DUBAI: Saud Shakeel scored a fifty as Pakistan set a 242-run target for India in the blockbuster IND vs PAK clash at the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday.
Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq opened the inning for Pakistan and looked solid as they shared an opening stand of 41 in 8.1 overs.
However, Babar Azam was undone by Hardik Pandya through an edge to the wicketkeeping after scoring 23 off 26 balls.
His opening partner Imam-ul-Haq returned to the dressing room in the very next over on the back of a brilliant direct hit from Axar Patel at the non-striker’s end.
He departed after scoring 10 off 26 balls as the scoreboard showed 47/2 in 9.2 overs in the blockbuster IND vs PAK clash.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and batter Saud Shakeel then joined hands to stabilise Pakistan’s inning in the do-or-die game of the Champions Trophy 2025.
The left-handed batter reached his fourth fifty in ODIs as the two batters built a solid 104-run partnership to take Pakistan to 151 in 33.1 overs.
Rizwan was clean-bowled on 46 off 77 balls by Axar Patel as he charged down the ground for a big hit.
Pakistan vice-captain Salman Agha then joined Saud Shakeel as they looked to take Pakistan to a fighting total in the IND vs PAK game.
However, Saud’s inning was cut short by Pandya in the 35th over after scoring 62 off 76 deliveries with the scoreboard showing 159/4 in 34.5 overs.
Tayyab Tahir arrived at the crease to join Salman Agha, however, he fell to Ravindra Jadeja after scoring just four runs.
Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah then shared a 35-run stand to take Pakistan to 200 in 42.3 overs.
Agha fell to Kuldeep Yadav after scoring 19 off 24 balls.
Shaheen Afridi scored a golden duck as Pakistan were left struggling at 200 for seven in 43 overs.
Naseem Shah was then involved in a 22-run partnership with Khushdil Shah to help Pakistan reach 222 in 46.4 overs before he fell to Yadav on 14 off 16 balls.
Khushdil Shah was the last to fall on 38 as Pakistan were bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowler for India, taking three wickets while Hardik Pandya took two wickets.
Harshit Rana, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each in the game.
Pakistan Playing XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c) (wk), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav.
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India have started their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on a high after defeating Bangladesh in their opening game.
Pakistan, however, got off to a dismal start as they lost the tournament opener to New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.
The IND vs PAK clash has become a must-win game for hosts to stay alive in the Champions Trophy 2025.
