They rose and conquered the World; the phrase can rightly be directed towards Pakistan Cricket Team which kicked off its campaign in ICC Champions Trophy 2017 from no where but made its exit as ‘Champions’.
Either it was a revenge or tit-for-tat Pakistan completely demolished India in the Final of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 at The Oval on Sunday, snatching the Champions Trophy title from Virat Kohli’s men who had earlier thrashed the same opposition in inaugural match of group stage.
It was Pakistan’s day at The Oval as green shirts outclassed India in all departments, and even invincible-considered Indian batting collapsed like a pack of cards, allowing Pakistan to seal 180-run victory – the biggest ever against India in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Pakistan lift the #CT17 Trophy! pic.twitter.com/X4pCzvPypV
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017
Hot favorites and quiet over confident India put Pakistan into bat whose top order kept dominance from the beginning as their openers established the second successive 100 plus partnership. When the score was 128, Azhar Ali got run out on 59.
His partner Fakhar Zaman not only scored his third consecutive 50s in the tournament but also became first Pakistani batsman to score a Century in the final of an ICC event. He hit three sixes and 12 fours prior to being caught on 114.
Later Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik also fell on 46 and 12 respectively but it was Muhammad Hafeez who along with Imad Wasim took the Score to 338 in stipulated 50 overs. Their individual score remained 57 and 25 runs without losing wickets.
In a run of Chasing the Highest Total ever set in ICC Champions Trophy, Indian batting lineup plunged courtesy of Muhammad Amir’s three early wickets. Three best batsmen of India including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan returned to pavilion off Muhammad Amir’s bowling.
Only Hardik Pandya smashed Pakistani bowlers and scored 76 runs off just 43 balls with 6 sixes before getting run out.
In the end, India were all out for 158 runs, letting Pakistan to seal 180-run victory – the biggest in ICC tournament finals (in 50-over games) and third biggest in ICC Champions Trophy.
From Pakistan, Muhammad Amir and Hassan Ali bagged 3 wickets each, Shadab Khan 2 while Junaid Khan took 1 wicket.
Hassan Ali was named Player of the Series, and he also received golden ball award for taking 13 wickets, most among bowlers in the tournament.
Golden Ball winner ✅
Player of the Tournament ✅The man of the moment, Hassan Ali! 👏#INDvPAK #CT17 pic.twitter.com/yR5e4fPrmk
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017
With their maiden victory, Pakistan became the sixth team to win the ICC Champions Trophy and third after India and West Indies to have won all three ICC events (World Cup, T20 World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy).
Cricket World Cup ✅
World Twenty20 ✅
Champions Trophy ✅Pakistan’s trophy cabinet is complete! 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/DRfEBm66uT
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017
COAS watching historic winning moments of cricket match. pic.twitter.com/VmztNCrUYn
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) June 18, 2017
Congratulations 🇵🇰 on a wonderful performance today. Absolutely brilliant with both bat and ball. #CT17winners🏏
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) June 18, 2017
Congrats Pakistan on a wonderful victory. To @imVkohli & your team, well played through the tournament & well spoken after the game #CT17 !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) June 18, 2017
Congrats Pakistan on winning the #CT17 While they were a lot of brilliant performers the way Sarfaraz captained impressed me the most👍
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) June 18, 2017
Brilliant from Pakistan! Embraced aggression, freedom in play. Youth and experience all stood up on the biggest stage! Great scenes.
— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) June 18, 2017
Wow wow wow unbelievable performance by team green. It feels like deja’vu after winning the 1992 WCup. I am over the moon #PakistanZindabad
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) June 18, 2017
Congratulations Pakistan. Exceptional performance in the final today. #CT17
— Steve Smith (@stevesmith49) June 18, 2017
This performance will be remembered long by both Indian and Pakistani fans 🙂 Pakistan ‘ve made this #CT17 truly memorable
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 18, 2017
The biggest thing on display today is @TheRealPCB‘s heart. They played with courage and belief. Just an incredible performance by Pakistan
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 18, 2017
Pakistan have been unbelievable today! Always manage to produce talented players and performances in big tournaments. 👏🏼
— Moeen Ali (@MoeenAli) June 18, 2017
Pakistan triumphs are always very special because they come against extreme odds. Well done Pakistan cricket ! 👏👏👏#CT17
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 18, 2017
Congratulations Pakistan on a really comprehensive victory today. Well played, deserved winners and a great result for Pakistan cricket.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 18, 2017
Inconsistent first class structure .. No home games for 10 yrs .. No expensive Academies .. Now #CHAMPIONS Pakistan …#CT17
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 18, 2017
Congratulations Pakistan 🇵🇰 #CT17 Champions 🏆
— Carlos Brathwaite (@TridentSportsX) June 18, 2017
Wow congrulations to Pakistan on winning the #ct17 no one gave them a chance, but here they are well deserve Champions.. #PakistanZindabad
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) June 18, 2017
#CT2017 @TheRealPCB @BCCI watta wonderful business end tournament! Capped off by an extraordinary Pakistan victory 👏 Congrats green machine
— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66) June 18, 2017
I was hoping a team in green and gold would win. Seems there was a mix up in countries though 😉
Well done Pakistan, congrats Mickey— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 18, 2017
Wow what a win by Pakistan. Congratulations. 🙏.
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) June 18, 2017
A huge congrats to the Pakistan Cricket Team for winning the 2017 Champions Trophy. An incredible achievement#championstrophy
— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) June 18, 2017
Congrats @TheRealPCB amazing performance, well played @BCCI for back to back finals #CT17Final #PAKvIND #cricketisthewinner #champions🇵🇰
— Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23) June 18, 2017
