Rohit Sharma shines as India beat Pakistan by 9 wickets

June 4 (IANS) Openers Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir put on 140 runs to help India pummel Pakistan by nine wickets in an ICC Twenty20 warmup tie that resembled a final in its festive look at the Oval cricket ground Wednesday.

Sharma, opening in place of Virender Sehwag, hit a brilliant and confident 80 off only 53 balls (9x4, 2x6) as defending world champions India took only 17 overs to score 159 for one, easily overhauling Pakistan's 158 for six.

Gambir remained not out on 53 (47 balls, 5X4) to see India through to victory in the company of his skipper M.S. Dhoni, (nine runs, 2X4).

Playing before a stadium packed with delirious Indian and Pakistani supporters, India gave a masterly display of Twenty20 cricket - first restricting what looked like a rampaging Pakistan side to 158 and then knocking up the winning runs with remarkable ease.

Earlier, captain Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq helped Pakistan put on 158 for six in a batting performance that began in marauding fashion but failed to live up to expectations.

Electing to bat before a nearly exclusively South Asian crowd, Pakistan began disastrously, losing opener Shahzaid Hasan for a duck to Praveen Kumar in the first over.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh dropped teenage batting sensation Ahmed Shehzad in the very next over off R.P. Singh before Shehzad (25 off 19 balls, 5 fours) and Kamran Akmal (19 off nine, 4 fours) began wreaking carnage on Kumar and Singh, hammering them to all corners of the Oval.

The men in blue then bounced back, to the delight of tens of thousands of supporters, and grabbed four quick wickets to leave Pakistan tottering on 63 for five before Younis Khan (32 off 32 balls) came up with a captain's innings in the company of Misbah (37 off 30).

Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and P.P. Ojha took one wicket each for India, while Suresh Raina ran out Akmal.

India left out Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, and Pakistan were without Salman Butt and Ifthikar Anjum in a 13-a-side game, where only 11 could field at any given time.

Brief scores:

Pakistan: 158 for six (Misbah-ul-Haq 37, Y. Khan 32, S. Ahmed 25, Y. Arafat 25, I. Sharma one for 11)

India: 159 for one (R. Sharma 80, G. Gambhir 53, M.S. Dhoni 9, Mohammad Aamer one for 18).

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Rohit Sharma sparkles : India beat Pakistan with 9 wicket victory in the warm-up match of T20 WC

India justified their billing as tournament favorites here today when they brushed aside Pakistan to win their final World Twenty20 warm-up match by nine wickets with three overs to spare.



They were led home by a scintillating and wristily powerful innings of 80 from 53 deliveries by the makeshift opener Rohit Sharma, who struck nine fours as well as the only two sixes of the match. He put on 140 for the first wicket with Gautam Gambhir as the pair chased down Pakistan's 158, in a rematch of the final of the inaugural tournament in 2007, also won by India.



The India captain, MS Dhoni, said: "It was one of our best performances ever, though it was only a warm-up game. It was a brilliant performance from the whole team and the noise here was amazing." Sharma, who scored 404 runs in the IPL, opened only because of Virender Sehwag's shoulder injury. "He was very keen to open and he's got the time and the talent to play the quick bowlers," Dhoni said.

When east met east in south London last night it was not always a culturally enlightening experience. "You're not singing any more," India's supporters taunted Pakistan's as their side's batsmen got on top of the rather helpless bowlers. They followed up with "Are you Scotland in disguise?"

It might have been Millwall down the road. We also had a Mexican wave. But the atmosphere was terrific and the banter between the crowds generally good-natured – unlike at Millwall.

Rather bravely, in view of the extreme levels of security and the highly charged nature of the evening, the International Cricket Council designated this as a "Catch the Spirit" match, in memory of those killed or injured during the attack on the Sri Lanka team and officials in Lahore on 3 March.

When Pakistan batted, they faltered badly when they lost three wickets with the score on 45 but they recovered well in the second half of the innings as India experimented with seven different bowlers.

Shahzaib Hasan had his off-stump knocked back by Praveen Kumar with the fifth ball of the first over and his opening partner, Ahmed Shehzad, had scored only five when he was badly dropped by Harbhajan Singh at midwicket.

Their innings seized up in the fifth over when they lost two wickets and failed to score a run. First Kamran Akmal, backing up, was brilliantly run out by Suresh Raina, diving in from the covers. Then Ahmed had a smite and sent the ball straight up in the air.

When Shahid Afridi was dismissed off the first ball of the sixth over, caught behind off Irfan Pathan as he attempted to smear the ball through the off-side, Pakistan were in deep trouble at 45 for four. Their innings was restored by two partnerships. First the captain Younus Khan, who scored a run-a-ball 32, put on 50 from 45 balls with the feisty Misbah-ul-Haq.

Younus departed, losing his dignity as well as his wicket when he went down the wicket to reverse sweep Harbhajan Singh, toppled over and was smartly stumped. But Misbah, whose 37 came from 30 deliveries with four fours, continued strongly and, with the even more violent and clean-hitting Yasir Arafat (25 off 16), added 45 from 27 balls in an unbroken seventh- wicket stand.

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India vs Pakistan Practice Match highlight

India won by 9 wickets.

Indian Innings:

17 Overs: India is 159/1 One wide of the first ball of Aamir give India winning run.

16 Overs: India is 140/1 Rohit Sharma got catch out.

15 Overs: India is 137/0

14 Overs: India is 123/0

13 Overs: India is 110/0

12 Overs: India is 106/0

11.1 Overs: India is 100/0

10 Overs: India is 88/0

9 Overs: India is 80/0

8 Overs: India is 70/0

7 Overs: India is 65/0

6 Overs: India is 56/0

5 Overs: India is 45/0

4 Overs: India is 39/0

3 Overs: India is 25/0

2 Overs: India is 14/0

1 Over: India is 10/0

India will come to chase Pakistan's inning just after few minutes.

Pakistan Innings:

20 Overs: Pakistan is 158/6

19 Overs: Pakistan is 144/6

18 Overs: Pakistan is 129/6

17 Overs: Pakistan is 121/6

16 Overs: Pakistan is 114/6

15.5 Overs: Pakistan is 113/6

15 Overs: Pakistan is 106/5

14 Overs: Pakistan is 102/5

13 Overs: Pakistan is 90/5

12 Overs: Pakistan is 82/5

11 Overs: Pakistan is 77/5

10 Overs: Pakistan is 71/5

9 Overs: Pakistan is 66/4

8 Overs: Pakistan is 61/4

7 Overs: Pakistan is 55/4

6 Overs: Pakistan is 53/4

5.1 Overs: Pakistan is 45/4

5 Overs: Pakistan is 45/3

4 Overs: Pakistan is 45/1

3 Overs: Pakistan is 35/1

2 Overs: Pakistan is 22/1

1 Over: Pakistan is 6/1

India will take on Pakistan today to play the final T20 practice match which will be held at The Oval. This match will be shown live on STAR CRICKET. Here, in this entry, we will provide live online score over by over with short commentary. This match will start at 10:50 GMT (11:52 Local time). So, stay with us and enjoy live cricket. Read more

India vs Pakistan Twenty20 practice matches in 2009: Who will win the matches?

India is going to face Pakistan to play their second T20 practice match which will be held at Kennington Oval, London. This match will be played on 3rd June, 2009. Both teams are going to face each other after long time. So, this game has much acceptance to the fans. These two rivalry fans always bring a lot of TV ratings. It seems that people around the world always feel interest to see their fight whether it is inside or outside of stadium.

India has got much media coverage as the inaugural champion team. You should know that Pakistan was the runners-up team of the first edition. Both the champion and the runners-up teams could not win their first practice match. So, it will be a big challenge for both of them to win the final practice match.

Before the start of practice match, India got much coverage from different media coverage as the top favorite team and the team who has possibility to win the title again. The sad news is that they lost to New Zealand by 9 runs in their first practice match. Indian selectors and board members said that non-stop cricket can not make any harm of Indian cricket. I think this defeat will teach them a lesson.

I do not blame Pakistan team because they were out of cricket for long time. But I think their young players will try their best to clinch the trophy.
Source:www.cricket-news-bangladesh.blogspot.com

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India vs Pakistan T20 Practice Match 2009 live scores

It is really exciting to see a fight between two arch-rival teams India and Pakistan. Though, it is warm-up match but a lot of people will eagerly wait to see this match live on TV. You should know that Indian cricket team will take on Pakistan in the last practice match. This game is considered as one of the most exciting one. I want to remind you one thing that India was the inaugural champion team where Pakistan finished the tournament as runners-up team. Another reason to be the most attractive practice match is that these two teams will face each other after long time.

Teams: India vs Pakistan Practice Match

Date: June 3, 2009

Time: 16:30 GMT (17:30 Local)

Venue: The Oval

Live on: STAR CRICKET



India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is looking to get a consolation win against their arch rival Pakistan team in the warm-up match of ICC T20 World Cup 2009. Neither India nor Pakistan could make start in the opening practice match. India lost to New Zealand by 9 runs where South Africa defeated Pakistan by 59 runs. So, this match has equal importance for both India and Pakistan. I am sure they will struggle hard to get the victory in any how.

India is the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup champion team. They have got much coverage from media. Indian selectors and coach think that India will retain the trophy for the second time. They have impressed the cricket world with their form both in home and abroad. Recently, they have finished IPL 2. I think it will help them as the practice match for the up-coming ICC T20 World Cup 2009. Most of their players are in good form. Middle order batting line-up build with strong and experienced batsmen. MS Dhoni has been rejuvenated to hold the trophy with a bunch of experienced players. Some cricket experts say that because of non-stop cricket they may feel fatigue. I don’t think so. But I feel doubt about their performance in this format of cricket game. T20 is a game where no one is favorite and where anyone can beat the each other.

I am not optimistic about Pakistan cricket team. They are not strong like past. Most of their fans expect that board members will allow Imran Nazir and Abdul Razzak. However, it is not possible now. Only two days left to star the second edition of ICC T20 World Cup 2009. I think PCB will re-think about these two players again. Let us see how Younis Khan can lead this young side.

I know many people are passionately waiting to see this game live. This game will be televised live on STAR CRICKET in India. Indian people can enjoy live cricket on this channel. ESPN STAR Sports has the global broadcasting rights. So, people from another corner of the world can also enjoy this game live. Pakistani famous sports channel Geo Super can broadcast it live but I am not sure about it either. It is true that we can see a nail biting game between India and Pakistan. Fans will be busy thinking about who will win in this game.

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