So, it is Pakistan who had the last laugh over India in the big final of ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The men in green won what could be termed as the “Mother of all Battles” by beating India comprehensively by 180 runs to lift their maiden Champions Trophy title.
After being invited to bat first by Indian captain on a placid Oval track, Pakistan batsmen showed great determination and skill to post a mammoth score of 338/4 in 50 overs. Left-hander Fakhar Zaman top scored with 114 off just 106 balls, he played a scintillating knock and hit his first one-day hundred in the biggest match of his career. Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez also notched up crucial fifties to take Pakistan total beyond India’s reach.
Whereas nothing went in India’s favour in the big game, they lost their top three in the first 10 over as Pakistan’s bowling spearhead Mohammad Amir wreaked havoc with the ball (6 overs – 16 runs and 3 wickets) on the flat strip. He bowled with great vigour and venom that simply didn’t allow any Indian batsmen to settle in. After the top-order collapse, the India middle order was also exposed. Young and fiery Hardik Pandya did show some character and fought well till the end but a huge mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja cut short his handy innings of 76 that included six huge maximums. Hasan Ali, tournament’s leading wicket taker (13 wickets) once again picked up three crucial scalps and landed the final nail in the coffin. Hasan Ali was adjudged as the ‘Man of the Tournament’. Pakistan lifted the coveted trophy! (SCORECARD)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM INDIA VS PAKISTAN, ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2017 FINAL
INDIA INNINGS:
Pakistan came into the match seeded last and lost their very first match with a big margin against the same opponent. However, since that game, everything went their way and they produced some amazing performances which have landed them to a glorious position. Cricket is a game of uncertainties and this tournament just proved it and Pakistan surely deserves every bit of it.
None of the Indian batsmen could do justice against the fierce Pakistan bowlers except Hardik Pandya who clobbered them all around the park. However, a confusion in the field, cost him his wicket which was the last thing the defending champions needed. Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali bowled brilliantly and they will be really happy with their performances.
The Men in Green posted 338 which looked sensational at the moment. But no one would have ruled out India with the firepower they possess with the bat. Pakistan came out in the second innings with the same determination which was quite visible on the field. Each and every player played with too much grit. Amir and Junaid started to make the ball talk. The former sent the Indian top-order back in the hut in a jiffy.
Pakistan have scripted history and they have won the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time ever. They were exceptional from the start of the day. The only thing which went against them was the toss. After losing the toss, they were put into bat first. The Pakistani batters stood up courtesy to the fantastic knocks by Fakhar Zaman, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez.Fakhar Zaman, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez.
21.25 IST: OUT! Pakistan are with winners of ICC Champions Trophy 2017! PAKISTAN WIN BY 180 RUNS! Banged in short, angling in, Bumrah is caught by surprise and just hangs his bat. The ball lobs off the gloves in the slip cordon. Sarfraz hops to take the catch and completes the proceedings and the players start celebrating. Pakistan are the new champions! This is India's biggest defeat against Pakistan in the ODIs.
21.23 IST: Bumrah survives, just two runs off Junaid Khan's over. IND 158/9 in 30 overs
21.15 IST: OUT! Hasan Ali removes R Ashwin for 1. It's wrapping up quickly here in London. Another one bites the dust! Hasan Ali is finishing off the tail. Good length delivery outside off and Ashwin flashes at it. Gets an outside edge to it and the ball flies straight to the keeper. Sarfraz Ahmed makes no mistake and Ashwin walks back. IND 156/9 in 28.1 overs
21.10 IST: OUT! Ravindra Jadeja has gone for 15. Jadeja departs! Good length delivery outside off, Jadeja tries to flay at it. Gets a thick outside edge on it and the ball flies straight towards the fielder at first slip. Babar Azam takes it comfortably to send Jadeja back. Junaid Khan strikes and India are on the brink of a big defeat. IND 156/8 in 27.3 overs
21.08 IST: 2 runs and a wicket of Hasan Ali's over. IND 154/7 in 27 overs
21.04 IST: OUT! Pakistan strikes once again, Hardik Pandya run out for 76. What has happened there? Length delivery outside off, Jadeja punches it towards the cover region. Hardik Pandya feels that there is a run there and he starts running. Hafeez collects it quickly and throws it back to Hasan Ali who dislodges the bails. Jadeja did not even try running as he was in his crease. Hardik Pandya has to depart after such a fantastic knock. He was furious. IND 152/7 in 26.3 overs
21.01 IST: SIX! Pandya brings up 150 for India in style with another huge maximum, the biggest hit of the match so far. Such a delight to watch! Fuller around leg, Pandya kneels down and slog sweeps that over the mid-wicket region for half a dozen. That was 107 metre long. IND 152/6 in 26 overs
21.00 IST: SMOKED! Another huge six from Pandya, he moves onto 70 in no time. What a shot Pandya! Hardik gets to the pitch of the ball and throws the kitchen sinks at it. Gets it over the mid-wicket region for a biggie. IND 146/6 in 25.5 overs
20.55 IST: 6 singles from Fakhar Zaman's over. IND 134/6 in 24 overs
20.52 IST: FOUR! Tossed up outside off, Pandya executes the inside out shot to perfection. Lofts it over the extra cover region for a boundary. What an over its turning out to be, 23 runs off it. IND 128/6 in 23 overs
Hardik Pandya brings up his 2nd ODI fifty. Fastest in an ICC event final.
20.52 IST: SIX! Make it three in a row. Pandya showing great fight, he is making it count! Fuller in the line of the stumps, Hardik just hits that straight down the ground for a maximum. With that, he brings up his fifty. Such a fantastic knock from this young lad, how long can he continue? IND 123/6 in 22.3 overs
20.51 IST: SIX! Another huge maximum from Hardik. Wrong' un tossed outside off, Pandya reads it well and sends that deep into the long on stands for half a dozen. IND 117/6 in 22.2 overs
20.50 IST: SIX! Big six from Hardik Pandya! Fuller into the pads, Pandya waits for it and slogs it powerfully over the mid-wicket region for a biggie. IND 111/6 in 22.1 overs
20.46 IST: FOUR! 100 comes up for Team India with a boundary.Good shot! Short outside off, Hardik Pandya punches it through the cover region for a boundary. 100 up for India. IND 102/6 in 21 overs
20.43 IST: Fakhar Zaman, left-arm orthodox, completes Imad Wasim's over. IND 93/6 in 20 overs
Imad Wasim is introduced into the attack. He takes some medicine from his physio before bowling the first ball.
20.37 IST: HUGE SIX! That's a lusty blow from the wiry Indian all-rounder. He hits it to the second tier. 9 runs from the over, a good one for India. IND 89/6 in 19 overs
20.33 IST: FOUR! Pandya sneaks a crucial boundary, IND 80/6 in 18 overs
20.30 IST: OUT! Shadab Khan snares Kedar Jadhav for 9. India lost their sixth. IND 72/6 in 17 overs
20.28 IST: FOUR! Good shot from Pandya, he picks up a boundary. Shortish leg spinner, Pandya cuts it hard past backward point for a boundary. A much-needed one for India. IND 71/5 in 16.2 overs
20.27 IST: FOUR! A boundary to end the over from Kedar Jadhav. IND 67/5 in 16 overs
20.23 IST: FOUR! Boundary for Kedar Jadhav, IND 62/5 in 15 overs
20.19 IST: Pakistan are all over the defending champions right now. IND 55/5 in 14 overs
20.16 IST: OUT! Another body blow for Team India, Hasan Ali removes MS Dhoni for 4. IND 54/5 in 13.3 overs
20.11 IST: REVIEW by Pakistan! OUT! Yuvraj Singh gone for 22, Shadab Khan strikes in his very first over. What a call this from Shadab Khan. He was confident all the way and made his skipper take the review. Leg spinner around off, Yuvraj leans ahead to defend with bat and pad close. There are two sounds as the ball rolls on the off side. The players appeal but it's turned down. The leggie says it's bat first and hence his skipper takes the review. The Hot Spot shows that it's bat first and the Hawk Eye shows that the impact is in line and going on to hit the stumps. Huge blow, this! Pakistan are on cloud nine! IND 54/4 in 13 overs
Youngest player to play in the Champions Trophy final - spinner Shadab Khan comes in from the other end.
20.07 IST: Hasan Ali starts off well, just 3 runs off his first over. Fifty comes up for India, still a long way to go. IND 50/3 in 12 overs
ICC Champions Trophy 2017 leading wicket-taker Hasan Ali comes into the attack
20.02 IST: MAIDEN! MS Dhoni plays a maiden off Amir's bowling, six dots on the trot. IND 47/3 in 11 overs
19.57 IST: FOUR! Another top shot! Short outside off, Yuvraj Singh punches it through the cover region for a boundary. 14 runs off the over. IND 47/3 in 10 overs
19.56 IST: FOUR! Good shot! Yuvraj Singh charges down the track and strokes it through the mid on region for a boundary. IND 43/3 in 9.5 overs
19.55 IST: FOUR! Yuvraj Singh comes down the track and flicks it over mid-wicket. IND 37/3 in 9.2 overs
19.52 IST: OUT! Amir sends Dhawan back into the hut for 21. The left-arm quick is bowling his heart out here. India lost their third wicket. IND 33/3 in 9 overs. MS Dhoni next at the crease
19.48 IST: 9 runs from the over. A good one for India. IND 31/2 in 8 overs
19.46 IST: FOUR! Beautiful drive from the left-hander. He's timing it so well. Good length delivery outside off, Dhawan stays in his crease, trust the bounce and punches it through the cover-point region for a boundary. IND 30/2 in 7.3 overs
19.45 IST: FOUR! Welcome boundary for Dhawan. Short delivery outside off, Dhawan punches it through the cover region for a boundary. IND 26/2 in 7.1 overs
19.43 IST: Just a single from the over, IND 22/2 in 7 overs. India need something special here to cross the line in the big-big finale.
19.39 IST: 5 runs from Junaid's over. IND 21/2 in 6 overs
19.38 IST: FOUR! Top edge and boundary for Yuvraj, he's living dangerously here. IND 21/2 in 5.4 overs
19.34 IST: FOUR! Another brilliant shot from the highest run-getter of the tournament. Precise! Fuller around off, Dhawan leans into the drive and plays it through the cover region. Wasim gives it a chase but he cannot stop it as the ball wins the race. IND 16/2 in 5 overs
19.33 IST: FOUR! This will release some pressure from India. Good shot from Dhawan. Short delivery into the batsman, Dhawan pulls it over the backward square leg region for a boundary. That's a much-needed boundary. IND 11/2 in 4.3 overs
19.31 IST: MAIDEN! Junaid Khan bowls a brilliant maiden over, he's keeping it very tight from the other end. IND 7/2 in 4 overs
19.24 IST: OUT! Kohli gone for 5 in the big final, Amir is on fire here at Oval. Azhar Ali is a happy man! Good length delivery outside off, Kohli tries to flick it on the leg side. Gets a leading edge to it and the ball flies towards the fielder at point. Shadab Khan goes to his right and takes a really fine catch to send the dangerman back to the hut. The best chaser of the game has to walk back to the hut. IND 6/2 in 2.4 overs
19.20 IST: Tentative start for India after Rohit's dismissal. Just two runs off Junaid's first over. IND 4/1 in 2 overs
Junaid Khan to start with the new ball from the other end.
19.16 IST: Kohli gets India off the mark. IND 2/1 in 1 over
19.12 IST: OUT! Amir sends Sharma back to the Pavillion for a duck (LBW). On a length around middle and leg, the ball nips back in. Sharma fails to clip it through and gets hit flush on the pads. The players appeal and the umpire responds by raising his dreaded finger. He has a talk with his partner but he is not that keen for a review. IND 0/1 in 0.3 overs. Virat Kohli next to come out.
Mohammad Amir start the proceedings for Pakistan. Rohit Sharma takes the strike.
19.10 IST: We are back with India's chase. It will be a difficult one for the Indians as they need to score at almost 7 an over. If India's top three remain intact, they could make a game out of this.
PAKISTAN INNINGS:
18.55 IST: India, on the other hand, had a day to forget with the ball. None of the bowlers except Bhuvneshwar Kumar were effective and he ended with respectable figures of 10-2-44-1. The spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja went for plenty and they will be really disappointed. The Men in Blue will have to put their act together and put in a solid performance and a really good start is the need of the hour for them. Can the defending champions defend their title or will we have new winners this time around? Join us in a while for the chase.
18.48 IST: Babar Azam also stepped up and made a useful contribution but it was the promotion of Imad Wasim which made the difference. He along with, Mohammad Hafeez went ablaze in the end and helped them cross the 330-run mark. Hafeez also went onto score a quickfire 50. The Men in Green will be really happy with their batting attack as they all stepped up in the game which mattered the most.
18.45 IST: A terrific batting performance from Pakistan and they have posted a huge total on the board. They were determined from the very start and an efficient start from their openers laid the perfect platform for them. Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman stitched in an 128-run stand where the latter went to score his maiden ODI hundred after getting a reprieve early in the innings. The former was dismissed courtesy of a run out but nothing went India's way since then.
18.41 IST: 9 runs from the last over of the innings. PAK finish on 338/4 in 50 overs
18.38 IST: SIX! Hafeez playing a blinder here in the final. PAK 336/4 in 49.3 overs
18.35 IST: FIFTY! Hafeez brings up his fifty off just 34 balls. PAK 325/4 in 48.5 overs
18.32 IST: What a Ball! Superb Yorker from Bumrah, it hit the stumps but bails didn't fell. PAK 319/4 in 48.2 overs
18.29 IST: Bhuvneshwar bowls a brilliant over under pressure, just 5 runs from it. PAK 318/4 in 48 overs
18.25 IST: Another decent over for Pakistan, they pick up 8 off Bumrah's eighth. PAK 313/4 in 47 overs
18.20 IST: Another good over for Pakistan, 11 from it. PAK 305/4 in 46 overs
18.18 IST: MAXIMUM! Pakistan is dealing in sixes at the moment, this time he picked up the length quickly. 300 up for Pakistan. PAK 300/4 in 45.2 overs
18.15 IST: SIX! This time from Imad Wasim. That's hit hard! Flatter delivery around off, this time Wasim dances down the track and bunts it down the track over long for a flat maximum. 14 runs off the over already. A big over for Pakistan - 16 came off it. PAK 294/4 in 45 overs
18.14 IST: SIX! Good use of the feet Hafeez, he swings it hard. Just over Pandya ! Jadhav tosses it up, Hafeez dances down the track, gets to the pitch of it and lofts it over long on. Pandya in the deep, jumps full stretch but can't get his fingers to it. The ball sails over and lands over the ropes. Hafeez is playing a gem on an innings here. PAK 285/4 in 44.2 overs
18.12 IST: Decent over for Pakistan, 8 from it. PAK 278/4 in 44 overs
Bumrah replaces Bhuvi into the attack.
18.10 IST: FOUR! Beautiful shot from Hafeez, PAK 274/4 in 43.2 overs
18.08 IST: Good over for Team India, a wicket and four runs. PAK 270/4 in 43 overs
18.04 IST: OUT! Jadhav removes Babar Azam for 46. Azam misses out on his half century. Tries to take on the part-timer Jadhav. Dances down the track, goes for the big lofted shot but ends up miscuing it to Yuvraj at long off. Live Cricket Score - PAK 267/4 in 42.3 overs
18.02 IST: 9 runs from the over, Pakistan doing it nicely. PAK 266/3 in 42 overs
18.00 IST: FOUR! Hafeez is taking the attack to the opposition. Advances down the track and pulls the back of a length delivery over mid-wicket for a boundary. PAK 262/3 in 41.3 overs
17.57 IST: FOUR! Poor bowling from Jadeja, he's giving freebies to the Pakistan batsmen right now. Slants it down the leg side, Hafeez kneels down and sweeps it fine down the leg side for a boundary. The left-arm orthodox is proving to be expensive again. 10 runs from the over. PAK 257/3 in 41 overs
17.56 IST: FOUR! Hafeez puts the pressure straight away on Jadeja. Dances down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and smashes it down the track over mid off for a boundary. Off the mark in style. PAK 251/3 in 40.1 overs
17.55 IST: Top stuff from Bhuvneshwar, he gave away just a single and picks up the big wicket of Shoaib Malik. PAK 247/3 in 40 overs
17.52 IST: OUT! Bhuvi removes Malik for 12. Malik holes out! Short delivery outside off, Malik goes to play the forehand smash. Does not middle it well and the ball goes towards the deep cover region. Jadhav gets under it and takes a simple catch. Bhuvneshwar has struck at a really crucial time as Malik could have been dangerous in the latter stages. PAK 247/3 in 39.4 overs
India's leading bowler - Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes into the attack, can he break this partnership?
17.49 IST: 7 runs from his first over which includes two WIDES. PAK 246/2 in 39 overs
Finally, last match hero Kedar Jadhav comes into the attack.
17.44 IST: 12 runs off Pandya's last over. He completes his quota of ten. PAK 239/2 in 38 overs
17.41 IST: FOUR! Back to back boundaries for Azam, Beautiful shot! Angling into the hips, Azam stays in his crease and flicks it through the backward square leg region for a boundary. PAK 235/2 37.2 overs
17.40 IST: FOUR! Pakistan starts to accelerate. Babar makes the most of it! Short delivery outside off, Azam stays in his crease and cuts it over the backward point region for a boundary. PAK 231/2 in 37.1 overs
17.38 IST: SIX! Big hit from the experienced Shoaib Malik. Malik gets into the act! Tossed up outside off, Malik comes down the track, reaches to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over the extra-cover region for half a dozen.11 runs from Jadeja's over. PAK 227/2 in 37 overs
17.36 IST: A dot to finish the over. PAK 216/2 in 36 overs
17.35 IST: FOUR! Azam pulled this one off from the front foot. Stand and deliver! Short delivery outside off, Azam stays in his crease and pulls it with grit. Over the mid-wicket region for a boundary. PAK 215/2 in 35.4 overs
17.32 IST: FOUR! Easy pickings! Full toss into the pads, Babar is obliged as he just helps it through the vacant square leg region for a boundary.
Bumrah comes back into the attack. PAK 209/2 in 35 overs
17.28 IST: Excellent over from Pandya comes to an end, a wicket and two singles. PAK 202/2 in 34 overs
17.23 IST: OUT! Fakhar Zaman goes for 114, Pandya gives India the breakthrough. Jadeja does not miss those! Length delivery outside off, Zaman takes out his front leg out of the way and goes to play the slog shot. Gets a top edge on it and the ball balloons over the backward point region. Jadeja from backward point traces back and takes a really fine catch to send back the opener. A terrific innings from the southpaw comes to an end and India will want a couple of quick wickets to get back in the game. PAK 200/2 in 33.1 overs
17.21 IST: 200 comes up for Pakistan. Ashwin completes his 10 - 70/0 (the most conceded by a bowler in the finals of Champions Trophy). PAK 200/1 in 33 overs
17.20 IST: SIX! It's a big-big blow from Zaman. Floated around leg, Fakhar takes out his front leg and sends that deep into the stands of the mid-wicket region for a maximum. PAK 197/1 in 33.1 overs
17.18 IST: Babar Azam takes a double on the last ball of Pandya's over, 5 runs came off it. PAK 191/1 in 32 overs
Drinks break! Another good phase of play for Pakistan apart from the wicket. They have been playing beautifully and Fakhar Zaman has scored his maiden ODI century. They will want to post a really big total now. India will want to trigger a collapse because chasing a big total under pressure is never going to be easy.
17.10 IST: 7 runs from the over, PAK 186/1 in 31 overs
17.08 IST: FOUR! Cometh the hour cometh the man! What a knock from the youngster, Fakhar Zaman completes his maiden international hundred in the high-voltage clash against India. PAK 183/1 in 30.1 overs
17.06 IST: HardikHardik Pandya bowling a decent line from the other end, he gives away just 3 off his over. PAK 179/1 in 30 overs
17.02 IST: Ashwin bowls a good one, a single off it. PAK 176/1 in 29 overs
16.59 IST: 8 runs from the over, another good one for Pakistan. PAK 175/1 in 28 overs
16.57 IST: FOUR! Zaman is absolutely smashing it all over the park. PAK 172/1 in 27.2 overs
16.54 IST: FOUR! Another big over for Pakistan, Indians are finding it extremely hard to contain Fakhar Zaman at the moment. He's taking the game away with his brilliant batting. 17 runs from the over. PAK 167/1 in 27 overs
16.52 IST: SIX! Another brilliant shot from the youngster, he's showing great range off shots in the crunch game. PAK 159/1 in 26.2 overs
16.50 IST: FOUR! This shot brings up the 150 for Pakistan, what an over - 16 came off it. PAK 150/1 in 26 overs
16.48 IST: FOUR! The left-hander is turning the heat on with the bat on the defending champions. Short outside off, Zaman makes room and cuts it hard past point for a boundary. He is so strong in that region. PAK 144/1 in 25.2 overs
16.47 IST: SIX! Brave shot from Zaman, He doesn't want India to put pressure on them. Dances down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and clobbers it over long on for a maximum. This is good cricket from the opener. PAK 140/1 in 25.1 overs
16.46 IST: 5 runs from Ashwin's sixth over, PAK 134/1 in 25 overs
16.43 IST: A very good over from Jadeja from the other end, just a single off it. PAK 129/1 in 24 overs
16.39 IST: OUT! A huge mix-up and this time the luck goes India's away, Azhar Ali is gone for 59 runs. Brilliant fielding from Jasprit Bumrah. PAK 128/1 in 23 overs
Kohli brings up Ashwin back into the attack.
16.35 IST: Jadeja ends the over with two dots, 7 runs off it. PAK 125/0 in 22 overs
16.33 IST: FOUR! Another good shot from the in-form Azhar Ali, PAK 123/0 in 21.3 overs
16.31 IST: Four singles from the over, PAK 118/0 in 21 overs
16.27 IST: FOUR! Sloppy work in the field from the Indians, this time Yuvraj is the culprit. The boundary brings the fifty for Fakhar Zaman. Three fifties in a row for Fakhar Zaman! Tossed up outside off, Zaman cuts it through point. Yuvraj misfields there and the ball races away to the fence for a boundary. The southpaw has been in tremendous form and he has continued with it. Will look to convert it into a century. PAK 114/0 in 20 overs
Azhar Ali brings up his half-century with a single. Twice in two matches against India, quality stuff.
16.26 IST: FOUR! He finally gets a boundary through his favourite region! Spinning in from around off, Zaman cuts it through the cover region for a boundary. PAK 108/0 in 19.3 overs
16.23 IST: Good over from Pandya, 3 runs came off it. PAK 103/0 in 19 overs
16.19 IST: FOUR! This brings up the 100 for the Pakistan team. Pakistan openers are cruising at the moment, 7 runs from the over. PAK 100/0 in 18 overs
Drinks are on the field, India needs to rethink their strategy in the big final.
16.11 IST: IN THE AIR and SAFE! Everything going in Pakistan's way at the moment. PAK 93/0 in 17 overs
16.08 IST: Good start from Jadeja, four singles in the over. Live Cricket Score - PAK 90/0 in 16 overs
So far, Indian bowlers haven't helped their cause by straying around and overstepping, while, Pakistan openers have made a good solid start in the crunch match. Ravindra Jadeja is into the attack now.
16.04 IST: FOUR! Azhar Ali spoils a good first over from Pandya, hits a boundary off the last delivery. Good shot! Short and wide outside off, Ali slaps it over the backward point region for a boundary. PAK 86/0 in 15 overs
HardikHardik Pandya comes into the attack
16.00 IST: Ashwin bowls a better over, 4 runs off it. PAK 78/0 in 14 overs
15.56 IST: 5 runs from Bumrah's over, Pakistan openers are looking really good at the moment. PAK 74/0 in 13 overs
15.51 IST: FOUR! Boundary to end Ashwin's over. PAK 69/0 in 12 overs
15.48 IST: A couple of appeals to end the 11th over, 7 came off it. LIVE SCORE - PAK 63/0 in 11 overs
15.47 IST: FOUR! What a shot from the southpaw, straight down the wicket. PAK 62/0 in 10.3 overs
Bumrah comes in for a fresh spell from the other end. Will he bring a change in fortune this time?
15.43 IST: Another good over for the green shirts, 8 came off it. PAK 56/0 in 10 overs
15.42 IST: FOUR! Fifty comes up for Pakistan with this boundary, Ali is having no difficulties facing Ashwin at the moment. PAK 52/0 in 9.2 overs
15.40 IST: Another Maiden from Bhuvi! This is good stuff from the Indian pacer, he's giving nothing away at the moment. PAK 48/0 in 9 overs
15.36 IST: SIX! This is good intent from Ali! Not letting Ashwin settle. The Indian offie tosses it up outside off, Azhar dances down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over long off. The timing is so good on it that the ball sails over the fence for the first maximum of the day. 10 runs from Ashwin's first over. PAK 48/0 in 8 overs
Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack, India desperately need a wicket at the moment
15.32 IST: Tidy over from Bhuvi, just two runs off it. PAK 38/0 in 7 overs
15.27 IST: FOUR! Another boundary for Ali. Ali with another boundary. Slower one, angling in, Ali flicks it wristily through square leg. Yuvraj in the deep, runs to his left, dives but fails to stop it. Second boundary off the over. PAK 36/0 in 6 overs
15.24 IST: FOUR! Pakistan openers dealing in boundaries at the moment. Back of a length delivery outside off, Ali has a go at it but gets a thick outside edge. Flies over the slip cordon and to the fence behind. PAK 31/0 in 5.1 overs
15.23 IST: FOUR! Zaman not getting off to his usual flier, dances down the track. Goes through with a big heave on the leg side. Gets it off the inner half through square leg for a boundary. PAK 27/0 in 5 overs
15.22 IST: FOUR! Important runs for Pakistan, this came off Zaman's helmet. Banged in short, Zaman's helmet. Banged in short, Zaman goes for the pull but is late into the shot. The ball hits him on the helmet and goes through the gap between Dhoni and Sharma at wide slip for a boundary. PAK 23/0 in 4.3 overs
15.18 IST: FOUR! First boundary from Azhar. Short outside off, Ali plays a flat-batted shot past the bowler. Beats the mid on fielder and earns himself a boundary.Good over for Pakistan, 12 off it. PAK 19/0 in 4 overs
15.17 IST: FOUR! Inside edge and four to Fakhar Zaman, Edgy! On a length and angling away, Zaman goes hard at it. Gets an inside edge and the ball runs to the fine leg fence. PAK 13/0 in 3.2 overs
15.15 IST: OUT and NO BALL! All the drama you need in an Indo-Pak contest, Zaman edged a Bumrah delivery but the replays showed he clearly overstepped. PAK 9/0 in 3 overs
15.13 IST: Another decent over from Bhuvneshwar, 4 runs off it. PAK 7/0 in 3 overs
15.11 IST: A direct-hit from Jadhav and it would have been curtains for Fakhar Zaman, cheeky single. PAK 5/0 in 2.2 overs
15.09 IST: Another decent over from Team India, just 3 off it. PAK 3/0 in 2 overs
15.07 IST: Pakistan off the mark with a WIDE. PAK 1/0 in 1.2 overs
Jasprit Bumrah comes into the attack from the other end
15.04 IST: MAIDEN! Brilliant over from Bhuvi, PAK 0/0 in 1 overs
15.00 IST: Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali are out to open the innings while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will start the proceedings for India.
14.58 IST: National Anthems are done and Team India are forming a huddle.
14.50 IST: Both the teams are making their way out into the middle for the national anthems. Huge cheer from the packed house at The Oval. Both the teams are observing a minute's silence to mourn the people who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire in London.
14.45 IST:
Playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk/c), Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan
14.35 IST:
Captain's Talk
Virat Kohli: We will bowl first. Looks like a decent hard wicket, should stay true. I think it will stay true, whatever there is something for the bowlers we would like to utilize. We are a side who like chasing. We have played some cricket here. No matter what the conditions are, you have to come out and play good cricket. One more effort to go. If you make the final it means you have played some great cricket to come here. We don't take any team for granted, we have not taken any team so far. No matter what the opposition brings, we believe in our abilities. Team is same, it is unchanged.
Sarfraz Ahmed: I think we would have wanted to bowl but the toss is not in our hands. Looks like a good batting pith. I am very proud of my boys. When we arrived here we were number eight. We had nothing to lose. Today as well we have nothing to lose. He is back and is now playing today (Mohammad Amir).
14.30 IST: TOSS TIME! India win toss and opt to bowl vs Pakistan.
14.20 IST: News from both the camps
Team India stay calm, Pakistan excited ahead of mega finale
As arch-rivals India and Pakistan gear up to face each other in the high-voltage summit clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 at The Oval on Sunday, India captain Virat Kohli and his counterpart Sarfraz Ahmed had different opinions about social media. While Kohli said he does not want his side to be "over excited", Sarfraz admitted that his team is "excited and motivated to perform well". Kohli has nearly 16 million followers on Twitter but the 28-year-old considers it as a distraction before the final. However, Sarfraz is "indebted to millions on social media" for supporting the team throughout.
14.15 IST: Pitch Report
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes the pitch at The Oval is a belter and there will be a lot of runs offered for both the teams. He adds that there's a bit of grass but it is dead grass because the sun has been out in England for the last three days. He says this is a fresh pitch and has not been used in the tournament. He ends by saying that it is a very good surface.
Brief Preview:
India's remarkable consistency will be up against Pakistan's legendary volatility when the fierce rivals clash in what is expected to be an exciting finale to the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 at The Oval on Sunday. The often tense political relations between the neighbouring nations add colour to the bitter yet intense rivalry, which has nowadays been confined only to global events due to the Indian government’s refusal to allow bilateral contests. Defending champions India had got the better of their rivals in the league stage of the ongoing tournament. And captain Virat Kohli has already declared that nothing extra is needed to get the same result despite the turnaround by Sarfraz Ahmed’s men since then.
It is nonetheless a battle of attrition, where one needs to hold the nerve till the very end.
The last ball six hit by Javed Miandad off Chetan Sharma haunted a generation of Indian fans till Sachin Tendulkar returned the favour during that epic knock at the Centurion. In between, Ajay Jadeja, Venkatesh Prasad, Hrishikesh Kanitkar or Joginder Sharma have all played their bit roles in winning big matches thereby overcoming the Sharjah Syndrome that affected the Indian teams of the mid-80’s and early-90’s.
Whether it’s New Delhi or Islamabad, Karachi or Kolkata, this is one match that fans would hate to see their team lose. (Read Full Preview Here)
