India vs Pakistan, at Colombo, , Sep 17 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
Colombo (RPS), September 17, 2012, ICC World Twenty20 Warm-up Matches
185/3
(19.1/20 ov, T:186) 186/5

Pakistan won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

New
PAK
Full commentary

That brings to an end our coverage of the warm-up game between India and Pakistan. The real thing starts tomorrow, and Cricinfo will bring you every ball of the event. Cheers

Post-match analysis from captains

"The way the boys approached the chase was very positive," says Mohammad Hafeez. "We knew if India could post that total, we knew we could get it if we worked hard. Kamran Akmal was exceptional. The experience of Malik was also the key. He supported Kamran really well. The bowlers tried hard, but things didn't work out for them today."

"It was a good game," says MS Dhoni. "We gave a few too may runs with the new ball, but apart from that it was a good game for all of us. It's a difficult choice [whether to pick an extra bowler]. I have part-timers who can be used, and we are a side that is comfortable playing seven batsmen."

What a knock from Akmal - 92 from 50 to win Pakistan a game that seemed lost after India had posted 185, and then after the middle-order wobble. Shambolic bowling and fielding from India (is any total they post safe?), but Pakistan won't complain. They have had a reassuring win, which has been set up by their batsmen, considered their weaker suit.

19.1
6
Pathan to Kamran, SIX runs

... make it the last ball. High full toss, and Akmal goes inside-out and well over cover fence

Six required off the last over. Irfan to bowl the last over...

end of over 1916 runs
PAK: 180/5CRR: 9.47 RRR: 6.00
Shoaib Malik37 (18b 2x4 2x6)
Kamran Akmal86 (49b 5x4 5x6)
Lakshmipathy Balaji 4-0-41-0
Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-23-4
18.6
6
Balaji to Malik, SIX runs

that should mean game over. Length ball, gentle pace, wide outside off, and Malik is down on a knee to loft this over long-off. Pakistan racing through now

18.5
1
Balaji to Kamran, 1 run

had Akmal not played at this slower ball, this would have been a wide outside off. The mis-hit gets him a single to long-on

18.4
1
Balaji to Malik, 1 run

full and wide, Malik goes across and pushes this to long-on

18.3
1
Balaji to Kamran, 1 run

slower ball, hit uppishly in the air, but there is no cover to catch it

18.2
6
Balaji to Kamran, SIX runs

Akmal is toying around with Balaji. Moves well across, goes down on the knee, and then sweeps a low full toss for a six over square leg. if this is not having your way with the bowler, nothing is

18.1
1
Balaji to Malik, 1 run

slower ball outside off, flat-batted away to long-off for one

Twenty-two required off last two. India have had the use of an extra bowler, and are still struggling to defend 185. That should concern them. Anyway, here is Balaji to bowl the 19th over

end of over 187 runs
PAK: 164/5CRR: 9.11 RRR: 11.00
Kamran Akmal78 (46b 5x4 4x6)
Shoaib Malik29 (15b 2x4 1x6)
Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-23-4
Lakshmipathy Balaji 3-0-25-0

So Pakistan has seen off the Ashwin over, the only man to have taken wickets in this innings

17.6
Ashwin to Kamran, no run

flighted outside leg, Akmal tries the sweep, is beaten by the topspinner

17.5
1
Ashwin to Malik, 1 run

down the wicket again, and chips this to long-on for one

17.4
2
Ashwin to Malik, 2 runs

sees him charge, floats this outside leg, Malik does well to cover the line, and bunt it for a single into the leg side

17.3
1
Ashwin to Kamran, 1 run

slightly outside off, cut away to deep point for one

17.2
1
Ashwin to Malik, 1 run

short of a length, punched down to long-on for one

17.2
1w
Ashwin to Malik, 1 wide

pauses in his delivery stride only to bowl a big wide down the leg side

17.1
1
Ashwin to Kamran, 1 run

short, on the stumps, pulled away to deep midwicket

"What happened to Praveen Kumar... he is better than all bowlers in current Indian squad..." Arun, you might want to ask Srikkanth and friends, who, by the way, don't consider anybody good enough to explain this decision to. I know for a fact that even Praveen Kumar doesn't know what he has done wrong. Anyway, Ashwin is back

end of over 1716 runs
PAK: 157/5CRR: 9.23 RRR: 9.66
Kamran Akmal76 (43b 5x4 4x6)
Shoaib Malik25 (12b 2x4 1x6)
Lakshmipathy Balaji 3-0-25-0
Harbhajan Singh 4-0-40-0
16.6
1
Balaji to Kamran, 1 run

full outside off again, mis-hits this extra-cover drive, and gets a single

16.5
2
Balaji to Kamran, 2 runs

full and wide again, and he has steered it over point for another couple

16.5
1w
Balaji to Kamran, 1 wide

wide again. He is trying those wide yorkers, and has again gone too wide

16.4
4
Balaji to Kamran, FOUR runs

this would have been wide had he not slashed it, but it is just as well for Akmal as the thick edge flies over short third man

16.3
1
Balaji to Malik, 1 run

short of a length, on the stumps, pushed into the off side for a single

16.2
1
Balaji to Kamran, 1 run

full and wide, driven square on the off side

16.1
6
Balaji to Kamran, SIX runs

and he starts with a gentle length ball, and Akmal ruthlessly sends this flying over midwicket. What a blinder Akmal is playing

In case you haven't noticed yet, we are offering some great prizes on our fantasy game for World T20. Balaji is back