DUBAI: Super 12s – India’s focus entering the match today was to win and that too with substantial margin to boost the Net Run Rate to keep Semi Final hopes alive. India did just that and also in style by restricting Scotland to 85 runs and chasing it down in quick time to win by 8 wickets Birthday boy skipper Kohli won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Scotland’s down fall started with Bumrah picking up the Scottish Skipper Coetzer in the 2nd over for just one run. Opener Munsey scored 24 runs in quick time with a six off Bumrah too but his wicket was picked up by Mohamed Shami. Within the power play itself 4 wickets fell for 29 runs with the spinners supporting the pace attack. Ravindra Jadeja was at his best picking up 3 wickets for 15 runs off 4 overs
With half the wickets gone for just 58 runs in the 11th over, Scotland had an uphill task in front of them. Laesk played well to score 21 off 12 balls before being LBW to Jadeja. Mohamed Shami also picked up 3 wickets for15 runs off 3 overs. Scotland perished to 85 all out with 2.2 overs remaining.
It was a perfect display of bowling by India, well planned and perfectly executed.
As expected, India chased the score down in quick time with power punches by both openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. Sharma score 30 runs but was lbw to Brad Wheal. K L Rahul reached his half century in just 18 balls. India won the match by reaching the target with 81 balls left (89 for the loss of 2 wickets) displaying dominance all the way.
As expected, India boosted its Net Run Rate to push Afghanistan down to 4th place. India’s final match is on Monday, November 8 against Namibia. All of India will be hoping that Afghanistan can secure a win against the kiwis with a narrow margin so that India can qualify and move to the Semis.
Ravindra Jadeja was named the player of the match for his amazing bowling performance. (RZ)
[Image credit icc-cricket.com]
