Barney Ronay on Sarfraz’s alley cats seizing the day:
Reaction from Sarfraz Ahmed:
Ali Martin’s talking points from the final:
Our match report has arrived, so I’ll leave with you with that. Thanks for your company throughout a hugely enjoyable tournament, and thanks to Pakistan for thrilling us as only they can. Bye!
Sarfraz walks over with a big smile, raises the trophy and growls with delight. As he does so, all the players come flying down the podium to join him in celebration. Pakistan have won the Champions Trophy!
The Pakistan team are being called up to the podium one by one. Each man is putting a white jacket over his green kit. They look like a stag party of golfers. It’s quite a good look, and they can wear what they like after this performance.
Virat Kohli: “I want to congratulate Pakistan and their supporters. They had an amazing tournament. The way they turned things round speaks volumes for the talent they have. It’s disappointing for us but I have a smile on my face because I’m very proud of how we’ve played in this tournament. They outplayed us, they were more intense and passionate on the day.”
The Player of the Tournament is Hassan Ali. You never know with Pakistan (remember Mohammad Zahid, Basit Ali and others?) but he has the talent and personality to become a superstar.
We’ve updated our pictorial story of the tournament. You’re just one click away from viewing it.
The Golden Bat goes to Shikhar Dhawan, the leading runscorer for the second consecutive Champions Trophy. The Golden Ball goes to Hassan Ali, the strutting catalyst of this Pakistan triumph who took three wickets in each of Pakistan’s four victories. He has been magnificent to watch.
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The Man of the Match is the remarkable Fakhar Zaman. Of course it is. Fakhar, you Zaman.
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Congratulations to Team Pakistan on their great performance in winning #CT17 And how wonderful to watch Fakhar's raw talent in action.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 18, 2017
Congratulations @TheRealPCB, the team & the whole country for such a great win.#CT17. Boys you made us happy & proud. Up & above 4rm here!
— Misbah Ul Haq (@captainmisbahpk) June 18, 2017
As Mike Atherton says on Sky, there are some brilliant individual stories to go with the collective triumph: Fakhar, who hadn’t played an ODI before this tournament, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, Sarfraz; even Mohammad Hafeez’s death-hitting today.
Amir’s new-ball spell was staggeringly good. His dismissal of Kohli wasn’t just the champagne moment of the tournament, it was the Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon Charles & Diana 1961 moment.
Sarfraz is holding his child and chatting to his wife. The celebrations are actually quite muted - maybe it’s disbelief, maybe they’ve surprised even themselves. The manner and margin of their victories over England and India - after limping through the group stages - was staggering.
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Hasan and Sarfraz to finish it. So appropriate. Them two have been beyond brilliant. What a captain, what a team.
— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) June 18, 2017
The Pakistan players are draped in flags as they walk round the field. Their coach Mickey Arthur - who has known dark times of his own in England - is being interviewed.
“It’s been an up and down ride but I’m just so proud of the boys. We came back superbly after the first game, and the whole group kept believing. We knew we were better than we showed in that game. It’s a remarkable achievement, I’m so proud of everybody.”
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If there's been a more improbable Pakistan triumph than this, it's yet to be written
— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) June 18, 2017
Post-match interviews
Mohammad Hafeez: “Thanks to almighty Allah. It’s a great team effort. After losing the first game we were nowhere. I’m really happy for all of Pakistan because they’ve been waiting for this for a very long time. It’s a great day, I’m so happy.”
Mohammad Amir has a big goofy grin: “I think that’s the start we needed: Shikhar, Rohit and Kohli were in tremendous form. I was looking for early wickets and I did it. This was all about teamwork and momentum – the South Africa game gave us momentum.”
Shoaib Malik: “Back home I’m sure the roads are blocked, people are dancing even though we have Ramadan. It’s just awesome.”
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Virat Kohli is very gracious in defeat, smiling as he shakes hands with the Pakistan team. There’s no point getting upset about something that is beyond your control – and when the force is with Pakistan to this extent, it is not up to the opposition to decide who wins.
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The last wicket was taken by Hassan, with Bumrah bounced out. Pakistan’s players all get to their knees in celebration. This, even by Pakistan’s standards, is a staggering story. They started the tournament as an egregious shambles; they ended it by slaughtering the hosts and the holders, who also happened to be England and India. They are and always will be the most interesting team in the history of sport.
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PAKISTAN BEAT INDIA BY 180 RUNS AND WIN THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY!
Pakistan have done it!
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30th over: India 158-9 (Kumar 1, Bumrah 1) Kumar slices Junaid high into the off side, just like Richard Illingworth did for the last wicket in the World Cup final 25 years ago, but this time it lands safely.
“Ponting is a remarkably prescient commentator,” says James Lane. “He literally said, ‘It’s amazing how little things like that can make you lose your wicket’ seconds before Jadeja edged to slip.”
Yeah, he’s a revelation, a constant source of insight.
29th over: India 156-9 (Kumar 0, Bumrah 0) With Pakistan on the brink of victory, Ramiz Raja is ushered back into the commentary box. That’s a nice touch. A wicket maiden from Hassan, who has electrified this tournament.
“Hi Rob, following the OBO whilst lying on a beach in Chicago Illinois,” says Thomas Walker. “Beautiful hot weather here, if only Americans had the good taste to play cricket instead of that garbage baseball. Anyway very excited for the Pakistan win, I think they’re everyone’s second favourite team - not having a home for all these years, they still keep fighting and do their nation proud. I had an Indian cabbie last night who was certain of an India win but was gracious enough to admit he’d be happy with a Pakistani win too. I feel like there’s a thawing in the cricket hatred between those two proud countries, hopefully that translates to politics too. Anyway, thanks for the coverage, can’t wait for the Ashes later in the year (Aussies to reclaim the urn of course).”
WICKET! India 156-9 (Ashwin c Sarfraz b Hassan 1)
This is turning into an epic demolition! Ashwin fishes at a sharp lifter from the brilliant Hassan and edges through to Sarfraz. Pakistan, what are you doing to us?
Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters
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28th over: India 156-8 (Ashwin 1, Kumar 0) Pakistan’s largest victory over India, when batting first, was by 159 runs at Delhi in 2005. This would be a reasonable occasion on which to set a new record. I must say, this morning I feared that the match might be hopelessly one-sided and an anti-climax. I was half right.
“That 2009 OBO was a trip down memory lane,” says Guy Hornsby. “Boom-Boom in his pomp, Gary Naylor in his pomp, Millings talking of gin & milk. Halcyon days. Never mind that though, whatever happened to Lou Roper?”
We have to delete one OBOer a year just to keep things fresh.
WICKET! India 156-8 (Jadeja c Babar b Junaid 15)
Pakistan are two wickets away from never-ending glory. Jadeja dabbles at the new bowler Junaid and edges to slip, where Babar takes a sharp catch.
27th over: India 154-7 (Jadeja 15, Ashwin 0) Jadeja actually dashed to get back in his crease before Pandya, to ensure he wasn’t run out. That, I would humbly suggest, was a serious error of judgement. Pandya hinted at a miracle; Jadeja hints at a 141-run defeat.
WICKET! India 152-7 (Pandya run out 76)
Oh my. Pandya is run out after a dismal mix-up. Jadeja pushed the new bowler Hassan into the covers and stood his ground; Pandya had set off and was stranded, with Jadeja for some reason not sacrificing himself. Maybe it all happened so fast and he didn’t have time to realise what was going on. Either way Pandya had a seriously affronted coupon as he walked off, and he smashed his bat against the boundary in frustration. No wonder: he had played a spectacular innings of 76 from 43 balls.
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26th over: India 152-6 (Pandya 76, Jadeja 13) Pandya launches Fakhar for consecutive sixes over midwicket, the second a monster. That’s his sixth six of the innings, and he has 76 from 43 balls. Is something brilliant happening?
“Absolutely delighted for Pakistan,” says Andrew Hurley. “Great for cricket. That is all.”
Yep, it really is.
25th over: India 137-6 (Pandya 63, Jadeja 11) Shadab continues, despite being taken for 23 by Pandya in the previous over. This time Jadeja faces most of the over, and there are just three runs from it.
“It’s late here in Kuala Lumpur,” says my former colleague Mina Ashraf. “What’s your energy drink du jour, iIneed some.”
Pakistan cricket, that’s my energy drink. I’m high as a kite!
24th over: India 134-6 (Pandya 62, Jadeja 9) Six balls from Fakhar, six singles.
23rd over: India 128-6 (Pandya 59, Jadeja 6) Pandya hits three consecutive sixes off Shadab to move to a storming 32-ball fifty. It will probably mean nothing, but he has played outrageously well. A furious drive through extra cover for four makes it 23 from the over. India need 211 from 27 overs.
22nd over: India 105-6 (Pandya 36, Jadeja 6) Fakhar continues with his occasional left-arm spin. India milk him for three singles, which is not enough, or indeed in the same continent as enough.
“What does the Win Predictor say?” says Kabir Sethi. I think it’s showing a negative percentage for India.
21st over: India 102-6 (Pandya 33, Jadeja 5) Pandya is playing extremely well, and clouts Shadab through the covers for four.
“Slightly disappointing, looking at that yesteryear OBO Naylor linked to, that even back then my main topic of conversation was booze,” says Phil Sawyer. “It’s almost like I have nothing else in my life.”
I haven’t explored this but I suspect that, were we to pore over old OBOs, few of us would emerge with much dignity.
20th over: India 93-6 (Pandya 27, Jadeja 3) Mercurial, emotional, raw talent, when they get on a roll ... Pakistan even give cliches a good name. I don’t know how they have done this. I’m not even sure what they’ve done. Nothing can top 1992, we know that, but this comes close It’s telling that, on all three occasions Pakistan have won ICC tournaments*, they were thrashed in the opening game. In Pakistan cricket, chaos and glory are siblings.
Anyway, Imad Wasim comes into the attack - and then limps off after three deliveries. Fakhar Zaman completes a boundaryless over, which means India need 246 from 30 overs.
* Assuming they win today
19th over: India 89-6 (Pandya 24, Jadeja 2) Pandya is batting in a bubble, almost ignoring the match situation. He drives Shadab for a huge six down the ground and has 24 from 18 balls.
18th over: India 80-6 (Pandya 17, Jadeja 0) “Hi Rob,” says Farooq Khan. “I live in São Paulo and we’re it not for OBO I wouldn’t be able to follow the match! Am absurdly nervous, trying my best not to think about glory for Pakistan! Could this be the end of a long long run of losses to India in big ODI tournaments.....ZINDABADDD!!! PS - my Brazilian wife is feigning excitement also and I’ve nearly crashed three times while driving while looking at the updated.”
Legal disclaimer: the Guardian is not responsible for etc and so forth.
17th over: India 72-6 (Pandya 11, Jadeja 0) That was the last ball of the over.
WICKET! India 72-6 (Jadhav c Sarfraz b Shadab 9)
Jadhav slogs a big legbreak miles in the air, and Sarfraz charges round to short extra cover to take the catch. Shadab, at the age of 18, has two wickets in the Champions Trophy final, and Pakistan are administering a thrashing of epic proportions.
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16th over: India 67-5 (Jadhav 9, Pandya 4) I wonder what Misbah is up to today. After the miseries of 2007 and 2011, this will mean plenty to him.
“You and me eight years ago,” says Gary Naylor,
producing a photo of an erotic persuasion that I don’t recall being taken
. “The last par here may well be in play again.” Amen to that. Their ability to summon a collective force that no team can stop is endlessly fascinating.
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15th over: India 62-5 (Jadhav 5, Pandya 3) Jadhav dumps Shadab impatiently over midwicket for four. India need 277 from 35 overs.
“If Pakistan win, that means that England didn’t choke,” says Felix Wood. “They merely facilitated this great story. England did this. You’re welcome, world.”
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14th over: India 54-5 (Jadhav 0, Pandya 0) I know nothing can ever top 1992, but this victory will go into folklore. The ICC rankings say Pakistan are the eighth-best ODI team in the world. A fortnight ago, that ranking flattered them. Now they are going to win the Champions Trophy by slaughtering their two greatest rivals in the semi-final and the final. England, India and logic have taken one helluva beating.
“Do you think Osman Samiuddin is furiously scribbling an update to The Unquiet Ones?” asks Jonny Sultoon. I hope so, that book is a masterpiece. Also, this tweet.
I wrote a history of Pakistan cricket and I have no qualms in admitting there are days when I know nothing about how they work.
— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) June 14, 2017
WICKET! India 54-5 (Dhoni c Imad b Hassan 4)
Another one! Another one! Dhoni hooks Hassan flat towards deep midwicket, where Imad Wasim takes an excellent running catch.
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13th over: India 54-4 (Dhoni 4, Jadhav 0) That was the last ball of the over. It was lovely bowling, particularly straight after the wrong’un. This is, unless you’re an Indian fan, feelgood cricket for the ages.
WICKET! India 54-4 (Yuvraj LBW b Shadab 21)
The teenage leggie Shadab Khan strikes in his first over! Yuvraj, beaten by the googly the previous delivery, pushed forward tentatively with bat close to pad. It was pad first and, although the umpire gave it not out, Shadab pretty much demanded that Sarfraz go for the review. He did, and replays showed it was hitting middle halfway up. Pakistan - absurd, brilliant, beautiful, unfathomable Pakistan - are rampant.
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12th over: India 50-3 (Yuvraj 21, Dhoni 1) The brilliant Hassan Ali is coming into the attack. Yuvraj looks much more confident now and whaps a couple through midwicket. A single brings Dhoni on strike and he leaves a few more deliveries outside off stump.
“I am so so so so nervous,” says Aryan Rana. Wait until it goes to a Super Over.
11th over: India 47-3 (Yuvraj 18, Dhoni 1) I think Amir would have come off had he not taken that third wicket. He did, so he continues. Dhoni, who takes his time to play himself in regardless of the circumstances, leaves a series of deliveries angled across him. A maiden from Amir, who has lovely figures of 6-2-16-3.
10th over: India 47-3 (Yuvraj 18, Dhoni 1) The offspinner Mohammad Hafeez comes into the attack. Yuvraj, who had been so nervous against the seamers, punishes him for three superb boundaries. Fourteen from the over! If India want to know how to win this game, they don’t need to look too far back for a precedent of sorts.
9th over: India 33-3 (Yuvraj 6, Dhoni 0) That was the last ball of the over. Replays show it was a cross-seam delivery from Amir, which popped to take the edge.
Dhawan, who was playing extremely well, pushed outside off stump and edged straight through to Sarfraz. The line and length were immaculate. Mohammad Amir is bowling gloriously! He has three for 16 in five overs. After all he has been through, and all Pakistan have been through, this almost brings a lump to the throat.
WICKET! India 33-3 (Dhawan c Sarfraz b Amir 21)
On 18 June 2017, in the city of London, Mohammad Amir achieved greatness. He’s got another one!
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8th over: India 31-2 (Dhawan 20, Yuvraj 5) Dhawan launches into a bit of width from Junaid, flashing a couple of excellent boundaries through the covers. He is playing as if nothing has happened at the other end.
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7th over: India 22-2 (Dhawan 11, Yuvraj 5) Amir is bowling tremendously, with just a leg-bye from his fourth over. He’d be on the longlist for the Joy of Six: Big-Game Players. I know not everyone will agree but his success fills me with joy, because of his genius, his backstory and his sheer Pakistanness.
“Rob!” says Sahar Ahmed. “I’m sitting here all alone in Dublin of all places to be during what is turning out to be INSANITY AT ITS FINEST and I think I’m losing my mind! Bhangra dancing on my own in my studio flat with shoddy streaming on my laptop!”
6th over: India 21-2 (Dhawan 11, Yuvraj 5) Yuvraj, who has started pretty nervously, top-edges Junaid for four and is beaten outside off next ball. India bat really deep - they have Ashwin or Jadeja at No9 - so they shouldn’t panic yet. This, I realise, is easier said than done.
5th over: India 16-2 (Dhawan 10, Yuvraj 1) Dhawan gets the first boundaries of the innings, hooking Amir for four and then driving superbly through extra cover. He ends the over with a loose push that flies just wide of the diving Shadab at backward point. This is scorching stuff.
“People said I was mad when I said Pakistan can’t lose from here, back in over 28,” says Pete Salmon. “But who’s mad now – he who was called mad, or those who would call him so? Eh? Anyone else reading Foucault at the moment?”
I’m having a hard enough time dealing with Fakhar puns without you bringing Foucault into the conversation.
4th over: India 7-2 (Dhawan 1, Yuvraj 1) Pakistan. Pakistan. Two weeks ago they were marmalised by India, and looked like one of the worst Pakistan ODI teams in living memory. They sneaked into the semi-finals, where they demolished the hosts. Now they are all over the holders, with Junaid bowling an excellent maiden to Yuvraj.
3rd over: India 7-2 (Dhawan 1, Yuvraj 1) Amir bowled a majestic spell in the 2009 World T20 final, when Pakistan beat Sri Lanka, but this is off the scale: he has dismissed Rohit, had Kohli dropped and then got him next ball. After everything he has been through in England, this would be quite an update to his life story.
Kohli had been dropped at first slip, a simple chance to Azhar, but Amir just kept attacking the outside edge. Kohli tried to work to leg and got a leading edge to backward point, where Shadab took a simple catch. Pakistan’s cornered tigers are savaging India!
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WICKET! India 6-2 (Kohli c Shadab b Amir 3)
Mohammad Amir has dismissed Virat Kohli the ball after having him dropped! This is extraordinary. I can barely feel my fingers!
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2nd over: India 4-1 (Dhawan 1, Kohli 3) The left-armer Junaid Khan shares the new ball. He has some ODI record against Kohli - two runs, three wickets - and has two balls at him after a single from Dhawan. Kohli ignores the first and works the single for a single, taking his Junaid Average from 0.66 to 1.00.
“Hey Rob!” says Tim Cooper. “Spirits here in the Oxford University Club bar are very high, perhaps because they have Paulaner Hefe Dunkel on TAP!”
How much is a student pint these days? And do you they sell craft beers? When I was at university, our idea of a posh beer was Carlsberg Export.
1st over: India 2-1 (Dhawan 0, Kohli 2) Amir’s first ball cuts Kohli in half. This is a sensational tone-setting over from Amir. Replays show Rohit was right not to review that LBW - it pitched in line and would have hit the top of the stumps.
WICKET! India 0-1 (Rohit LBW b Amir 0)
Amir has returned to the side after missing the semi-final with a back spasm. He bowled a sensational first over to Rohit in the group stage, beating him three times I think. This time he’s got him! Rohit has gone third ball, LBW to a beautiful inswinger! That is a huge moment for two reasons: Rohit, who is averaging millions in this tournament, and Virat Kohli, who is averaging gazillions, is in against the new ball and his nemesis Junaid Khan. It was a peach from Amir, a classic left-armer’s dismissal. Rohit discussed a review with Dhawan, perhaps thinking it pitched outside leg, but decided against it.
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In the group match between these sides, Pakistan opened the bowling with the left-arm spinner Imad Wasim. I don’t think he’ll need to get loose for a while yet. Pakistan will surely attack India with left-arm pace in an attempt to get early wickets.
How are your nerves? You can email me on rob.smyth@theguardian.com about this, that or even the cricket.
Some lunchtime reading (and, er, looking)
The gallery is especially good.
Thanks Tim, hello all. At the start of this tournament, Pakistan and India thought they were competing for the Champions Trophy. Turns out there was something else on offer: immortality. Either Pakistan will win the tournament by beating India in the final, having gone from the ridiculous to the sublime in record time; or India will do so by chasing down 339 - a record in an ODI final - to beat Pakistan. Take the 2005 Ashes celebrations, multiply them by a thousand and you’re still nowhere near.
This is going to be immense. It’s already immense. And it will be settled by a contest between two irresistible forces – India’s batsmen and Pakistan’s bowlers. Virat Kohli, perhaps the greatest matchwinner in ODI history, and with an average of 253 in this tournament, could cement his legend today – or Hassan Ali, the revelation of the Champions Trophy along with Fakhar Zaman, could create his own. Whatever happens in the next 50 overs, we will be talking it for a long time, probably forever.
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End of innings: Pakistan make 338!
50th over: Pakistan 338-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 57, Imad Wasim 25) Hafeez, swapping elegance for cute force, smites a slower ball from Kumar back over his head for six. No more fireworks off the last few balls, but even so that’s a great effort from Pakistan. With their bowlers, and their mid-innings wiles, they should be able to defend this. But India have the stronger batting on paper, and the pitch is a belter, so it’s still anyone’s game. Stick around and Rob will talk you through the second half of the day. Thanks for reading, writing and cracking those rueful jokes. Here’s Nabeel Younas again: “Still waiting for them to self-explode. Guess I’ll have to wait a little longer ... On a slightly more serious note, the key is getting out Kohli before he gets going.” Absolutely.
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49th over: Pakistan 329-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 50, Imad Wasim 23) Bumrah hits the stumps – and the bails stay on! A reprieve for Hafeez, who jammed down too late on a yorker. The camera catches Kohli looking daggers at the gods, as well he may. Then there’s a free hit, which Hafeez on-drives for a couple, an da single in the same direction which takes him to a superb 50 off 34. This is now the highest score in the tournament. And then there’s another no-ball. Sloppy from Bumrah, though he does well to confine the damage from the free hit to a single.
An email turns up from Krishnamoorthy. “And talking about DC Boon, he used to remind me of the detective Thomson (or Thompson) of Tintin. Those were the days of the unfortunate Indian supporter, when Australia used to slaughter India regularly.” Not just India.
48th over: Pakistan 318-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 46, Imad Wasim 20) Kumar keeps the batsmen down to singles, but the 50 partnership comes up off only 31 balls. Imad tries a reverse hook, and gets a leg-bye off the elbow: painful, but effective. Only five off the over, as Kumar remains a beacon of excellence.
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47th over: Pakistan 313-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 44, Imad Wasim 18) Bumrah starts his over well, dealing in singles, but as so often today, Pakistan adapt and find the rope: Imad murders a perfectly decent slower ball through mid-off. He has 18 off 11.
ATB, representing Australia, picks up on our conversation from the 42nd over. “‘We need to know how many cans of lager he had on the flight over.’ Not as many as the Indian bowlers. :-)”
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46th over: Pakistan 304-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 41, Imad Wasim 12) Hafeez puts a faint blot on his copybook by turning a three into a two after slapping Kumar to the cover boundary. But this is spectacular batting. And Rob Smyth has a good spot for you. “Only twice has a team chased over 300 to win an ODI final, but both times it was India: Lord’s 2002 and Dhaka 1998, the latter against Pakistan.”
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300 up!
Hafeez does it the stylish way with another six, pulled over square leg, Ponting-style. And it was a slower ball from Kumar. Take that!
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45th over: Pakistan 294-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 32, Imad Wasim 11) Just when Jadhav’s round arm threatens to take the bounce and the fun out of the equation, Hafeez gets to the pitch and lofts him for six. And then Imad follows suit, with more of a low mow, but it’s six more. Hafeez has 32 off only 20 balls, and Pakistan are back in charge.
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44th over: Pakistan 278-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 24, Imad Wasim 3) Back comes Bumrah, and Hafeez tucks him for a silky four. Each time there has been a setback, the next man has stepped up: textbook team sport from Pakistan. And you can’t always say that.
Over on Twitter, ATB is back for more. “Just looked at the full scorecard. Umpire DC Boon. Our own David Boon an umpire! When did that happen?” Referee, technically, but point taken. We need to know how many cans of lager he had on the flight over.
43rd over: Pakistan 270-4 (Mohammad Hafeez 18, Imad Wasim 1) Sometimes a bit of round-arm filth is just what you need. Although, to be fair, Jadhav does bowl properly some of the time, and that over goes for only four.
Wicket! Babar c Yuvraj b Jadhav 46
Kohli goes back to Jadhav and a ploy that looked desperate turns out to be inspired, as Babar lofts him to long-off. Pakistan are 267-4 and India are hanging in there.
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42nd over: Pakistan 266-3 (Babar Azam 46, Mohammad Hafeez 15) Kumar finally takes some punishment as Hafeez pulls for four. The commentators reckon Sarfraz has sent him with a licence to hit.
An email arrives from Romeo. “Bhuvi [Kumar] is probably my favourite Indian cricketer, but Karachista/Selima [34th over] should know I am both neutral and enjoying a great game – but also supporting Pakistan.” It’s complicated.
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41st over: Pakistan 257-3 (Babar Azam 44, Mohammad Hafeez 9) The Jadhav experiment is cut short as Jadeja returns. Hafeez belts him for a straight four off his very first ball, an follows up with a delicate sweep for four more. The slow bowlers’ bill now stands at 144 off 19 overs. If Pakistan win, that will be the reason why.
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40th over: Pakistan 247-3 (Babar Azam 42, Mohammad Hafeez 0) An exemplary over from Kumar, who now has 1-11 off six.
A tweet lands from Ebly Pamplemousse. “You’re forgetting India’s unerring ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. As such, the match can go either way.” Right now, they are snatching respectability from the jaws of humiliation.
Wicket! Shoaib c Jadhav b Kumar 12
Kumar ties Shoaib down, so he tries to break free with a tennis smash, which just goes up in the air. Jadhav takes a redemptive catch and Pakistan are 247-3.
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39th over: Pakistan 246-2 (Babar Azam 42, Shoaib Malik 12) Kohli, in a tight corner, turns to Kedar Jadhav and his amateurish round-arm – allegedly off-breaks, but surely not spinning. Shoaib marks the occasion by removing his helmet. Jadhav concedes a row of singles, which is fine, and two wides, which is mildly unforgivable.
38th over: Pakistan 239-2 (Babar Azam 39, Shoaib Malik 10) Babar slaps a four through backward point, and then surpasses himself with a flick off the hip for four more. “Shot of the day so far,” says Shane Warne, which is high praise. Babar, who inched to 11 off his first 23 balls, has 28 off 19 since the fall of Fakhar’s wicket. This may be the morning of Sarfraz Ahmed’s dreams.
Ian Copestake is back at us. “Ashwin has clearly not heeded the lesson to be learned from a certain pool scene in Caddyshack, namely that no good will ever come of floaters.”
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37th over: Pakistan 227-2 (Babar Azam 28, Shoaib Malik 10) Kohli brings back Jadeja, and Shoaib Malik comes to the party with a six, launched over long-off. India’s spinners, both fine bowlers, have gone for 127 off 17 overs.
36th over: Pakistan 216-2 (Babar Azam 25, Shoaib Malik 2) Tidy again from Pandya, but then Babar plays a front-foot pull for four, which draws applause from Kohli. Good shot, sporting response. Babar is stepping up here, just as Fakhar did.
A tweet arrives from Benjamin Parker. “With Fakhar gone, I reckon Pakistan are just as likely to be 280 all out as reaching 350.”
35th over: Pakistan 209-2 (Babar Azam 18, Shoaib Malik 2) Cometh the hour, cometh the Babar: an elegant tuck off Bumrah, and that’s Babar’s first four, off his 27th ball. At the other end Pandya has 1-34 off eight overs, excellent going in the circumstances.
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34th over: Pakistan 202-2 (Babar Azam 12, Shoaib Malik 1) So Pandya has a wicket, the first by an Indian bowler today. A fine over, and a sudden problem for Pakistan: Babar has been tentative, and Shoaib is rusty. Sky’s score predictor is saying 324, which seems too high to me.
Meanwhile, Karachista (between the 31st and 32nd overs) has decided to drop her alias. “You just made my day my mentioning me on #OBO,” she tweets, “and my real name is Salima.” So that may have made her day all over again.
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Wicket! Fakhar c Jadeja b Pandya 114
Fakhar finally takes one risk too many, slogging Pandya over point, where Jadeja takes a fine catch running back. That should be the turning-point Kohli was praying for. Pakistan are 200-2.
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33rd over: Pakistan 200-1 (Fakhar Zaman 114, Babar Azam 11) Ashwin continues – is this blind faith from Kohli? It feels like it as Fakhar clears his front leg out of the way and swings a slog-sweep for six. That’s the 200 up, and the fourth fifty took only 41 balls. Ashwin takes his cap with 0-70 off his ten overs. Spell-check wanted to call him Ashen just then, which is spot on.
32nd over: Pakistan 191-1 (Fakhar Zaman 106, Babar Azam 10) Pakistan have been winning matches with their mid-innings bowling. Here they are threatening to win one with their mid-innings batting. The curious thing is that India’s seamers have bowled well, with plenty of dots. Pandya keeps on asking the right questions, and Fakhar sometimes gives the wrong answer – charging down the track just now and mis-hitting to midwicket, but not in the air so he gets away with it. His edges tend to be bottom or inside edges, and that has saved his skin a few times.
An email from Karachista, which may not be their real name. “Peter Salmon [28th over] does realise he’s talking about Pakistan, right? As unpredictable as a British summer. Anything could happen.” For what it’s worth, the sun is looking very settled in the sky.
31st over: Pakistan 186-1 (Fakhar Zaman 103, Babar Azam 8) After running out his mate, Fakhar had to make amends – and he already has, by accelerating at just the moment when he might have gone into his shell. He made a nervous start, but the nineties were absolutely nerveless. That’s drinks, with Pakistan rampant. Kohli now has one job: to get Fahkar out.
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Hundred! To Fakhar Zaman
A sweep off Ashwin, and that is a fabulous hundred on the biggest stage, off only 92 balls. What a Zaman.
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30th over: Pakistan 179-1 (Fakhar Zaman 96, Babar Azam 8) Panda hits the same and beats Babar, who has been batting like it’s 1983. The dots are suddenly piling up. Will Fakhar let it get to him? I rather doubt it. He nicks the strike, cannily, with a leg-bye. If you double the 30-over score, you get carnage.
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29th over: Pakistan 176-1 (Fakhar Zaman 95, Babar Azam 7) Kohli keeps Ashwin on, which is quite a show of faith, and it’s repaid as Ashwin finally keeps it tight. Even so, the two spinners have gone for exactly 100 off their 14 overs. That would not have happened if England had beaten Pakistan on Wednesday.
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28th over: Pakistan 175-1 (Fakhar Zaman 94, Babar Azam 7) This time Fakhar gets lucky, feathering a hook off Panda that goes just over Dhoni’s outstretched glove for four. Fakhar’s last 39 runs have come off 20 balls, which is a match-winning rate. And still the Grauniad’s spell-check wants to call him Faker.
“Right,” says Peter Salmon. “I’m calling it. There is no way Pakistan can lose from here. No way at all.” Brave, minister, very brave.
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27th over: Pakistan 167-1 (Fakhar Zaman 89, Babar Azam 4) Fakhar is on fire. He lifts Ashwin for six over long-on, then eases a drive for three through the covers, and finishes off with a late cut for four more. This partnership is worth 39 already and Babar has four of them. Poor old Ashwin may have to be taken out of the attack: he has 0-53 off seven overs.
A tweet arrives from ATB down under. “Enjoying the live coverage, thanks. Game isn’t on TV here in Australia.” That seems extraordinary. The ICC puts the TV audience today at 366 million.
26th over: Pakistan 150-1 (Fakhar Zaman 76, Babar Azam 2) Fakhar has made up his mind: he’s going to keep on hitting. He lofts Jadeja for a straight six, then flays him for a square four and rounds off the over by melding those two strokes, with a dancing lofted cover-drive for four more. That’s the 150 up. Great stuff.
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25th over: Pakistan 134-1 (Fakhar Zaman 61, Babar Azam 1) Fakhar gets the scoreboard ticking again. He has to decide whether to change his game here and hold the show together, as Azhar would have done. The perfect dilemma for Fathers’ Day.
“Morning,” says Damian Clarke. picking up on Simon Bogli’s line from the 20th over. “...‘a father’s classical qualities, ie. steadiness, reliability, trustworthiness...’ Thanks for that. Funniest quote I’ll read today, and I’m speaking as a father.”
24th over: Pakistan 129-1 (Fakhar Zaman 57, Babar Azam 0) Jadeja, seizing his chance like Scrooge on Christmas Day, rattles off some miserly dots. Fakhar manages a single off the last ball. He owes his team big-time now.
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23rd over: Pakistan 128-1 (Fakhar Zaman 56, Babar Azam 0) Ashwin returns, persists with that leg-stump line, and finds no joy – until Pakistan opt for a spot of hara kiri. Game on.
Wicket! Azhar run out 59
Well, that was coming. Azhar clips to leg and sets off, Fakhar doesn’t and when Azhar turns back, he has no chance. To add insult to self-harm, there was a run there. Pakistan are 128-1.
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22nd over: Pakistan 125-0 (Azhar Ali 58, Fakhar Zaman 54) Jadeja, who twice gave Fakhar too much width in his last over, now does the same for Azhar, who helps himself to a four and a two. Kohli must be thinking about losing his cool.
And here comes Ian Copestake. “I was worried this would not be much of a match-up, given Pakistan only physically turned up in the first meeting. But this is tasty.”
21st over: Pakistan 118-0 (Azhar Ali 52, Fakhar Zaman 53) Pandya, who’s been testing, beats Azhar as he swats at a bouncer. Only four off the over, but this is a handosme platform.
20th over: Pakistan 114-0 (Azhar Ali 50, Fakhar Zaman 51) Fakhar, who’s been getting restless, finds relief by cutting Jadeja for four, to the strangely vacant cover-sweeper zone. Azhar hurdles to leg and reaches a fine fifty. Fakhar then trumps him with another cut for four. That’s his third successive fifty, just when Pakistan needed it.
An email from Simon Bogli. “It’s ironic that the game is on Father’s Day as a father’s classical qualities, ie. steadiness, reliability, trustworthiness, are entirely lacking in Pakistan’s modern cricket, both on and off the field.” A grain of truth there, but also a whiff of one of a Victorian father’s qualities: a tendency to be a little harsh.
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19th over: Pakistan 103-0 (Azhar Ali 48, Fakhar Zaman 42) Pandya bowls a length ball outside off – once a stock ball, now a wily variation – and Fakhar is so surprised that he misses it by a full bat’s width. Then he takes a single, and India finally hit the stumps, with a dead-eye throw from Jadeja, but this time Fakhar is well in. Sod’s law is bearing down on India today.
18th over: Pakistan 100-0 (Azhar Ali 46, Fakhar Zaman 41) Jadeja continues, Azhar takes an easy single into the covers, and that’s Pakistan’s highest opening stand against India in an ICC tournament. Fakhar celebrates by using his feet and slog-chipping a four to wide mid-on. That’s the hundred up, but India are by no means out of this: they’ve bowled well apart from the wides, and one wicket may well bring two.
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17th over: Pakistan 93-0 (Azhar Ali 44, Fakhar Zaman 36) Azhar, tied down by Pandya, tries to hit him for six and just skies it, safely, over the covers. “Come off the sticker!” scoffs Shane Warne. And that’s drinks. The morning belongs to these two opening batsmen, who have ridden their luck, run like idiots, and reeled off some glorious shots.
“Evening Tim,” says our old friend Phil Withall. “There seems to be a reserved and clinical mindset from Pakistan today. Fully focused and very content to build. It’s a little like Smyth building someone up before crushing them with a remorseless retort. I fancy them to get 350 plus.” That would be routine for the Oval, but still immense in a final. Not so sure about the clinical bit: have you seen the running?
16th over: Pakistan 90-0 (Azhar Ali 42, Fakhar Zaman 35) Yet another bowling change as Ravindra Jadeja replaces Ashwin. The batsmen do a little light milking. Still no sign of turn, which will bother India more than Pakistan, with their non-spinning spinners.
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14th over: Pakistan 86-0 (Azhar Ali 40, Fakhar Zaman 33) Hardik Pandya comes on and instantly appeals for LBW against Azhar. It’s the back leg, and thus a bit high. Hawkeye suggests it would have hit, but only the bail, so a review wouldn’t have worked. Faker hooks, handsomely, and only gets a single. He needs to keep calm and carry on here, not get frustrated. Agar shows the way by waiting for some width and upper-cutting for four.
The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army rings out. It seems to be becoming the national anthem of the whole world.
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14th over: Pakistan 78-0 (Azhar Ali 35, Fakhar Zaman 31) A better over from Ashwin brings a false stroke from Fakhar, who tries a reverse sweep for no reason at all and doesn’t get hold of it.
13th over: Pakistan 74-0 (Azhar Ali 33, Fakhar Zaman 29) Pakistan go back to getting them in singles, rather shakily, and Bumrah bowls yet another wide. One team is giving away extras, the other is offering run-out chances. We’ve all played in games like this.
12th over: Pakistan 69-0 (Azhar Ali 31, Fakhar Zaman 27) Ashwin continues. He has a slip, which Ricky Ponting, on commentary, feels is a waste as Ashwin is pushing it through on leg stump, like the ghost of Eddie Hemmings. It works for a bit but then Fakhar dances down the track and clips him for a nonchalant four to midwicket. A streaky start is turning into a formidable one.
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11th over: Pakistan 63-0 (Azhar Ali 30, Fakhar Zaman 22) Kohli brings back Bumrah, so the double entendre is on again. But the most likely source of a wicket may be a run-out, as Azhar takes an unwise single to Kohli, who misses the stumps. Fakhar plays a straight push for four, which shows (a) he’s got his eye in at last and (b) there are bags of runs in this pitch. There’s then an lbw appeal against Azhar, but it’s too high to interest Richard Kettleborough, the only Englishman out there today.
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10th over: Pakistan 56-0 (Azhar Ali 29, Fakhar Zaman 16) Ashwin continues, tries a quicker one, and gets swept for four by Azhar. First blood to Pakistan, which is just what the neutral ordered.
An email arrived about half an hour ago from Scott Thomas. “The glamour of elite sport writ large for all to see, there.” I wondered what he was referring to. “Just thought it was funny that the stage etc. for the presentation later on was out by the bins, towed by a hire van with some official-looking sign hastily stuck to it.”
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9th over: Pakistan 48-0 (Azhar Ali 23, Fakhar Zaman 14) Kumar restores order again, mixing it up with bouncers and slower balls to Fakhar. Another maiden: he has gone for only 10 off his five overs. But Pakistan can afford it.
8th over: Pakistan 48-0 (Azhar Ali 23, Fakhar Zaman 14) Searching for a wicket, Kohli goes slow, in the normally reassuring shape of Ravi Ashwin. This reduces the chances of Fakhar getting out to Bumrah, which would have been a thrill for lovers of schoolboy humour. Ashwin bowls two wides, the fifth and sixth of the day already, and then concedes the first six. Well played Azhar.
Six!
Kohli turns to spin and Azhar launches Ashwin over mid-off – not just the first six of the day, but the first big shot to go anywhere straight. Advantage Pakistan.
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7th over: Pakistan 38-0 (Azhar Ali 16, Fakhar Zaman 13) Kumar restores order, by the simple method of bowling straight and tucking Fakhar up. But, so far, it’s been Pakistan’s morning, if only because they’ve got away with mayhem.
6th over: Pakistan 36-0 (Azhar Ali 15, Fakhar Zaman 12) Azhar plays an upper cut off Bumrah, the very model of a calculated risk, and gets four. Then he tries a slog, as bad as Fakhar’s in the last over, and clean misses. But he recovers with a cultured nudge through square leg. In setting out their stall, Pakistan are trying to show us all their wares in one go: the good, the bad and the ugly.
5th over: Pakistan 27-0 (Azhar Ali 7, Fakhar Zaman 12) Fakhar continues to live dangerously, hooking too late at Kumar’s bouncer and taking it on the side of the helmet. He seems none the worse for it, and even gets four leg byes. Then he gives Kumar the charge and plays a blind slog. It’s a stroke from club cricket, but it brings four through square leg. Has the tide turned already?
4th over: Pakistan 19-0 (Azhar Ali 7, Fakhar Zaman 8) Well, well. Fakhar falls for the one slanted across him, but escapes because Bumrah overstepped. Facing the free hit, he manages to nutmeg himself. He then gets his first boundary – off the inside edge, like his first run. Finally, there’s a proper attacking shot, as Azhar latches on to a short one and pulls it for four. A big over, 12 from it.
An email comes in from Nabeel Younas. “Feeling a little apprehensive already with Pakistan batting first.” Don’t blame you. “They usually go into their shell, unable to know a decent first score. Minimum of 300 needed for even a chance, but they need to stay positive throughout the innings which they just struggle to do, especially through a lack of regular singles.” That hasn’t been the problem so far. But still, no wickets yet.
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Reprieve!
Fakhar was on his way, nicking Bumrah... but it was a no-ball. Pakistan are 9-0 when they should be 8-1.
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3rd over: Pakistan 7-0 (Azhar Ali 3, Fakhar Zaman 3) Azhar edges Kumar, but safely, through the vacant gully. Kohli should surely have four catchers, not two. Fakhar takes a quick single and would be gone if the cover fielder had hit from eight yards. Jittery stuff from Pakistan, but they survive.
2nd over: Pakistan 3-0 (Azhar Ali 1, Fakhar Zaman 1) Jasprit Bumrah opens from the Vauxhall end, all arms and angles. He starts with a full toss and appeals for lbw against Fakhar, which is optimistic. The scoring is opened by a wide, and the first run from the bat is an inside edge. Pakistan have begun so timidly, they’ll probably end up winning. But when Azhar gets a run, it’s a solid one, pushed into the on side.
1st over: Pakistan 0-0 (Azhar Ali 0, Fakhar Zaman 0) The first ball is bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and it’s very English – a classic outswinger, too wide to bother Azhar Ali. Martin Bicknell would have begun like that. Kumar follows up with a couple angling in, which Azhar blocks. When he tries a drive or two, he finds the men in the ring. A maiden!
If you’d like to see highlights of India’s last game, the semi-final against Bangladesh, you’ve come to the right place.
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A minute's silence
For the victims of all the terrible events in cricket nations over the past few weeks, from the floods in Sri Lanka to the fire in the Grenfell Tower in London. The silence is immaculately observed, and followed by dignified applause.
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Your reading list
Not up to speed on the history of this fixture? Dileep Premachandran has a scene-setter that is more like a highlights reel.
Not up to speed on the way the 2017 Champions Trophy has gone? Have a look at this.
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Toss: India bowl first
Viral Kohli wins the toss and gets the first big cheer of the day. He opts to bowl, not (he says) because the chasing side keeps winning, but because it’s a fresh pitch and he thinks there might be something in it for the bowlers.
India are unchanged. Pakistan, as expected, recall Mohammad Amir, presumably at the expense of his handy understudy, Rumman Raees. “They’re gonna need 300,” says Shane Warne, which seems a fair shout. But remember– they can win with 109. Cornered tigers!
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Preamble: the big one
Morning everyone, and welcome to the big one. Yes, it’s Fathers’ Day here in Britain. In fact, this really is the big one – the final of many fans’ dreams, and of every administrator’s. It’s the first time a major cricket tournament has ever culminated in the biggest local derby in the whole of sport.
It’s India v Pakistan. It’s also superstars v journeymen, overlords v underdogs, well-oiled machinery v something more mercurial, and, broadly speaking, batsmen v bowlers. Pakistan have Azhar Mahmood, who only retired five minutes ago, as their bowling coach, and he has a theory about this. “My theory is: batsmen win you games, bowlers win you tournaments.” It was true when Pakistan won the World Cup under Imran Khan, blowing away a hefty England batting line-up.
It was also true when India and Pakistan, featuring some of the players we will see today, met in the Under-19 World Cup final in 2005-06. Pakistan batted first and scraped together only 109 off 41 overs. But then they reduced India to 9-6, and ended up winning by 38 runs. Pakistan’s captain that day was Sarfraz Ahmed, who leads them out this morning. He’s already made one good move in the past 24 hours, entrusting his baby son to his opposite number with the gloves, MS Dhoni. He’s a keeper.
The last eight matches in the Champions Trophy have been won by the team batting second, so the best thing that can happen this morning is for India to have to bat first. If Sarfraz does put them in, the risk he’ll be running is that the Oval pitch is a road and India pile up 400, about half of them to Virat Kohli, who has yet to be out once he has got off the mark. But it’s a risk worth taking, in the hope that Pakistan’s incisive left-armers, and intriguing non-spinning spinners, can do some early damage. The English weather, knowing when it’s beaten, is unlikely to get in the way.
It’s No.3 in the world against No.7, say the ICC rankings. But then they think South Africa are the tops. In reality, it’s the world’s best one-day team against a side that (cliche alert) can beat anybody on their day. England were favourites to lift this trophy until Pakistan saw them off, very comfortably, on Wednesday. Pakistan are in much better shape than when they lost heavily to India two weeks ago. There’s a decent chance that tonight they’re gonna party like it’s 1992. But India are the favourites. Viral Kohli has yet to be out in this tournament once he has got off the mark. The man deals only in ducks and dominance. To infinity and beyond.
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Tim will be here shortly. But in the meantime, here’s some pre-match reading, from Dileep Premachandran …
… and Barney Ronay …
… and Ali Martin …
… and Vic Marks.
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