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  • 8 months ago
Watch Iftikhar Ahmed’s explosive half-century against India at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the T20 World Cup 2022.

With Pakistan under pressure, Iftikhar came in and smashed 51 runs off 34 balls, including massive sixes that shifted the momentum of the match.

A standout middle-order performance on the biggest stage!

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Transcript
00:00And Iftikar is the new player for Pakistan.
00:12Nicely worked.
00:19Trouble with this taipan.
00:30Good shot. Really good shot. It's a pretty quick outfield.
00:34And probably the shot with the most authority so far.
00:38Yeah, easily the best shot of the bat. No doubt about that.
00:42Sat up nicely. He was in total control.
00:47At least the nerves a little bit in the dressing room.
00:56Scoreboard gets a move on in this over.
00:58Nine runs coming off this so far. Still a ball to go.
01:01And I like Rohit Sharma. He's kept the two slips.
01:04Just in case. Just in case.
01:07There is still movement there. It warrants it.
01:13The angle back in.
01:19A single into the leg side.
01:23Gets the ball to nip away and flows
01:26towards that keeper again. Bit of shape.
01:32Goes again. This time too short. Iftikar onto it.
01:37Next side.
01:40Will they come back for the third? Yes, they do. This is good running.
01:43Conditions.
01:46Down here on ground. It's about 23 degrees. The, uh, I think a lot of people are expecting it to be quite warm.
01:56Just down the leg side.
02:00Just down the leg side.
02:07It's here at the World Cup.
02:08Generally comes on nicely.
02:13Seem away.
02:18Here is a pretty serious game.
02:20And, uh, maybe a few quizzical looks.
02:24A beautiful delivery to end the over. It's 44 for two.
02:32Really needed.
02:34It's a tough group and to start off so well.
02:37Being on the back foot.
02:52Chops it away.
02:54Adjust the singles. A decent start from Ashwin.
02:55Puts it to the offside. There will be another couple of runs.
03:02Such a huge playing field. It's always going to be.
03:08Just a single.
03:13Just a single.
03:21Nicely hit.
03:23They still go to the fence.
03:26Just over the top off gully.
03:29And has gone for a boundary.
03:32That's exactly what Pakistan needs to do.
03:34Because now if they get a bit of room around the offensive, we go to throw their bats at it.
03:38There is no slip in position.
03:39Doesn't have to come out the middle of the bat as long as it goes for a boundary.
03:43And this now is beginning to dry up the outfield.
03:46That's that little bit.
03:47So maybe the ball is going just that little bit quicker.
03:56Go short this time. Pull next side.
03:59That's a single.
04:00That's a single.
04:07How much has T20 cricket changed?
04:13Just over. Just over.
04:15They're playing with fire. Pakistan.
04:16They're getting away with it for the last few overs.
04:18For to go a lot harder in the next eight overs or so.
04:25Big, big, it might go the distance.
04:27Yes, it does.
04:28Long on is watching it sail over.
04:30And if the car, that is what he's good at.
04:3350 of the partnership comes up.
04:36They were clawing away the inches a little while ago.
04:38Now they want a little bit more with these two from Pakistan.
04:42What a fantastic shot.
04:45If the car wasn't running the twos.
04:47And this is the exact reason why he wasn't looking to take Ashwin on.
04:52As the right-hander.
04:54Read the caram ball really well.
04:56Got it right off the middle of the bat.
04:58Way to play here at the MCG as well.
05:00Go straight.
05:01Smaller boundary straight.
05:02We'll be happy with that Matthew Hayden, Pakistan's batting coach.
05:12Do they want a second?
05:13They won't get it.
05:14Ashwin was quick to get there.
05:15But another good over.
05:16Never know it was a new ball.
05:18Effort.
05:19Right, he's not got all of that.
05:22But the fielder was well in.
05:23Impact will go over.
05:24It just seemed for a while the fielder backpedaling had the opportunity.
05:28But if the car is doing a great job for Pakistan here.
05:30It's a big hit.
05:33That's a monster boundary out there.
05:35It's going over the fence.
05:39Lost the line.
05:40No real swing.
05:41The advantage of playing in Australia.
05:43Consistent bounce.
05:44So you can hit through the line of the ball.
05:46That is a monster.
05:48These Pakistan players are really good players of spin.
05:51So they know that Akshar Padil is not someone who turns the ball very much.
05:55And he was anticipating that ball to come back into him.
06:00Backed himself.
06:04Now he goes straight.
06:05This is if the car at his best.
06:09There's been so much talk about Pakistan's middle order.
06:11This man scores runs in Australia.
06:13And this is class batting straight down the ground again a smaller boundary.
06:18We saw Matthew Hayden during that drinks break speak to these two batsmen.
06:22He would have said exactly that radio boys you build a partnership.
06:26Now's the time pick your bowler.
06:28And it looks like this is the over.
06:30Wonderful shot.
06:31I think he hit the second tier of the balcony there.
06:35That was 97 meters that six.
06:39Which I might be thinking about getting.
06:44And he goes again.
06:45And he goes again.
06:47Oh it's gone over.
06:49Gail Rahul thought he was in play.
06:52The rub of the green.
06:53It's been going Pakistan's way for the last eight or nine overs.
06:56This is going to give a lot of thought.
07:03The road Sharma.
07:05Clearly the ball not turning very much.
07:08If the car recognizing that.
07:11Staying put.
07:12Great effort by Gail Rahul.
07:13Try and chuck the ball back in.
07:17Good effort there.
07:26We'll get two more.
07:30Fifty for Iftikhar.
07:31This is a game changer.
07:33They'll get a third too as well.
07:35India just a little lax in the field here.
07:38Outstanding innings from Iftikhar.
07:40Took just 32 balls.
07:41It's 91 for two.
07:45Shami with his third.
07:47Now is that bad first.
07:49That's what they're appealing for.
07:50Must have been a little inside edge there.
07:54Pakistan looks set to get more.
07:56Now that is even closer.
07:58That is out.
08:01Mahmoud Shami comes back straight away.
08:03And picks up a wicket.
08:05It's been a wonderful innings by Iftikhar.
08:07But it's over.
08:09Exactly the same delivery.
08:10This time no inside edge.
08:12Batters talking about it.
08:13Discussing.
08:14Do they review.
08:15It looked absolutely plump.
08:17But what an innings.
08:1851 of 34.
08:19So important for this Pakistan team.
08:22What a wicket that from Mahmoud Shami.
08:25Kept it wicket to wicket.
08:26The seam position so good as always.
08:29Always does a little bit off the seam.
08:32Gets an important breakthrough for India.
08:34Yes he's pumped.
08:38Iftikhar for 51.
08:39It's 91 for three now.
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