Sunday had indeed a power packed show for the subcontinental fans. India faced Pakistan after almost a year after the T20 World Cup at the same venue (Dubai). However, the results git overturned. India won the match by 5 wickets, and the credit goes to Hardik Pandya. He was brilliant with his all round performance. However, it was Virat Kohli’s 100th T-20 Internationals too. The just retired Kiwi batter had a heartfelt wish for Kohli.
Hardik Pandya bowled 4 over giving 25 runs with three crucial wickets. Not only that, he smashed 33 runs of just 17 deliveries, henceforth sealing the win for India. However, Virat Kohli set the platform for the coming batters to fight. He scored 35 of 34 balls. India’ former captain showed a silver lining to his comeback after a bit fumbling start. The quick Naseem Shah almost took him but Haris Rauf gave him a life at the slip. However. Virat Kohli displayed his old version as hit his trademark pull shot to Haris Rauf to the mid-wicket fence. He almost was touching his much-needed fifty but gave his catch in the 10th over, out at long off.
Welcome to the club Kohli: Ross Taylor
Kohli however played his 100th T20 International on Sunday. He debuted in the T20I in 2010 against Zimbabwe. Records say, Kohli became the first Indian to play 100 internationals in all three formats of the game. Internationally he is the second man to achieve such feat. New Zealand Ross Tailor was the first one to achieve this.
However, on Monday, Taylor tweeted a special for the Kohli.
“Congratulations @imVkohli on your 100th T20 game for India. Welcome to the club. I look forward to watching many more of your games in the years to come!”
Moreover in T-20I cricket, Kohli is the third-highest run getter. Rohit Sharma is leading the chart in India in the highest in the world with 3,499 runs. However, Martin Guptill from New Zealand is the highest in his country with 3,497 runs. He has the second highest fifty-plus runs in T20Is (30). India’s captain Rohit Sharma tops the list with 31 half centuries and four centuries.
Pandya-Bhuvi show
Speaking of the match, Pakistan were all out with 148 from 19.4 overs. Pandya took 3, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar registered the best ever bowling figure by any Indian against Pakistan (4/26). Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh too contributed by picking 2 wickets each.
Coming to bat, India lost it KL Rahul in the first over for a duck. Henceforth Virat Kohli came to set a base for the innings. But Mohammad Nawaz took both Kohli and Rohit’s wicket reducing India to 3/53.
Following that, a 52 run partnership from Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya came in rescue. Jadeja contributed 35 runs before being bowled out by Mohammad Nawaz in the 19.1 over. Hardik Pandya however carried his men to the winning line by smashing a six with two balls remaining.
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