India down Pakistan

When it’s India versus Pakistan, it has to be a thriller. It was no different at the Sardar Patel Stadium here where India raised the bar and pulled off a four-wicket win in their first match of the ICL World Series on Monday night.

In reply to Pakistani XI’s 165 for nine, India XI reached their target with five balls to spare. Ambati Rayudu (65) and Hemang Badani (32 n.o.) were the architects of India’s win.

The atmosphere here was electrifying as people from all over Ahmedabad thronged the Navrangpura Stadium to cheer their respective teams. Pakistan shouldn’t complain as they had the support of almost half of the fans who turned up.

G Vignesh, opening the innings with Ibrahim Khaleel, departed in the first over scoring just one run. But Khaleel justified his selection over Deep Dasgupta with a superb 36 off 27 balls to set the tone for India’s chase. He hit four fours and a six.

But Rayudu looked in prime touch from the very first delivery. Rayudu and Khaleel took the score to 80 and placed the hosts on a solid platform. Stuart Binny and captain R Sathish disappointed the fans departing after scoring eight and three, respectively. At 105 for four, Badani joined Rayudu in the middle.

Rayudu’s brilliant innings came to an end when he tried to nick an Abdul Razzaq delivery over wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat’s head. Farhat took a stunning diving catch and the match looked to be tilting towards the visitors. Rayudu scored 65 off 47, including eight hits to the fences and a six. But Badani and RS Sodhi pulled it off for India.

Earlier, ICL Pakistani XI reached a competitive total of 165 for nine. R Jesuraj and Eklakh Ahmed bowled tight to dangerous Paksiatni openers — Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat.

Jesuraj struck early dismissing Farhat in the very first over. Nazir showed promise smacking 16 off seven balls before he was caught by Vignesh off Jesuraj. When Pakistan were 23-2, Rana Naved, coming in at No 3, stitched together a 50-run partnership with Shahid Yousuf (13). Naved continued his onslaught till the ninth over before he was shown the door by Ali Murtaza. Naved made 44 off 31 balls. Thereafter no Pakistani batsman could do justice to his reputation. For India, Jesuraj got three wickets for 30 while Ali Murtaza bagged three conceding 29 runs. Ahmed, Stuart Binny and Vignesh scalped one apiece.

ICL Pakistan went into the match sans Mohammed Yousuf, a decision Inzamam & Co must have regretted as the he was missed badly in Pakistan’s middle order.