Virat Kohli produced a remarkable innings as India pulled off an incredible and contentious victory over Pakistan, who suffered a collapse that will live long in the memory in their T20 World Cup opener.
Pakistan looked to be cruising to victory in the latest edition of this great rivalry, having posted 159-8 in front of over 90,000 fans at the MCG, where they then reduced India to 31-4.
Kohli (82 not out) was at his brilliant best as he rebuilt the innings alongside Hardik Pandya in a fifth-wicket stand of 113, but it still appeared as if it would not be enough.
India needed 31 off the final 12 balls, but successive sixes from Kohli, one down the ground and one over fine leg, on the final two deliveries of the penultimate over pulled them within 16.
Mohammad Nawaz took the wicket of Pandya off the first ball of the final over and conceded three off the next two, only to then lose his accuracy and composure at the worst possible time.
A high no-ball was hit for six by Kohli, giving India a free hit from which they controversially ran three despite the ball hitting the wickets. With India needing two off two balls, Dinesh Karthik was stumped, seemingly tilting the balance improbably back in Pakistan's favour. However, Nawaz then stunningly bowled a wide, giving Ravichandran Ashwin another delivery from which he hit the winning run to complete an astonishing turnaround.
Pakistan's pain
Defeat for Pakistan means they have lost all four of the men's T20I matches they have played in Australia. It remains the only country in which they have not tasted victory.
That will surely change at some stage during the Super 12, but they and Nawaz will need picking up after somehow letting this one slip.
Vintage Virat
Kohli has recently rediscovered form that appeared beyond him in the shortest format earlier in the year, and this was the India legend at his very best.
He has posted a larger score five times during his T20I career, but none of those innings will carry the same significance as his key contribution to this bewitching spectacle.
Rovman Powell powers Delhi Bulls to victory over Ajman Bolts in Abu Dhabi T10
Rovman Powell delivered a scintillating match-winning performance to lead the Delhi Bulls to a commanding 35-run victory over the Ajman Bolts in the Abu Dhabi T10 on Sunday.
The Bulls, batting first, posted an imposing 126-5 in their 10 overs, with Powell smashing a breathtaking 58 off just 22 balls. His explosive knock included four fours and five towering sixes, propelling the team to a formidable total. Powell was well-supported by Tim David, who hammered 29 off 13 balls with four sixes, and James Vince, who chipped in with 22 from 14 balls.
James Neesham was the pick of the bowlers for the Ajman Bolts, claiming 2-22, but he received little support as the Bulls capitalized on every scoring opportunity.
In their chase, the Ajman Bolts were stifled by disciplined bowling from the Delhi Bulls. Gulbadin Naib (22) and Shehan Jayasuriya (21) tried to build momentum, but the Bolts fell well short, managing only 91-6 in their 10 overs. Shahid Butta led the Bulls’ attack with an impressive 3-24, while Mohammad Rohid returned excellent figures of 2-10 to seal the victory.
Powell’s match-winning knock and the Bulls’ clinical bowling ensured a comprehensive win, keeping their Abu Dhabi T10 campaign firmly on track.
Jaiswal, Kohli tons put India on the verge of win against Australia
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli bagged magnificent centuries to put India in a commanding position on day three of their first Test match against Australia in Perth.
India declared in a dominant position of 487-6 after Jaiswal (161) built on their 172-0 at stumps on day two and former captain Kohli (100 not out) added quick runs with his first century in 16 months coming up during the final hour.
The tourists then wreaked havoc with the ball in five overs before stumps as captain Jasprit Bumrah dismissed debutant Nathan McSweeney (zero) and Marnus Labuschagne (three) before nightwatchman Cummins (two) fell to Mohammed Siraj with the score at 12, as the hosts trail by 521 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Earlier in the Test, India had scored 150 batting first before bundling out Australia for 104 in the first innings.
Jaiswal resumed his innings at 90 on the third day and brought up his century in the first hour before KL Rahul departed for 77 after an opening-wicket partnership of 201.
The centurion fell as India's third wicket at 313-3 as Australia picked up three wickets in the space of eight runs, but Kohli reached his ton with help from Washington Sundar (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (38 not out) as India asserted their dominance.
CG United Super50 Cup final between Scorpions, Pride abandoned due to inclement weather
The CG United Super50 final between the Jamaica Scorpions and the Barbados Pride was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to the inclement weather at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Saturday.
Barbados Pride, with six titles plus one shared, were hoping to break a mini drought having last won in 2016-17, while Jamaica, with eight titles plus one shared, had ambitions to get back to the summit as their last title was in the 2022-23 season.
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