Dubai: In a high-stakes Champions Trophy clash against India, Pakistan’s batters struggled to maintain momentum, accumulating an astonishing number of dot balls.
Pakistan’s top-order batters played 100 dot balls in the first 161 deliveries, effectively allowing India’s bowlers to dominate. According to a cricket website, Pakistan remained scoreless on 147 out of 300 balls in their full 50-over innings. The team managed to hit only three sixes and 14 fours throughout the innings.
Even during the powerplay, Pakistan’s batters played a significant number of dot balls, failing to accelerate their scoring. The team struggled to break free against India’s bowling attack, managing just a single half-century in the innings, with the first six coming as late as the 42nd over.
Saud Shakeel top-scored with 62 runs off 76 balls, while captain Mohammad Rizwan contributed 46 runs from 77 deliveries, hitting three fours. The duo shared a 104-run partnership for the third wicket off 144 balls, but it wasn’t enough to post a competitive total.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets, while Hardik Pandya claimed two.
