For record it was the first time that ICL platform witnessed “Indo-Pak” cricket rivalry. However, the encounter didn’t turn out to be so exciting as it was expected since ICL India XI coasted to a comfortable four-wicket victory over ICL Pakistan XI in the league match of the ICL 20s World Series played at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here on Friday.
Chasing the target of 153, India XI romped home with two balls to spare. Man of the match Khaleel Ibrahim (63) played a fine half-century knock to set the victory path for the team that was culminated into victory by skipper Sathish with his well-made 29.
Vignesh and Khaleel opened the proceedings for India as he played a nice cameo of 18 before falling to the experienced Razzaq. Indian side was right on their way to target with 43/1 after five overs. Khaleel joined the party in the middle as a boundary down the third man by him brought Indian 50 in the 6th over.
The young wicketkeeper Khaleel was making most of the opportunity batting sensibly in company of the classy Jhunjhunwala. Both of them were playing sensibly taking quick single with the odd boundary bringing up the fifty partnerships off only 41 balls in the 10th over.
ICL India was comfortably placed at 83/1 at the halfway mark, needing 70 more runs of 60 balls with nine wickets in hand. Experienced Arshad Khan broke the lovely partnership after scalping Jhunjhunwala’s (23) wicket in the 11th over.
Khaleel raced to his maiden fifty off only 39 balls. An ill-fated run out of TP Singh gave Pakistani side some hope to make a comeback into the game as India was at 103/3 after the end of 13th over.
Some fine fielding from Abdul Razzaq brought an end to Khaleel’s brilliant innings of 63 in the 15th over. But India was in full control of the proceedings, needing 34 runs 30 balls with 6 wickets in hand.
Indian players kept their cool and made no rush of blood towards the close, as they needed just 16 runs with 2 overs to go with still five wickets in hand. Captain Sathish did some fine power hitting in the end to steer ICL Indians for a magnificent four-wicket victory.
Earlier, Pakistan XI skipper Inzamam opted to bat and his team could only be able to score 152/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Pakistanis got off to flying start with their tried and trusted flamboyant combination of Razzaq and Nazir.
Razzaq got into the act right away taking 22 runs off a wayward Vignesh over. Pakistani side was off to a flier as they were placed handsomely at 36 for no loss at the end of 3rd over.
Indian skipper Sathish brought on Thiru Kumaran in the fourth over who instantly provided the first breakthrough in the form of dangerous Razzaq's wicket. Ali Murtaza departed Imran Farhat in the seventh over with Pakistanis were placed at 57/2 at that stage.
To tighten the grip further Sathish introduced spin from both ends. Murtaza and Syed kept the tight leash to put a check on the free flow of runs with their disciplined bowling attack. Pakistanis were comfortably placed at 79/2 at the half way stage.
Nazir was in great touch as he kept the momentum going in Pakistan’s way. The Chennai lad Syed troubled Inzi a lot and was duly rewarded with the prized scalp of skipper Inzamam, who nicked one to the keeper in the 15th over.
Pakistani side was all set for the onslaught with just five overs left as they were handsomely placed at 113/4. But to their dismay, Kumaran came for his second spell in the 16th over and got rid of dangerous Nazir who went back after scoring a well-made 56.
Some disciplined bowling from Murtaza and Kumaran towards the closing stages ably supported by some sharp fielding by Indian players saw the Pakistani side restricted 152/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Brief Scores: ICL Pakistan XI: 152/8 in 20overs (Nazir 56, Razzaq 17, Kumaran 2/20) lost by 4 wickets ICL India XI: 153/6 in 19.4 overs (Khaleel 63, Jhunjhunwala 23, Sathish 29, Khan 1/30)
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