ICC Champions trophy: Sluggish batting restricts Pakistan to 241 against India

DUBAI: Batting first against India in the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan were bowled out for 241 runs. Despite not losing crucial wickets, Pakistan batsmen struggled to bring in runs against a tightly ordered Indian bowling lineup.

The bowlers led by Kuldeep Yadav kept Pakistan at bay. At one point, it seemed like the team score would go well past 280, but the bowlers ramped up work to thwart any late batting fireworks. Openers Babar Azam 23(26) and Imam ul Haq 10(26) started the innings cautiously. Babar took a boundary off the first ball of the ninth over bowled by Hardik Pandya but got dismissed in the very next ball.

In the next over, Axar Patel's lightning throw sent Haq back to the pavilion. In the third wicket, Saud Shakeel 62(76) - Captain Mohammad Rizwan 46(77) partnership bolstered the prospects of Pakistan and took the team slowly into the safe zone.

After this, Khushdil Shah managed 38(39) while Salman Ali Agha 19(24), Tayyab Tahir 4(6) and Shaheen Shah Afridi 0(1) could not hold on. Naseem Shah scored 14(16) runs, Harris Rauf scored 8(7) runs while spinner Abrar Ahmed remained unbeaten.

Except for Mohammad Shami, every other Indian bowler managed a wicket. Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets. Hardik Pandya took two wickets while Harshit Rana, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.

A win in the match would seal India's semi-final and knock Pakistan out of the tournament. If the result is a loss, the match against New Zealand will become crucial for India.