As expected, a sea of blue was the dominant theme at the most eagerly anticipated league game in the T20 World Cup
Virat Kohli after losing his wicket against Pakistan. Pic/Getty Images
The build-up had been prolonged and sustained, but when it came to the crunch, it was a bit of an anti-climax. For all the hype surrounding India’s clash against Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, the elements dominated the narrative for the early part before the rains relented to allow potentially a full 20-over game.
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As expected, a sea of blue was the dominant theme at the most eagerly anticipated league game in the T20 World Cup. Fans had driven overnight from Toronto, among other places, but were met with a steady drizzle which delayed the toss by half an hour. After Babar Azam called right and promptly stuck India in, Rohit Sharma picked off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ball over square-leg for six and eight came off the opening over before the rain returned, forcing a further 35-minute stoppage.
Virat Kohli marked the resumption of play with a sublime drive through covers off Naseem Shah’s first ball, but perished in the same over, toe-ending a flat-batted swat straight to the man brought to a shortish point just the previous delivery. Rohit was dismissed in the next over, attempting to reprise his six but finding no room to free his arms and putting Haris Rauf in business at deep backward square to give Afridi his first wicket.
India were in a spot at 19 for two in the third over when Axar Patel was elevated to No. 4 to join Risbabh Pant. It was a move ostensibly to protect the top-order batters against the newish ball that seamed around generously. Axar opened up after a cautious start and Pant biffed a few fours of his own as India reached 50
for two at the end of the six Powerplay overs.
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