India simulate victory

Also, notes on Hardik Pandya, Pakistan between overs 11 to 25, Rizwan's intent, Kuldeep Yadav and Virat Kohli.

Can you hear that? It’s the sound of a billion yawns. I will start this when Pakistan start their innings. You will have to wait a while though.

No, nothing yet. Any minute now, I promise.

Almost there. And, here, we, go. No, sorry, one more moment.

Now, let’s do it.

Pakistan’s starts in this tournament have been like trying to watch a seven-year-old push a full-sized bus up a hill. Actually, that is not fair. It’s like watching a cat sunning itself on hot cement, while a bird lands a few metres away. The cat lifts its head, before going back down.

Pakistan’s current top-order (which is depleted of course) is batting the way people run in waist-high water. And when they tried to attack, they lost wickets. Their total was not pathetic, just anaemic. Their only chance was to get early wickets. When that didn’t happen, this was over.

India won this match despite largely pressing the simulate innings button on their controller.

Hardik Pandya vs Pakistan (SAK)

The allrounder has a stellar record against Pakistan with the ball (and bat, but that’s for another day). He has picked up 10 wickets in seven innings, while averaging less than 25 and taking a wicket about every five overs. That is the record of a frontliner. In this game, he got the wickets of Babar Azam - who looked in solid form before getting out - and Saud Shakeel, the top-scorer for Pakistan.

Do Pakistan have a scoring rate problem between overs 11 to 25? (JK)

Pakistan made 66 runs versus New Zealand in the first 20 overs. In this match, that was 79. Bangladesh made that many against India despite losing five wickets in the first 51 balls. It just shows how slow Pakistan have batted.

You could at least argue they haven’t had their best openers batting in the powerplay. Saim Ayub was ruled out of the tournament. Against New Zealand, Fakhar Zaman came in to bat after the first ten overs - and that was his last game of the competition.

But they have had good batters for overs 11 to 25, yet they only made 44 runs in that period in this match. For context, Bangladesh made 50 against the same opposition in the same venue, even after half their side was dismissed in the powerplay.

Before this tournament, they were scoring at just above five runs an over in this phase. That has significantly dropped to only four in this tournament.

Afghanistan start slow on purpose. Bangladesh have top-order issues. That’s not the company you want to be in. Australia are the fourth-slowest, which makes sense because of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in their middle order. But even they are 0.32 runs per over ahead of Pakistan. New Zealand and South Africa are in a similar cluster, while India are a bit ahead of both. Of course, England are a way different kind of team.

Yes, they have been slower in this Champions Trophy. But the overall record includes bilaterals, where the pressure isn’t as high and the oppositions don’t often have their best bowlers available on a consistent basis.