Unfancied Pakistan Wins Champions Trophy For Cricket In Style

Over confident India licked the dirt in the final facing a humiliating defeat by an under-rated team, Pakistan.

- Vijayan Bala

Unfancied Pakistan, the lowest ranked in the 2017 Champions Trophy cricket tournament won the title in its maiden entry to the final by crushing defending champion India by 180 runs on 18 June at the Oval, England.

Put into bat, Pakistan gave its best batting display in the tournament. Thanks to a fine 114 (off 106 balls and inclusive of 12 fours and 3 sixes) by aggressive left-hand opener Fakhar Zaman, who made his debut vs South Africa in this tournament, Pakistan scored 338 for 4 in its 50 overs. Zaman shared in a 128 run opening stand with Azhar Ali (59 run out) and a second wicket stand of 72 with Babar Azam (46).

Finally, Md. Hafeez (57 not out off 37 balls) and Imad Wasim (25 not out off 21 balls) put on an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 71 to take Pakistan to 338 for 4. Paceman Bumrah did get Zaman caught behind by Dhoni off a no ball (so it served no purpose) when the batsman was only 3 and the side’s score was 8. For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya bowled quite well.

When India began its difficult chase, Pakistan paceman Md. Amir was at his very best. Amir with some brilliant swing bowling dismissed India’s top three rungetters – Rohit Sharma leg before for 0, Virat Kohli caught off a leading edge at point for 5 and Shikhar Dhawan, the tournament’s highest rungetter, caught behind for 21 and India was reeling at 33 for 3.

The rest of the innings was very disappointing with the exception of Hardik Pandya, who capitalised on some poor spin bowling and reluctance of the opposition to go for the kill, to score a belligerent 76 off 43 balls inclusive of 4 fours and 6 sixes. Pandya had hit 3 sixes off Imad Wasim in one over in his 20 not out against Pakistan in the opening Group match.

Quick dismissal