Babar, Rizwan star as Pakistan break India jinx with rout

Monday, 25 October 2021 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

India and Pakistan fans display their flags in the stand during yesterday’s match- REUTERS

DUBAI, AFP: Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan smashed unbeaten half-centuries as Pakistan crushed India by 10 wickets yesterday to register their first win over their arch-rivals in a Twenty20 World Cup.

Chasing 152 for victory, Babar (68) and Rizwan (79) took apart the Indian bowling as they steered their team home with 13 balls to spare in Dubai.

Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi set up victory – their first over their neighbours in six attempts in the tournament – with figures of 3-31 that restricted India to 151-7 despite a valiant 57 from skipper Virat Kohli.

“This is the first time we've beaten India and I feel proud,” said Afridi.

“I knew it would be good for us if I got early wickets and that worked out. My idea was to get as much swing as possible.

“You don't get a lot here, but I wanted to get those breakthroughs and gave it 100%. In my opinion the new ball was difficult to play, so credit goes to Babar and Rizwan.” In the immediate aftermath of the victory, celebratory gunfire erupted in the Pakistani cities of Islamabad and Karachi.

Babar and Riwan went on the attack from the start with boundaries inside the powerplay – the first six overs when only two fielders are allowed outside the inner circle – to set the tone for their chase.

The dew did not help the Indian bowlers who regularly wiped the moisture off the ball with their towels while the openers kept the score ticking and got the occasional fours and sixes.

The batting pair kept up the charge as Babar reached his 50 with a six off spinner Varun Chakravarthy to get the Pakistan supporters dancing with joy.

Rizwan raised his 50 with a boundary off pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and then raced past his captain, hitting six fours and three sixes in his 55-ball knock.

Babar hit the winning runs to turn a new page in Pakistan-India rivalry.

Afridi returned figures of 3-31 after a lethal first spell to hurt India who elected to field first in the Super 12s encounter watched by 20,000 in the stadium and a global TV audience of hundreds of millions of fans.

Kohli scored his 29th T20 50 to help the team rebuild before being caught behind off Afridi as Pakistan dismissed the star batsman for the first time in a T20 World Cup game.