Stats Analysis

Nothing to separate the finalists

A statistical preview to the final of the ICC World Twenty20 between India and Pakistan

India and Pakistan face off in the final of the ICC World Twenty20, with both teams having upped their performance since the bowl-out in Durban. Here's a look at some significant stats ahead of the final.
The road to the final
Besides the loss in the bowl-out to India, Pakistan have remained unbeaten, while India are red-hot, having won three consecutive matches against England, South Africa and Australia after a loss to New Zealand in the first match of the Super Eights.
The Pakistan bowling is spearheaded by Mohammad Asif , who has been able to fox the opposition batsmen while Umar Gul has been brilliant with the yorkers at the death. Sohail Tanvir brings in variety although India had already played against him once. Pakistan's batting rests on the shoulders of Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq, and it will be interesting to watch how India's bowlers cope with these two, whose calm presence in the middle lends stability to a top order that hasn't done too well in the tournament. (Click here for Pakistan's batting and bowling averages in the tournament.)
The key battle in the match will be perhaps between Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi. Afridi is the tournament's highest wicket-taker - along with Stuart Clark - while Yuvraj has scored 128 runs off 46 deliveries in the last two games he's played.
Along with Yuvraj, India would be looking to seniors such as Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain himself, to chip in with the runs. Surprisingly, it is Gautam Gambhir who has been India's top run-getter in the tournament so far. India's bowlers have not been as effective as Pakistan's but they have successfully defended all scores put up by their batsmen in the tournament, RP Singh being the stand-out performer. (Click here for India's batting and bowling averages in the tournament.)
Toss and tactics
India and Pakistan have contrasting tactics - while India have favoured to bat first, Pakistan have preferred to chase. The final is in Johannesburg, where Pakistan have won two of the previous matches against Australia and Sri Lanka. India lost their only encounter at the Wanderers, when Dhoni opted to field against New Zealand
Toss at Johannesburg
Toss result Matches won Matches lost
Won and fielded first 3 4
Won and batted first 0 1
However, one must note that Bangladesh and Kenya among the teams to have fielded first and lost at the Wanderers.
India at the ICC World Twenty20
Batting first/second Matches Won Lost Tied NR
First 5 3 - 1 1
Second 1 - 1 - -
Pakistan at the ICC World Twenty20
Batting first/second Matches Won Lost Tied NR
First 2 2 - - -
Second 4 3 - 1* -
* India went on to win the tied match in a bowl-out.
The first six overs
There's hardly anything to choose between the two sides if one looks at the batting and bowling performance in the first six overs, when the fielding restrictions are on. Pakistan top order has been shaky, while apart from the 76 for 1 against New Zealand in the first six, India have tended to play cautiously and keep wickets in hand.
Performance with the bat in the first six overs
Team Runs/ wickets Dot balls Runs per wicket Run rate
India 220/ 8 102 27.5 7.33
Pakistan 269/ 10 134 26.9 7.47
India has done marginally better than Pakistan while fielding in the first six overs, though the fact that they had South Africa reeling at 31 for 5 in Durban skews it in their favour.
Performance with the ball in the first six overs
Team Wickets Dot balls Runs per wicket Economy rate
India 9 122 23.56 7.06
Pakistan 11 120 24.72 7.55
Endgame
Riding on Yuvraj Singh's clean hitting, India were able to consolidate in the last five overs against England and Australia. However, it will be tough to get away the Pakistan bowlers, especially Umar Gul, who was impeccable with his line and length in the semi-final against New Zealand.
Performance with the bat in the last five overs
Team Runs/ wickets Dot balls Runs per wicket Run rate
India 286/ 14 37 20.43 11.44
Pakistan 263/ 10 36 26.3 9.74
Although the Indian bowlers have been picking up wickets at the death, they have been unable to curtail the opposition from scoring runs at a fast rate, something which Pakistan have done successfully through the course of the tournament.
Performance with the ball in the last five overs
Team Wickets Dot balls Runs per wicket Economy rate
India 18 122 14.39 10.36
Pakistan 19 120 10.89 7.02
Partnerships
Gambhir and Sehwag have been consistent at the top of the order for India, and their 136-run stand - the second-best in the tournament - set up the win against England. On the other hand, Pakistan has had trouble with the opening line-up, with Salman Butt, who was dropped for the semi-final, and Mohammad Hafeez failing to make an impression.
Opening partnerships in this tournament
Team Runs Average stand 100s/ 50s Run rate
India 274 54.80 1/ 1 8.83
Pakistan 187 31.16 7.24 0/ 2
Pakistan's middle order have done the bulk of scoring for their team, with Malik and Misbah both having a great run. India, however, have managed to score at a faster rate.
Middle order stands in this tournament (for wickets 2 - 5)
Team Runs Average stand 100s/ 50s Run rate
India 484 25.47 0/ 3 8.88
Pakistan 578 26.27 2/ 0 7.68
Par score
The average run-rate at the Wanderers has been 8.72, and taking that over 20 overs 175 would be a decent total. South Africa scored 208 for 2 while batting second in the high-scoring opening match against West Indies, while the highest score is 260 for 6 posted by Sri Lanka against Kenya.
The final will be played at 2 pm local time, and the two previous matches held in Johannesburg at that time during the tournament have seen the side batting second win. Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan chased down a target of 165 against New Zealand and Australia.
Pace v Spin
The spinners have fared better than the faster bowlers at the Wanderers. While Pakistan have used Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez throughout the tournament, India have utilised only Harbhajan Singh. Both captains would be wary of employing spinners against the opposition, though, especially it the pitch is flat.
Pace v Spin
Bowling type Wickets Bowling average Economy rate
Pace 55 34.14 8.67
Spin 37 20.51 8.20
Fast numbers
67 and 61 - The number of extras conceded by India and Pakistan during the tournament.
235.08 and 202.22 - The strike-rates for Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi in the ICC World Twenty20.
12 and 8 - The number of sixes hit by Yuvraj Singh and Imran Nazir.
5.36 and 6.30 - The economy rates for Umar Gul and RP Singh.
46.43 and 44.77 - The percentage of deliveries bowled by India and Pakistan that have been dot balls.