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Yuvraj Singh's dominant innings capped a fitting reply by India in the second T20 to sink Pakistan and level the two-match series 1-1.
It started after Pakistan won the toss and invited India in. Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane looked more assured and took plenty in the opening overs. Gambhir (21), Rahane (28) and Virat Kohli (27) all laid the foundation for the fireworks that were to follow. The Pakistani bowlers were guilty of not adapting to the conditions and were employing similar lengths to those at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, in the first T20. The fizz on offer in the first game was missing from the Sardar Patel strip and needless to say, the batsmen got it in the middle most of the time.And Yuvraj Singh made full use of it. He not only blunted an off-colour Shahid Afridi but also took apart Pakistan's main man, Saeed Ajmal. He finally departed on 72 from 36 balls, his 97-run partnership with captain MS Dhoni propelling India to 192/2 in their 20 overs.
Umar Gul picked up four wickets but leaked 37 from his quota. Mohammad Irfan, without a doubt, was the pick with 4-20-0. Sohail Tanvir went for plenty and the idea behind his selection ahead of Junaid Khan seems a little baffling. Mohammad Hafeez's decision to bowl only one over was as surprising and why he is unwilling to bring himself on, after taking the reins of the T20 squad, is anyone's guess.
Pakistan's captain made up for it when he came out to bat, though, but needed some cool-headed support from his partners as he kicked on at breakneck speed. His 55 from 26, the second fastest fifty for Pakistan in T20s, coupled with his effort in the first match, ought to put a cork into all the 'experts' who were all to0 willing to discredit his usefulness as a batsman in the shortest form. Nasir Jamshed (41), Ahmed Shehzad (31) and Umar Akmal (24) all played valuable hands but got out to ordinary shots.
Should the in-form and now confident Shoaib Malik have gone in ahead of Umar Akmal at number 3? It was a tactical move that could have been employed but Hafeez in the post-match conference said the team wanted Umar to get the maximum number of balls. Afridi hit a four and a six, in what seemed like his first shots to the boundary in quite a while, but perished to a full-toss that maybe five years ago would have landed in the lap of a local fan.
It was another tug-of-war and Ashoke Dinda's final couple of overs were perhaps the deciding factor. With Pakistan requiring 47 from 24, he returned second-spell figures of 2-12-3 and ensured India got over the line with some comfort in the end.
The teams, after what seemed like an exhausting two encounters will now head to Chennai to play the first ODI on December 30.
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On DawnNews
Comments (45) Closed
Dec 29, 2012 04:25pm
yuvi rocks.....
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Dec 29, 2012 10:00pm
With result so close it is difficult to classify either match as a win. Both teams are equally good or bad. True, the Indians have home advantage, but let us not overstate it.
Imagine what a combined South Asian team will be like!!! Why not? I believe there is a North America ice hockey team with players from both Canada and the US to battle with Europe's best.
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Dec 29, 2012 03:13pm
True sir, i want to be as broad minded as you.
Pakistan should be proud of Hafeez
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Dec 29, 2012 04:37am
Well! It was a very good match but unfortunately Pakistan couldn't achieve the target at the end......
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Dec 29, 2012 10:19am
It's really hard to win against the most unpredictable team Pakistan,although we played in home conditions...
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Dec 29, 2012 10:04am
The best going forward strategy for India is to use flat tracks where Pakistan's bowling can be negated, and India's batting could explode!
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Dec 29, 2012 11:28am
Afridi needs to go the AKmals can stay as they have a decent batting average.....afridi has a pathetic average ....razzaq plays t20 matches for international teams and must be included
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Dec 29, 2012 11:22am
Sir, after all it is a game of cricket being played between two very competent teams. The euphoria shown by the Pakistan media and the fans after Pakistan's win at Bangalore was unnecessary and rather premature. That surely put the Pakistan players under tremendous pressure. Let the players play the game as the conditions demand. After all, no one team can always win or lose. We can all wait to write the final comments until last game has been played. In the meantime, let us enjoy the performance of players, irrespective of Indian or Pakistan player.
BNA
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Dec 29, 2012 07:40am
On a Batting Freinddly pitch with Average Indian bowling in Dew...CONFIRMED THE uselessness OF aFRIDIDI AND aKMAL BROTHERS..........Pakistan would have won if there was RAZZAK instead of these three....WAKE UP SELECTORS and Politicans and select the players on Merit and not on PARCHEES.
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Dec 29, 2012 09:43am
Pakistan finally seem to have found a good captain in Hafeez..he looks very self-assured and almost won the match for Pakistan
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Dec 29, 2012 06:42am
it was good to see that Pakistan to giving it on a platter .... but I think with dew factor going against the bowling side even Bangladesh side would chased it....... in my opinion bowling, Akmal bridari and Khan Lala let us down badly..... let us see what happens in ODI but surely Indians will have an upper hand ......
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Dec 29, 2012 07:00am
rightly pointed out . indigestion... ha ha ha
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Dec 29, 2012 07:17am
Well done Pakistan!!! Hafeez bhai is in great form. Those shots were simply magnificent!! Unfortunately, the Akmal brothers are a total disaster.... Not sure why they are playing? Can we not find a keeper in Pakistan? Why did umar not take that single? He was on red bull but unfortunately it takes class and patience to deliver. Overall, good effort!! Good job India!! The cricket fanatics are very happy.. Thanks for playing!!!!!
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Dec 29, 2012 05:48am
Pakistan had a chance till the last over. Both teams played extremely well. Both teams deserved an applause especially yuvi and hafeez for the way they batted.
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Dec 29, 2012 09:09am
Ahmed,
Hope many more people think like you on both the sides. Hope some day we can be good friends
Lots and lots of luv
Ranganath
Bangalore
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Dec 29, 2012 06:43am
>......Pakistan not giving it on a platter .....
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Dec 29, 2012 08:39am
Why didnt you said it when PAK won first match
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Dec 29, 2012 08:22am
I agree it was great match of cricket. I enjoyed partnership of Dhoni and Yuvraj and then intelligent batting by Hafeez. Till Hafeez was on the crease, I didn't have any hope. Once he departed, equation changed immediately. I feel Umar Akmal should show more maturity and Shoaib should have been brought earlier to bat.
India needs to tighten its bowling for one dayers
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Dec 29, 2012 08:19am
India has very strong batting line. They had troubles with spinners on a fast pitch of Bangalore. it was occasional and not usual for their side.We cannot take their batting lightly. Only one bowler, Umer gull succeeded taking all four wickets at expensive rate for T-20. Pakistan must prepare well to encounter India's strong batting machines.
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Dec 29, 2012 04:11am
Razzak was missed once again!
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Dec 29, 2012 04:00am
I think the way Pakistan batsmen handled pressure is admirable.Contribution of Inzamul Haque as a batting coach is visible on our batting performance.Now we should learn not to depend on foreign coaches.We have plenty. Mohshin Hassan khan has proved as head coach in past.We do not need big names. We need performers.I am also surprised that Hafiz is not using himself enough as a bowler.If cricket lovers has watched Afridi and Umer Akmal dismissal, it is not the first time these two players got out on same delivery and played same shot.I think it is the time to adopt the policy of rotating players and resting them like England. We can prolong the career of player and on other hand we will get new upcoming talents.
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Dec 29, 2012 02:53am
well played boys, no regrets, how many teams have scored 180+ in 20/20 match while chasing 192? be proud.
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Dec 29, 2012 02:48am
Watching cricket, India and Pakistan appear as two best friends playing against each other. As soon as Mumbai attack or Bagladesh separation enters the scene, the whole friendship things disappears and all you see is badwords , daggers, guns, granades, rockets, missiles and nuclear weapons.
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Dec 28, 2012 11:37pm
Excellent Match, what a thrill, Hafeez is a real Hero. some players need to think about thier batting performance
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Dec 28, 2012 07:17pm
Both teams played very well but Yuvraj bhai, tussi great ho!!! even after coming from your illness. May Allah give you health and a long career.
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Dec 29, 2012 02:27am
Well done India and Pak . Hafeez is a new revelation for India . As for the Chennai ODI tomorrow , it is almost 8 am Saturday morning and the skies are murky and gloomy with light drizzle. Rain overnight as well. More than 50% chance for scattered thunderstorms tomorrow . May be it would be truncated match with D/L coming into play !
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Dec 29, 2012 01:48am
Sabash India, weldone men in Blues. Yuvi you are simply amazing, keep it up, good game, India zindabad
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Dec 29, 2012 01:36am
Both teams played well. However, Pakistan can do better if they replace Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi with two another good batsmen. Keeping these two is hurting Pakistan. Their time is over.
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Dec 28, 2012 06:49pm
Once more, it is The Game that brings excitement, emotions and joy to "us", not just the result of the game...
Only Pakistan & India teams can bring-out the true essence of the word "SPORTSMANSHIP".
Hope we keep this sweet bond intact...
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Dec 28, 2012 08:36pm
Well done green shirts.we are proud of you and well done hafeez.yuvrag showed his class.
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Dec 28, 2012 08:28pm
A wonderful game. Congrats to India and Pakistan is improved much with an excellent talent. Win was expected by India due to a strong bating line, excitement was fight back from Pakistan and taking it to such a close finish. Go boys :)
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Dec 28, 2012 06:32pm
happy with today's result but both teams played a good series overall.....class stuff!!!
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Dec 28, 2012 06:32pm
Well played both teams!
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Dec 28, 2012 06:19pm
Yuvraj blasted the bowling attack.Bull by the horn.
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Dec 28, 2012 08:00pm
Why do we see more people from Pakistan commenting on "The Times of India" and not here ?
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Dec 28, 2012 05:57pm
hope them to win the next game comfortably....inshallah
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Dec 28, 2012 05:53pm
Pakistan beat India in the first T20. India "hold" Pakistan in the second. Well done.
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Dec 28, 2012 05:33pm
It was pakistan team too who stole the hearts, although india won the match. Hafeez was brilliant and brave. and Yuvi is the eternal "Prince" of indian cricket. When a "Singh" wants to have fun, he makes opposition do bhangra...and world says "wow".
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Dec 28, 2012 05:28pm
we enjoyed match. Though pakistan lost but no doubt they played well.
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Dec 28, 2012 05:23pm
well done Hafeez bhai . A captaincy inning in both matches. Very happy with his performance <3
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Dec 28, 2012 05:18pm
Great Fight Pakistan!! Win or Loose doesnt matter here!! We are always with you !!
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Dec 28, 2012 05:12pm
A good encounter yet again. This was an excellent T20 series. Good luck to both the teams for the ODI's.
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Dec 28, 2012 05:09pm
Sabash India! the nation is proud of you, geat comeback, keep it up! Yuvi you are great, good job blueshirts India Zindabaddddddddddd.
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Dec 28, 2012 05:10pm
Indeed, a high quality match! Congratulations to both the teams as we wait for the next fixture.
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Dec 28, 2012 07:23pm
Series are fixed!
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