All roads lead to Eden Gardens in Kolkata today, as India takes on archrival Pakistan in a World T20 encounter. The host enjoys a perfect record against its neighbour in the World Cup. Read: > Cricketing legends honoured
15.5 overs: It was just the perfect finish as a Dhoni six, and then the winning single, helped India keep its World Cup record against Pakistan intact. At the other end, Kohli's strokeful 55 helped the home side get out of a jittery start, when it was reeling at 23 for three after five overs. India ended up winning by six wickets with 13 balls to spare.
14.2 overs: Kohli on fire, reaches 50 of 34 ball, strike rate of 147. After 15 overs India reaches 106 for four.
14 overs: Yet another productive over for India, with eight runs coming from the Amir over. 99 for four, 20 required from four overs.
12 overs: After a big hit over mid-wicket ropes, Yuvraj holes out in the same area of the field, looking for another six. Wahab Riaz snaps the important wicket, Sami takes the catch. Dhoni joins his deputy at the crease, 10 runs and a wicket from the over.
11 overs: Kohli hits India's first six, a sweep that went over the ropes. He then swept Malik in front of square. India reaches 74 for three. 14 from the over.
10 overs: India reach 60 for three, need 69 from the last eight overs.
9 overs: Another productive over the home side with eight runs coming of a Shoaib Malik over. India 54 for three
8 overs: Six singles in the Afridi over. India 46 for three.
7 overs: Just the over India needed. A four each from Kohli and Yuvraj eased the pressure on India, however the latter survived a scare when he mistimed a pull which landed on no man's land. India reaches for 40 for three, Sami conceded 10.
4.3 overs: Double strike from Sami. First Dhawan, next Raina (first ball).Dhawan is castled by Mohammad Sami. Good comeback from the bowler after he conceded a four and a no ball. Nothing resulted from the Free Hit, however. Raina's stay at the crease was very short as he was beaten for pace first ball, the inside edge crashing onto his leg stump that went for a walk. Yuvraj negotiates the hattrick ball. India reach 23 for three after five overs.
3 overs: A very productive over comes to an end as India reaches 16 for 1.
2.1 overs: Rohit Sharma is out to the deafening silence of the crowd. Amir once again providing the breakthrough, Shoaib Malik pouches a skier. Kohli at the crease.
2 overs: A cautious, yet confident, start sees India reach 14 for no loss after two overs. Rohit Sharma has hit 10 of those runs, with two hits to the fence of Mohammad Irfan in the second over.
India's innings: Both openers will now have to face Pakistan's pace factory, starting with the fiery Mohammad Amir.
The target for India isn't big but on a surface like this, India will need to play it smart. The pressure is huge on the home side and Pakistan will be quietly confident at this point. Join us in a while for the chase which should be a thrilling one.
A fairly decent score by Pakistan after being put into bat. Shehzad and Sharjeel gave a slow but steady start on a track that aided turn from the very beginning. After the stand was broken, Afridi promoted himself to number 3 but the ploy didn't work as India picked up a few wickets through Raina, Bumrah and Pandya. The innings wasn't going anywhere before Malik took charge with a superb cameo. His partnership with Akmal ensured that Pakistan gained momentum in the innings.
18 overs: An excellent last over from Bumrah gave the Pakistan batsmen very little chance to finish off with a blast as it ends the innings at 118 for five.
16.2 overs: Shoaib Malik mistimes a pull. Nehra bowls it short on the off stump, Malik goes for the pull and gets a top edge. Ashwin doesn't miss the sitter at short fine. 105 for 5.
15.5 overs: Umar Akmal falls to Jadeja, caught behind by Dhoni. A partnership of 41 runs from four overs comes to an end. Sarfaraz Ahmed joins Shoaib Malik at the crease. Pakistan reaches 103 for four after 16 overs.
14 overs: Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal are upping the pace now. Pandya at the receiving end as both batsmen hit a six each. Pakistan reaches 82 for three. This over was the most expensive one yet, with 15 runs scored.
11.5 overs: India snap the big fish as Afridi holes out to Kohli. Hardik Pandya took the big wicket. Slower ball outside off, Afridi went for the slog but mistimed that one completely. The ball hit high on Afridi's blade and the mishit found Kohli at long on to perfection. The new man is Shoaib Malik. Pakistan, after 12 overs, is 65 for three.
9.2 overs: Shehzad was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah with Ravindra Jadeja pouching an easy chance. A Good length angled in on off, Shehzad had set himself up for the big stroke but could only slice it high over point. Jadeja goes backwards and takes it with ease. Important wicket that as Shehzad was looking set. Pakistan is at 51 for 2 at the end of the 10th over and Umar Akmal is at the crease with skipper Afridi.
8 overs: After a slow start, Pakistan openers consolidated their innings before losing Sharjeel Khan in the eighth over with the score at 38. The southpaw was hold out at long on by Hardik Pandya, after mistiming a short ball from Suresh Raina. Unfortunately for Pandya, he landed badly on his face and had to be taken off for treatment. Captain Afridi joins Shehzad in the middle
Put into bat first, Pakistan reached 19 for no loss after the end of four overs. Openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad are at the crease. India opened the bowling with Ashish Nehra and R. Ashwin. > Cricketing legends honoured
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni(w/c), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish +Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Shahid Afridi(c), Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan
2010 IST: MS Dhoni won the toss for India, chooses to field first. the Indian skipper confirmed an unchanged playing XI from the opener against New Zealand.
1955 IST: The news from the centre is toss will be held at 2010 IST with the start time of 2030 IST . The game will be a 18-over-a-side affair. Each team, as of now, will be entitled to a powerplay of five overs. Each team can have a maximum of three bowlers who can bowl their quota of four overs.
1910 IST: The crowds have started thronging in. The covers are being taken off and the ground looks reasonably dry. The Eden curator Sujan Mukherjee should be a happy man. He and his men have done an excellent job in keeping the ground covered from the rains.
1840 IST: It rained heavily for over half an hour. The last time a thundershower hit Eden Gardens on a match-day, on October 8, 2015, it saw the abandonment of the India vs South Africa T20 tie without a ball being bowled. That was the first international match under former India captain Sourav Ganguly as president designate of the Cricket Association of Bengal. Once he was officially named the president, the state association repaired the drainage system of the ground and also did 'coring', which broadly means filling the top soil with sand and fertiliser for better absorption of water. It is a big test for Eden Gardens which earned the dubious reputation of being one of the most unfit venues when it comes to getting the outfield ready for action after rains. Just 13 days ago the Asia Cup final in Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, featuring India and Bangladesh, was made ready within one hour after a heavy thundershower by the efficient groundsmen there under Sri Lankan curator Gamini Silva. India won the title beating the host in a 15-over-a-side affair. It remains to be seen how Eden Gardens copes with the challenge with only an hour remaining for the scheduled start. The white covers are still on as four super-soppers are working overtime to siphon off the accumulated rain water.
1730 IST: But with the much-hyped game scheduled to start in a few hours, a slight drizzle in Kolkata is causing a little worry to those who eagerly await the game.
Read: >Eden awaits a Super Saturday
The venue in Kolkata is notorious for having quite a few games washed out because of the rains. A T20I involving India and South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled last October.
However, a few changes in the drainage system have been introduced in the stadium since then. A booster shot of sand has been injected into the turf to make rainwater seep underground quickly and keep the surface from becoming slushy.
Watch: >Revamped drainage system to aid Eden Gardens
A new super sopper machine, used to dry the ground, also arrived last Sunday, taking the total super sopper count at the venue to five.
In addition to the super sopper and the sand, there are a few other additions which is said to have enhanced Eden Gardens’ drainage system. Only time will tell if the new system will pass the test. But hopefully for the millions of fans, the rains will stay away, ensuring a full game.
A washout will make it difficult for India to qualify for the semis, as it lost its first game to New Zealand by 47 runs.
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