On Sunday, June 8, Naseem Shah clean bowled Axar Patel, solidifying Pakistan’s strong position against India in the 19th game of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, won the toss and chose to bowl first, capitalizing on the bowling-friendly conditions.
The decision paid off immediately as Pakistan’s pacers delivered a powerful start. Naseem Shah struck early, dismissing Virat Kohli for just four runs in the very first over. Shaheen Afridi followed suit, removing Rohit Sharma for 13 runs in the third over, leaving India struggling at 19 for 2.
In an effort to stabilize the innings after these early setbacks, the Indian team management made a tactical decision to promote Axar Patel to number four, ahead of Suryakumar Yadav. Patel, known for his all-round abilities, partnered with Rishabh Pant to steady the innings and prevent further losses during the powerplay.
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Patel seemed well set and began to build a promising innings. However, in the eighth over, he attempted a risky big shot against Naseem Shah. Dancing down the track on the fourth ball of the over, he swung his bat hard but missed the ball entirely. The ball crashed into the stumps, and Patel was dismissed for 20 runs off 18 balls, which included two fours and one six.
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As the game progressed, India found themselves at 113 for 9 in the 18th over. Suryakumar Yadav struggled to find his rhythm and was dismissed for just 7 runs. With the pitch proving challenging for batting, India hoped to finish their innings strongly and post a competitive total.
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In these difficult batting conditions, a target of over 150 runs would be formidable. India, having started their campaign with a win over Ireland, were keen on securing another victory to boost their chances of advancing to the Super 8s stage. The outcome of this match would be crucial for India’s journey in the tournament.
