New Delhi: Indian spinner Axar Patel removed Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan in their high-octane Group A fixture on Sunday played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. This was a breakthrough India needed the most after Rizwan was in the attempt to build a strong partnership in the middle with Saud Shakeel.
Axar bowled a yorked delivery to Rizwan, who came down the wicket, with the intention to strike big. But the execution failed and so did the intent vanished. As a result, Rizwan was cleaned up with his stumps being shattered. The Pakistan skipper walked back to the dugout after scoring 46 runs off 77 balls with three boundaries coming off his willow.
AXAR PATEL GETS THE BREAKTHROUGH! 🔥
Rizwan couldn’t make most of the lifeline in the previous over! 🤐#ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar 👉 #INDvPAK | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 2 & Sports 18-1!
📺📱 Start Watching FREE on JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/mNtPKFcyxa
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 23, 2025
Pakistan’s subsequent collapse post Rizwan dimissal
The dismissal ended the 104-run partnership between Rizwan and Shakeel, which was cruising to take Pakistan to a substantial score. It also paved the way for a Pakistan batting stutter with the team further losing five wickets in quick succession.
Shakeel (62), Tayyab Tahir (4), Salman Agha (19), Shaheen Afridi (0), and Naseem Shah (14) followed Rizwan in the dugout.
Interestingly, Rizwan was dropped in the previous over by Harshit Rana off Hardik Pandya’s bowling. The Pakistan middle order batter couldn’t make the best of the reprieve as he couldn’t add any run further to his tally and missed a half-century.
Saud Shakeel ended as the top scorer for Pakistan with 62 runs from 76 balls was the most impactful knock for the tournament hosts in the big match. Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler from the Blue Army, returning with figures of 3 for 40 as Pakistan were bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs.
Axar Patel bowled a crucial yorker to dismiss Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan for 46 in the high-stakes India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy match. The breakthrough ended a crucial 104-run partnership and triggered a Pakistan batting collapse. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
