India beat Pakistan in dramatic fashion in their T20 Cricket World Cup match in New York, despite setting their biggest rivals a target of just 120 runs at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah both bowled well for Pakistan in slippery conditions after morning rain in New York, each taking three wickets as India were bowled out for just 119 runs in 19 overs. It was their lowest-ever run total in a men’s T20 Cricket World Cup match, which is the shorter format of the sport where each team has one innings of up to 20 overs (an over is six balls).
Pakistan looked in cruise control on Long Island as they chased that modest target to win the match, clocking up 73 runs in 12 overs at the expense of only two wickets.
But then they collapsed, just days after losing their second match of the tournament to the United States in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Jasprit Bumrah led India’s fightback, taking three wickets for only 14 runs as Rohit Sharma’s team battled their way to victory. Pakistan needed 18 runs to win off the final over of the game but could only score 11 as they fell six runs short. They finished 113-7 after 20 overs.
More than 400 million people worldwide were expected to tune in to watch the game between the two best-supported cricketing nations. Matches between the two countries are rare due to geopolitical tensions and they do not collaborate outside of International Cricket Council events.
