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SPORTS JUNE 14, 2024 | The Indian Eye 50

T20 WORLD CUP

Bowlers Reign Supreme

as India Clinches Dramatic Victory

Over Pakistan in New York

This low-scoring match proved that T20 cricket isn’t always about hitting big sixes.

Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant bowling was the key to India’s victory

ARCHAN MEHTA
New York
A
packed Nassau County stadium in New
York pulsed with Bollywood and Bhangra
beats on a sunny Sunday, as India and Pa-
kistan faced off in the T20 World Cup. 34,000 fans
roared with excitement, adding to the electrifying
atmosphere created by the DJ’s tunes.
India struggled with the bat, managing only Hardik Pandya and teammates celebrate the dismissal of Pa-
119 runs. It seemed like an easy win for Pakistan, kistan’s Shadab Khan at Nassau County International Cricket
but they hadn’t counted on India’s star bowler, Jas- Stadium in New York on Sunday (ANI Photo/Surjeet Yadav)
prit Bumrah – arguably the most valuable player
on the planet in any form of cricket, excelling in
T20, One-Day, and Test matches. He bowled in- Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the dismissal of hope that Ireland defeats the USA by a significant
credibly well, claiming 3 wickets for just 14 runs Mohammad Rizwan during their Group A match in the ICC T20 margin, while also relying on the unlikely scenario
and putting immense pressure on Pakistan with his World Cup 2024 (ANI) of both Canada and the USA upsetting India to
“New-Yorker”. qualify for the next round.
Bumrah’s performance, along with some
great fielding by India, turned the game around. this format of cricket. England’s qualification hopes hinge on
Pakistan started their chase confidently but soon Indian fans erupted in celebration as the fi- securing dominant wins against Oman
stumbled due to Bumrah’s bowling. The turning nal wicket fell. The win over their rivals was even and Namibia, relying on Australia to con-
point came when Bumrah cleaned up Mohammad more special because of the electric atmosphere in
Rizwan after scoring 31 runs, and Pakistan even- the stadium. It was a day that belonged to Bum- vincingly defeat Scotland, and potentially
tually lost the match by 6 runs. rah, whose incredible bowling performance will be needing a superior net run rate compared
It wasn’t just Bumrah who contributed to In- remembered by everyone who witnessed it. Rohit to Scotland to advance.
dia’s win. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya helped Sharma lauded Bumrah saying, “He’s a genius
out with both bat and ball. Rishabh Pant, with a with the ball, we know that, but hats off to the oth- New Zealand must win their remaining
combination of luck, bravery, and unconvention- er guys as well.” matches against West Indies, PNG, and Uganda,
al shots like the falling flick and reverse sweep, The T20 2024 World Cup is alive and kicking, while also hoping the West Indies defeat Afghan-
scored 42 runs off 31 balls, outperforming the rest but former champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka, istan, to overcome the setback of their substantial
of the Indian team. two-time winners England, and recent finalists loss to Afghanistan and secure qualification.
This low-scoring match proved that T20 crick- New Zealand are facing an uphill battle to ad- Sri Lanka must win big against the Nether-
et isn’t always about hitting big sixes. Bumrah’s vance past the initial group stage. lands and Nepal, while also hoping the Nether-
brilliant bowling was the key to India’s victory, Pakistan needs to win their remaining matches lands defeats Bangladesh, as their qualification
proving that adaptability and skill are crucial in against Canada and Ireland by large margins, and hinges on better net run rate.

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