 247/3 ( Babar Azam 43 , Mohammad Hafeez 0)

Bhuvi Kumar comes back. The only bowler to distinguish himself today. 30 balls bowled, 23 of them dots. That is before the start of this, his 6th over. To Babar, who gets one behind point, staying back and steering length on off. Bhuvi fuller in length, no room for Malik to work it around. Bhuvi runs in, Malik backs away, Bhuvi pulls out of the bowling load up and then flashes a big grin.

Comes in again, bowls a beauty — lifting and seaming outside off, Malik drives at it trusting to the bounce, surprised by the lift, beaten. Bouncer, and WICKET!!! Lovely bouncer that, very quick and on middle, Malik steps away and slashes, gets the toe end of the bat on it and puts it up in the air for deep cover to hold with ease. That is Jadhav with the catch, Pakistan lose a third, and Bhuvi strikes in his comeback over.

Mohammad Hafeez has scored 41 runs from 50 balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar at an average of 20.50 in ODIs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has dismissed him twice in ODIs. Who will win the battle today?

OUT! Malik tries going for an awkward tennis-like shot in the fourth ball of the 40th over, and ends up holing out to Jadhav at sweeper cover. Pakistan 247/3

Malik c Jadhav b Bhuvneshwar 12(16)

After 39 overs,Pakistan 246/2 ( Babar Azam 42 , Shoaib Malik 12)
 

Uh oh. Here we go — Kedar Jhadav into the attack now, likely covering for Jadeja. Spread field, just four in the ring now. Long hop to start with, pulled to long on for one. Malik gets on strike. Ball two is a good one though, fuller, and it actually swings in the air a bit at Kedar’s slow pace. Malik cuts and damn near finds backward point, but gets to the fielder on the bounce. Jhadav goes round arm, very low, slingy ball but it goes wide down leg. Does it again. Dhoni nods — are they looking for a stumping? Two wides on the trot, Five singles and two wides in the over, which by the standards of the senior bowlers is not a bad first over, actually.

37 off the last 4 from Pakistan. Babar Azam took his time to settle down and he has picked up valuable runs in these four overs. India’s two spinners have gone for 127 off 17 and Kohli is now turning to the off-spin of Kedhar Jadhav.

Hardik Pandya finishes his 10 overs with 1/53, in between the chaos he’s bowled pretty well for India. Fascinating final 12 overs coming up, can Pakistan’s middle order take this fantastic foundation onto something truly formidable? Or will India’s death bowlers claw their side back into things? Bhuvi Kumar’s five remaining overs look crucial.

India playing into Pak hands by trying to be restrictive. Need wickets. Should have brought back best bowlers as soon as new batsmen came in. Kohli preferred to slip in a few overs of the weaker bowlers. Ended up giving new bats chance to settle down and go after bowling. If India don’t pull back through wickets target could be over 325!

After 38 overs,Pakistan 239/2 ( Babar Azam 39 , Shoaib Malik 10)

Pandya into his final over now. Done decently well considering how the senior bowlers have gone in this innings. Starts short outside off, though, and Babar slashes the first ball over point, four. It;s the trouble with bowling short — any width on a good batting track and you go flying. Strays again with the second ball, angling middle and leg which allows Babar to flick behind square leg for a second successive four.

Pressure tells on Pandya, who smears one down the leg side and is called for the wide. Good drive as Pandya drops his pace looking for that outside off line, Babar Azam on top of the bounce and easily into the drive, gets two.

And again, Pandya drifts middle and leg, the flick off the pads produces another single. See the pattern? One is outside off, one is drifting into the pads, rinse, repeat. They say the keep to good bowling is to find the optimum line and length for a pitch, and keep at it ball after ball — like Bhuvi did for five straight overs at the start of the innings.

India have again squandered an opportunity to capitalise on a wicket. Shoaib Malik is settled on the crease & Babar Azam looks ominous now. If India don’t get rid of Malik, this match might get out of their reach. Hafeez by default has been moved down the order, something Pakistan should have done long ago. 350 is on the cards here.

Shoaib Malik scored 21 runs from 36 balls against Ravindra Jadeja before today in ODIs at an average of 21 before today. Today, he has already scored nine from three balls against Jadeja.

Back-to-back boundaries for Babar Azam at the start of Pandya’s 10th over of the innings! Slashes the first ball away towards deep backward point, before tucking the next delivery towards the square-leg fence! Pakistan 235/2

After 37 overs,Pakistan 227/2 ( Babar Azam 28 , Shoaib Malik 10)

Jadeja comes back into the attack. 47 in six at the start of this over. Bowling shorter lengths than he normally does, and both batsmen park themselves in the crease and work singles through the off side, through the covers, with ease. And then Shoaib Malik gets his range — comes dancing down, taking advantage of the fact that Jadeja is bowling short lengths, gets leg side of the ball and plays a lovely inside out loft over long off, six. Then single. 11 runs in the over, five singles to go with that one six, and with absolutely no fuss.

SIX! Now it is Malik’s turn to swing his arms, coming down the track and going inside-out over the wide long-off boundary! Pakistan 225/2

After 36 overs,Pakistan 216/2 ( Babar Azam 25 , Shoaib Malik 2)

Interestingly, India hasn’t used any of its part time options despite the carnage. Pandya continues. Short, Azam surprised, parodies a hook and is lucky not to touch it through — that one was bowled at top pace and flashed past an inch over the batsman’s helmet, one of the better bouncers.

Well spread field, the slip is off now, but there are six men in the circle, three on either side, still looking to not give away easy singles, making the Pakistan batsman take risks to keep the run rate up. Short ball outside off is aberrant by Pandya after three good balls, and Babar onto the front foot, hits through the line and on the up, through wide long on for four.

India has been good at this through the tournament, not giving away four balls to the opposition. Here, they have erred in this department, and that has given Pakistan release shots every time the pressure was increasing. 7 in the over.

FOUR! Stand and deliver by Babar Azam! Pulls this one towards the midwicket boundary! Pandya getting hit for a rare boundary. Pakistan 215/2

After 35 overs,Pakistan 209/2 ( Babar Azam 18 , Shoaib Malik 2)

Bowling change, Bumrah whose first five overs went for 36 now back in the attack, India looking for wickets, slip in place.

Babar gets one to start the over, Bumrah bowling full lengths here, looking for that yorker. Malik cuts from just around off, gets one down to fine leg. Errs though with his fourth ball — short of length angling to middle and leg and Azam, who has been looking for his breakout boundary, gets to flick this off his pads behind square and gets the four. Three singles in the over as well.

FOUR! Full toss towards the leg stump by Bumrah to Babar — a delivery that deserved to get punished, and rightfully was. Bumrah returns to the attack in the 35th over, and continues to leak runs. Pakistan 208/2

2 new batsmen at the crease. India have opportunity to turn things around. Must ditch defensive measures and try and grab wickets. Bring back best wicket=taking bowlers. Get Pakistan below 300

After 34 overs,Pakistan 202/2 ( Babar Azam 12 , Shoaib Malik 1)

Pandya starts with a full length ball for a change; Zaman slaps at it, gets the thick upper edge high in the air and Jadeja at point runs back, lunges to his right and pulls off a great catch to end a great innings.

Shoaib Malik the new man in. Slip immediately in place, good to see Kohli not diluting the aggression just because India is behind in the game. Also point, cover and mid off in the ring to the new man. Babar Azam has been coasting in Zaman’s slipstream all along, now he is the senior partner with the onus to keep the run rate up, drives at Pandya, lucky to find the length ball sliding past his edge.

Tight bowling here by Pandya, not overdoing the bouncer, mixing up his lengths. Excellent over here from Hardik, who was almost taken off the attack a couple of overs back. A wicket to start, and just two singles in the rest of the over.

200/2

India needed that wicket and Kohli will be breathing a sigh of relief just about now. Zaman has set it up for Pakistan but they would have wanted him to stay on just because he can hit the ball better than the others. 

Pakistan have made the bold move of sending Malik in at 4. Time for Babar Azam to step up now. He cannot continue to bat like this.

A brilliant innings comes to end, no surprise that Pandya got Fakhar out, he has looked like India’s best bowler today. This is going to be a very crucial phase of the game now. Pakistan’s middle order has been well below par in this tournament & India normally take wickets around this period of play

OUT! Fakhar’s magnificent innings finally comes to an end as he miscues a length delivery well outside off in the direction of third man, with Jadeja taking a fine catch just outside the circle, running in the opposition direction. Pakistan 200/2

Fakhar c Jadeja b Pandya 114(106)

Ravichandran Ashwin conceded 70 runs today from 10 overs – the most by a spinner in an ICC ODI event’s final match.

After 33 overs,Pakistan 200/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 114 , Babar Azam 11)

Ashwin continues. Zaman greets him by going down on one knee and playing the slog sweep — nails it, six over wide long off.Dances down to the next ball, Ash drags it wide of off, the batsman gets the toe of the bat to it anyway, single to long off. Babar in his turn paddles from line of his off, gets one.

Single to Zaman — Ash to the left hander has taken to bowling wide of off, to keep him from hitting through the on side — and a single results. 9 in the over, Ash has now leaked 70 runs, with an over left to bowl.

SIX! Got down on one knee, and slogged it over the midwicket boundary! The area between midwicket and long-on is by far his favourite, and he is enjoying whacking the spinners in that region at the moment! Pakistan 197/1

Fakhar Zaman is the first Pakistani batsman to score a century in an ICC event’s final match.

After 32 overs,Pakistan 191/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 106 , Babar Azam 10)

Jadeja comes back, taking over from Pandya (6-0-27-0, which actually is the best bowling India has had other than Bhuvi, who presumably is being saved for the death). There was a bit of a holdup as the physio comes onto the field to attend to Bumrah, who appears to have some kind of problem. Which, by the way, India doesn’t need because we are heading into the death, where his yorkers can make a huge difference.

Ironic to think, btw, that batting is the weakest link for Pakistan, and right now they are batting India pretty much into a corner.

Thanks to that long break, Kohli does a rethink and decides to give the ball back to Pandya — who starts with a bouncer that Zaman sways out of line of. Another bouncer, one handed swat by Zaman gets him two, through midwicket; to the fuller length, Zaman cannily stays back and guides past point for one.

Ends the over with another couple deep into the off side, two easy before the man in the deep can turn around and get to it.

Drinks taken at the end of the 31st over. Time for the Indians to do some serious brainstorming right now, lest they let Pakistan run away with a massive total on the board.

Kohli’s running out tricks here!

Fakhar Zaman has come good at the biggest occasion of them all. He looked completely out of sorts in the first few overs but he has made sure India regret that Bumrah no ball. Needs to go on from here!

Babar Azam is sucking the life out of this innings with his dot balls and he needs to get a move on.

By the time Fakhar is through with this innings he would have become adept at leg stump line batting. The Indians have almost exclusively bowled a leg stump line to him in a bid to check his scoring opportunities. Hasn’t worked. On the other hand he has got to his century by 31 overs and is in a position to do serious damage to India’s aspirations.

That’s a cracking hundred from Fakhar Zaman, what a time to make your maiden ODI hundred! He’s punished India terribly for having him dismissed from a no ball earlier and put Pakistan in a great position so far. Zaman lit up this year’s PSL with a few lively cameos at the top of the order, but he’s been even more impressive in this tournament.

Pakistani openers to score a century in ODI tournament’s final match:

Saeed Anwar (1993 and 1998)

Rameez Raja (1993)

Salman Butt (2008)

FAKHAR ZAMAN* (2017)

Batsmen to score a century in ICC CT final match:

Philo Wallace, 1998

Sourav Ganguly, 2000

Chris Cairns, 2000

Marcus Trescothick, 2004

Shane Watson, 2009

FAKHAR ZAMAN, 2017*

After 31 overs,Pakistan 186/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 103 , Babar Azam 8)

Ash, and Zaman reaches a long way to the ball wide of off and actually pulls off a sweep, through midwicket, for the four that gets him to 100 off just 92 balls. Superb knock by the youngster — had his let offs, played some ugly shots, but he’s stuck to his job and kept the momentum going for Pakistan. Celebrates with a lofted off drive and now Kedar Jadhav fails to field clean, makes the second one easy for the batsman.

Zaman is now hitting at everything. Ash bowls wider of off, thick under edge fielded at short fine leg; but then Zaman steps back in his crease and drives to long on, one more.

And its a maiden century for Fakhar Zaman! What a tournament he is having at the moment! Brings up the milestone with a sweep off Ashwin at the start of the 32nd over in the 92nd delivery that he faces. Pakistan 183/1

After 30 overs,Pakistan 179/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 96 , Babar Azam 8)

Pandya continues, been a long spell for him, into his 6th over here. For once, doesn’t try the short ball that is his favorite and immediately looks a much better bowler when he goes the fuller length at pace. Two singles and a leg bye are all that the over yields, so coupled with Ash’s previous over, that is two good overs on the trot — which has been a rarity in this innings from India.

FIFTY partnership up between Fakhar and Babar in no time, taking just 43 deliveries! Fakhar himself has scored 40 of those runs.

Fakhar Zaman now holds the record of scoring most runs for Pakistan in a single edition of ICC Champions Trophy. The previous most was 228 by Azhar Ali in ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

After 29 overs,Pakistan 176/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 95 , Babar Azam 7)

Ashwin finally produces a half decent over, tightish in its lines and it helps that Babar Azam, yet to settle in, faces most of it. Zaman has been farming much of the strike since the fall of the first wicket, and keeping the scoring up; this over produces a single, Ash’s 8th, and he has gone for 54 already.

After 28 overs,Pakistan 175/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 94 , Babar Azam 7)

The story of the Indian bowling thus far: No penetration in the beginning, no control in the middle. The exact antithesis of what has gotten them this far. 

Pandya comes back. Predictably, bounces Zaman. Who hooks — and gloves the ball over the keeper and down to the fence for four. Is it just me, or do you get the feeling that INdia is going off the rails here, and leaving the batsmen with too much to do? Babar Azam gets beaten outside off, but then makes two with a drive to an overpitched ball on leg stump line. 8 for the over, Pakistan steadily upping the run rate.

Illogical captaincy from Kohli after that Azhar Ali wicket, Fakhar Zaman is far more comfortable against spin & Kohli bowled Jadeja & Ashwin in tandem. The result was inevitable, Fakhar took them to the cleaners & Pakistan are back in command now. Pakistan will be disappointed if they don’t reach a score of around 350 from here.

FOUR! Fakhar into the nervous 90s now! What an innings he has produced so far! Pulls a short ball from Pandya, and manages to guide it over the keeper’s head! Pakistan 172/1

After 27 overs,Pakistan 167/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 89 , Babar Azam 4)

Ash continues. Pak in the last few overs has been scoring at over 6 rpo, not showing any signs of pressure. And to add to his problems, Ash’s radar is still off, wide down the leg with the second ball of this over. 

Zaman rides his luck, slogs at Ash, head in the air, feet all over the place, bat swinging wildly — but still manages to smear that ball high wide and handsome for another six. Ash had dragged that ball wide of off, Zaman somehow manages to reach that and make the hit. And then, just to show he has it in him, folllows up with a perfect cover drive that fetches him 3. 17 runs in the over, Ash getting taken to the cleaners here.

FOUR! Fakhar guides the last delivery of the over through the vacant slips, beating Bumrah along the way! Pakistan 167/1

SIX! Fakhar is starting to look unstoppable at the moment! Comes down the track, and finds the long-on fence yet again! Pakistan 159/1

150 up in 26 overs!

Important over for Fakhar Zaman as he hits Jadeja for a six and two fours. The guilt factor was setting in after Azhar’s run out and Zaman needed to breakaway. He has done that in style. Babar Azam can rotate the strike and get an eye in. Send Malik or Sarfaraz next please!

After 26 overs,Pakistan 150/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 76 , Babar Azam 2)

Zaman starts with a dance down the wicket and dumps Jadeja wide and high over the long on fence for a huge six; follows up by staying back to the next, which is shorter and quicker, and flaying it behind point for four. So much for applying pressure. Two singles, and then Zaman ends the over with another fluent shot, getting under a ball and lifting it over the cover fielder. With the field well in, lots of room to spare in that part of the ground, facilitating the shot.

FOUR! Cut away this time by Fakhar in the second delivery of the over. He then goes inside-out in the last delivery of the over, finding the extra-cover boundary. Brings up the 150 for Pakistan! Pakistan 150/1

SIX! First big hit of the innings for Zaman! Just when the Indians were looking to maintain some pressure on the two batsmen, out comes Fakhar with a dance down the ground, timing his loft over long-on to perfection.

Most consecutive 50-plus scores in ICC CT:

4 – Kane Williamson 

3 – Saeed Anwar,Shikhar Dhawan,Marucs Trescothick,FAKHAR ZAMAN*

After 25 overs,Pakistan 134/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 61 , Babar Azam 1)

Ashwin at the other end. This is India’s window of opportunity to get back in the game — big partnership broken, new pair, a few tight overs and the pressure of living up to the start can cause errors. Zaman gets a heave-ho down to the long on fielder for two, the rest of the over both batsmen chip singles almost at will. This has to be easily the worst Ash has bowled in this tournament, and his previous outing wasn’t all that hot either.

After 24 overs,Pakistan 129/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 57 , Babar Azam 0)

Babar Azam the new man but it is Zaman facing Jadeja. Good work in the right to the first ball, diving stop. Zaman tries to reverse, finds point — second time he has tried that shot and found that same fielder. Good over, ends with just a single, a tight over after a wicket.

This was the second highest stand for Pakistan for any wicket in ICC Champions Trophy. The highest is 206 between Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik which came at Centurion in 2009.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam is the new batsman out at the centre.

Pakistan appear to have remembered they are Pakistan and concoct a diabolical run out just when things were looking so good. A real classic of the bad run out genre there with both batsmen ending up at one end. Suddenly the Indian fans in the ground are cheering very loudly, not very surprising given Pakistan’s good start.

What have you done Fakhar Zaman?! The only way India looked likely to take a wicket was a run out and Zaman was ball-watching when he really should have been listening to his partner’s call. Azhar protected Zaman for so long and ends up losing his wicket because of Zaman. Pakistan 128/1. Well played Azhar!

After 23 overs,Pakistan 128/1 ( Fakhar Zaman 56 , )

Ash comes back into the attack; his first four overs have gone for 28. For Zaman, there is a short third man, point, cover and mid off. And of course, Ash bowls from around the wicket outside leg. Didn’t get wided because the batsman had moved to that side. Single to the next ball, then the field comes around for the right hander. 

Just like India’s luck in this innings — this time, Zaman takes off for a short single, Yuvraj hits the stumps from midwicket, attacking the ball, but ZAman is well home on the dive.

Nut next ball, the run out out of nowhere. Azhar plays off to leg, straight to midwicket, takes off, Zaman sends him back but he runs anyway, Bumrah quick to the ball, throws to Dhoni with both batsmen at the other end. 

Finally, India gets a breakthrough. 128/1, ends a great first wicket partnership with a run out that should have been possible a dozen times before it finally happened.

OUT! Azhar has to walk back to the pavilion after setting off for a quick single, without realising that Bumrah at square-leg stopped the ball athletically, and threw it back to the vacant striker’s end. Too late for Azhar to turn around by the time Dhoni disturbed the stumps. Pakistan lose their first wicket with 128 on board. 
 

Azhar run out (Bumrah) 59(71)

India are in trouble, both the spinners haven’t looked like taking wickets & Bumrah has been unusually expensive. Azhar Ali is the key wicket here & there you go, Pakistan have again managed to shoot themselves in the foot. When the opposition can’t get them out, Pakistan decide to take the matters into their own hands. Great start though

After 22 overs,Pakistan 125/0 ( Azhar Ali 58 , Fakhar Zaman 54)

Jadeja going around the wicket to the left handed Zaman. Looking in this over to go wider of the crease, and to slow his pace down, deny Zaman pace on the ball. ZAman for his part has been playing the cut with assurance — often playing the shot just in front of off stump. ONe of those gets him one, Azhar in turn plays the late cut to a ball wide of off and gets four. Dhoni looks pissed, and he should too — there was too much width on offer there.

Slows the pace down on the next ball, but still there is width and Azhar cuts again, in the air past point and gets two for it. Virat comes over for a chat with his bowler, who here is being uncharacteristically wayward. Jadeja bowls two good ones tight on the stumps to end the over, but the damage was already done.

FOUR! A half tracker from Jadeja is promptly whacked away by Azhar towards the backward point boundary, where a fielder running to his left fails to stop the ball from crossing over. Keeper Dhoni isn’t impressed with that at all. Pakistan 123/0

After 21 overs,Pakistan 118/0 ( Azhar Ali 52 , Fakhar Zaman 53)

Pandya begins with, what else, a bouncer; Azhar controls the pull, gets one. Zaman gets a single, then Pandya bounces Azhar again. A bit inexplicable, this over reliance on the short stuff by Pandya, particularly because Azhar is not a bad player of the short ball by a good distance.

Short again to Zaman who thumps a lovely pull, and this time Yuvraj runs around at deep midwicket, gets the advantage of good bounce off the practice wicket and fields well. Another bouncer follows, Azhar waves at it, and this time Pandya lucky the batsman didn’t get a touch — that was wide of off and a surety to go four to fine leg.

After 20 overs,Pakistan 114/0 ( Azhar Ali 50 , Fakhar Zaman 51)

Jadeja continues, into his 3rd over. Errs by giving width outside off and Zaman creams that, playing the cut, late, and through the gap wide of point for four. Hit that very late, taking it out of Dhoni’s gloves to find the angle, Zaman, who now looks to have settled down and cut out some of his wilder heaves.

Azhar gets to his 50 with a single, one of two he gets in this over, off 61 — had a half century in the first game against India, too. 

And now the big error — Zaman lays back, cuts off his off stump, straight to point. That shot was played an inch away from the stump. And Yuvraj, to whom the ball goes straight at point, muffs a simple fielding chance, lets it through for four, and allows Zaman to get to his 50 as well. 

This is sloppy stuff from India, which you never thought you would have to say about this team.

FOUR! And with that, Fakhar brings up his third consecutive ODI half-century, right after Azhar brings up his! What a tournament he is been having! Pakistan 115/0

Azhar brings up his 12th ODI half-century with a single towards the leg side. He has regained his touch in this tournament, and has reasserted himself as Pakistan’s first-choice opening batsman!

FOUR! What timing and placement by Fakhar in his cut off Jadeja towards the point boundary! Misfield by Yuvraj inside the circle helped his case on that occasion. Pakistan 108/0

Have India erred in going for defensive lines against the Pakistani batsmen? Bowling leg stump line to Fakhar has hardly helped. He has still got away with boundaries in every over. Pakistan now in a very strong position. They can step up the scoring rate pretty rapidly. India need wickets to neutralise them, not a cut in run rate at this juncture. Ashwin, Jadeja need to rethink strategies

After 19 overs,Pakistan 103/0 ( Azhar Ali 48 , Fakhar Zaman 42)

Hardik produces what has been the best ball by an Indian bowler not called Bhuvi, in this game — fast, full, slanting away outside off and Zaman drawn into the shot, beaten, lucky to see the ball flash past the edge.Finally a direct hit, next ball, as Jadeja fields at point riding an awkward bounce, and hits the stumps but Zaman is home on the run.

Pak steady on 5.4 rpo, they have kept it there or thereabouts and as we get to the 20 over mark, they now have a good platform in place.

Pandya bounces, Azhar hooks, the ball surprises him with pace, so he can’t quite control it, gets one to fine leg off the high part of the bat. Pandya bounces Zaman to end the over — good fuller length, so the ball is climbing as it leaves the batsman outside off, Zaman swings and misses by a mile.

Pakistan pairs with a century stand against India in ICC events:

Mohammad Yousuf/Shoaib Malik,Centurion,2009 

AZHAR ALI/FAKHAR ZAMAN,The Oval,2017

Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman’s pair becomes the first pair to add century stands in an ICC ODI event’s both semi-final and final match.

Fakhar Zaman is known for taking Left arm spinners apart in Pakistan’s domestic cricket, India rely heavily on Jadeja in these middle overs. This is going to be a very interesting battle. Meanwhile Azhar Ali has struggled a little vs Pandya, he needs to play his game & guide Fakhar & co the other end.