India were eyeing their match of the day before taking on Scotland in the ICC T20 World Cup being played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman on Friday, where New Zealand, who are in the same group, faced Namibia.
India were thinking that maybe there might be some upset, which would give some strength to their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. However, this did not happen and New Zealand easily defeated Namibia by 52 runs. At the same time, India’s difficulties also increased.
This was followed by a face-off between India and Scotland in Dubai, where India captain Virat Kohli won the toss on his birthday and invited Scotland to bat first. Scotland’s team was reduced to just 85 runs in 17.4 overs.
In reply, India achieved the target of 86 runs in just 6.3 overs for the loss of two wickets. At that time Virat Kohli was unbeaten on two and Suryakumar Yadav was unbeaten on six.
Earlier, Rohit Sharma was dismissed lbw off the wheel after scoring 30 runs off 16 balls with the help of five fours and a six. KL Rahul, trying to hit a six, was caught by McLeod on the ball of Mark Waite. He scored 50 runs in 19 balls.
- One change in Indian team
Against Scotland, India made a change in their team, replacing fast bowler Shardul Thakur with mystery spinner Varun Chakraborty in the team. In this way, India entered the field with three spinners R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakraborty in this match.
According to statistics experts, India had to score 86 runs in just 7.1 overs to win so that its run rate could be better than Afghanistan. Keeping this in mind, India’s opening pair Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul added 53 runs in just 3.5 overs. At that time, KL Rahul was playing 26 runs in 10 balls with the help of four fours and one six and Rohit Sharma was also playing 26 runs in 14 balls with the help of four fours and one six.
- poor start for scotland
Batting first after losing the toss, Scotland’s poor condition can be gauged from the fact that after the first 10 overs, their score was only 44 runs for four wickets, that is, by then India had got hold of the match.
Ravindra Jadeja took India to this happy position. Till then he had taken two wickets for only six runs in two overs. Scotland’s first wicket fell for 13 runs when opener Kyle Coetzer was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for only one run.
Mohammed Shami gave the second blow to Scotland. He got George Munse, playing some fiercely at the other end, caught by Hardik Pandya. Munse scored 24 runs with the help of four fours and a six.
Ravindra Jadeja gave the third blow to Scotland. Richie Barrington got bowled without opening an account on his ball. Then Scotland’s score was 28 runs for the loss of three wickets. After this, it was Jadeja who showed the wicket-keeper batsman Matthew Cross the way to the dug out. Cross scored only two runs.
- game after 10 overs
The 11th over of the innings for Scotland was good when Mitchell Leask hit a six and a four in Mohammed Shami’s over. By the way, 13 runs came in this over. After this, captain Virat Kohli handed the ball to Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja did not disappoint the captain and on the very second ball, Lisk was walked lbw. Lisk scored 21 runs in just 12 balls with the help of two fours and a six. Earlier, Lisk had played big innings of 44 and 42 runs in this World Cup. Scotland had not yet recovered from the shock that R Ashwin got the new batsman Chris Greaves caught by Hardik Pandya. He could only score one run. Now Scotland’s score was 63 runs for the loss of six wickets.
After this, all the hopes of Scotland rested on Macleod and Mark Waite, but Macleod also got bowled by Shami after scoring 16 runs. This seventh wicket of Scotland fell for 81 runs. On the same score, Scotland also lost their next two wickets in two consecutive balls. When Safayan Sharif was run out as soon as he came, then on the very next ball, Evans also got bowled by Shami.
Ultimately, Scotland’s team was reduced to 85 runs in 17.4 overs. Mark Waite was bowled by Bumrah as the last batsman after scoring 14 runs.
- Shami and Jadeja amazing in India’s bowling
India’s Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja shared three wickets each for 15-15 runs. Jasprit Bumrah also took two for 10 and R Ashwin took one wicket for 29 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja, who took three wickets against Scotland, said after the match that the wicket was also favorable for spin. On that he bowled a bit fast, which caused trouble for the Scottish batsmen. Jadeja further said that if his team performs in the same way in the coming match then it will be very difficult to beat India.
On the other hand, elated with the victory, India captain Virat Kohli said that the result of this match showed how important role the toss can play. In T20 cricket, only one over can change the result of the match. In the match against Scotland, we knew about the net run rate and we achieved it on the basis of the brilliant batting of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.
Regarding the outcome of this match and the prospects ahead, senior sports journalist G Rajaraman says, “India itself is responsible for its condition to reach the semi-finals. It is up to Afghanistan, not itself, to reach the semi-finals. Its batsmen and not bowlers are to blame for the losses against Pakistan and New Zealand.
He says, “Now India is looking at Afghanistan with hopeful eyes that I wish! They beat New Zealand but New Zealand is not a weak team. And then Afghanistan didn’t play as strong against India as it was expected to.
G Rajaraman left a very big question about the Indian team whether the Indian team deserves to play semi-finals and finals after such defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand. Secondly, when New Zealand will play against Afghanistan, he will also know how important that match and victory will be for him.
Anyway, India’s chances of reaching the semi-finals are still alive after a resounding win over Scotland. However, to convert into a result, one will still have to wait for the moment when Afghanistan and New Zealand face each other and India will be facing Namibia.
- Now what are the equations?
The equations in Group 2 have become very interesting after India’s win over Scotland. Pakistan has already confirmed its place in the semi-finals by winning all the four matches. New Zealand are second with six points after winning three out of four matches.
India beat Scotland to reach third place against Afghanistan with better run average. Both India and Afghanistan have won two matches by playing four matches each, but India’s run average is 1.619 while Afghanistan’s run average is 1.481.
Now India is waiting with bated breath that somehow Afghanistan beat New Zealand and India also beat Namibia so that India, New Zealand and Afghanistan are equally in the points table with six points each and the decision to reach the semi-finals is net run. be on a rate basis.
Whatever be the case, India’s stuck breath will be found only after the result of Afghanistan New Zealand match. New Zealand’s run average is 1.277. In such a situation, even if New Zealand loses to Afghanistan, India will still have to beat Namibia in their last group match by a huge margin. The Indian team is now resting on the uncertainty and miracle of cricket.
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