It was a cracker of a match as was expected between the two archrivals India and Pakistan where the match moved like a pendulum till the last over when Shahid Afridi finally showed what he is known for, where Misbah ul Haq informed it was a very important win for them and this win will boost their confidence as they were earlier criticized for not being able to chase under pressure, at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium yesterday.
“In my opinion, this was a very important win. We were under pressure with four wickets down but Hafeez and Maqsood put together a partnership. After that, Afridi finished the game in the way he did. We have been criticised for not being able to chase well under pressure. But today we have shown that we can do it. The confidence of the team will be boosted,” said Misbah.
Shahid Afridi who is known for his big hitting ability, was not able to show what he is capable earlier but the 34 year old played a blistering knock of 34 runs off 18 balls, hitting three sixes, two of them in the last over ensuring the win for Pakistan when the batting side needed nine runs from four balls where Misbah said that this was one of the best innings from Afridi.
“We expect innings like that from him. Whenever he gives time in the middle and play sensibly, he can be very dangerous. He already did it quite few times, and this was one of his best innings,” he said.
Meanwhile the debutant fast bowler Mohammad Talha who bowled quite well bending his backs taking two wickets from seven over and giving away 22 runs in a pressure match. Misbah informed that they kept him as a surprise package especially for the match against India.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Virat Kohli said, “I think one of their main player comes back. He was missing in the first two games. They are a good side in their own conditions. We are not relaxed, do our basics right and try to win that game.
“The way we played today to defend 245, the effort was good by the bowlers, the rest yes we are doing mistakes regularly which we need to solve. In every game if we make three to four mistakes it becomes costly. Our team is a bit inexperienced in both bowling and batting. But we learn from mistakes and hopefully it will be better in the future.” Asked why he brought Ashwin on in the last over, the captain said it was a chance which he took as he was looking for wickets.
“I knew if I put the seamers in before Ashwin they will go for it and wickets is all we wanted if they played singles they would have easily won. I wanted them to hit the ball. In the end we almost made it, the last two sixes were not from the middle of the bat. I am proud of the way the team showed character on the field. Its not easy to defend 245 but the guys showed character,” he said.