Virat Kohli Smashes India to Victory in Last Ball Thriller

Indian captain Virat Kohli scored 82 from just 57 balls to help his team chase down Pakistan’s total of 230/8, in what was one of the best games of the tournament so far, as India won by 3 wickets with just two balls to spare. This victory gives India their first win in this year’s World Cup, after losing their first two matches against England and South Africa by big margins.

The game was intense :-

India's middle order batsman Virat Kohli starred with a spectacular 82 and became the first Indian player to score a fifty plus score in Australia. In an intense match, Pakistan managed 9-246 off 50 overs but with just three balls remaining, Virat Kohli smashed the ball for 6 and followed it up by taking two wickets, winning the match for his team. The last ball thriller was attended by 90,293 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The pitch was difficult :-

Pakistan's new-ball bowlers, Hassan Ali and Mohammad Amir, proved too difficult to handle for India's batting line-up. They bowled full and straight with a potent late inswinger that found the edge of Shikhar Dhawan's bat and was taken at slip by Shadab Khan.

There were some huge shots by both teams :-

Pakistan was cruising at the start of their innings, with opening batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq looking very comfortable against the Indian bowling attack. But it all changed when Mohammad Amir was introduced into the attack. Amir produced a moment of magic by producing a slower ball which caught both batsmen off guard, resulting in an easy catch for wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

When Kohli decided he would win :-

The pressure was on for Virat Kohli and he knew it. With his team needing 8 runs off 3 balls, Virat decided that he would do anything it took to win. He started with a six, but Pakistan's captain wasn't going to give up without a fight. He fought back with two dot balls before conceding a single, bringing the score to 2 off 1 ball.

A knock worthy of winning any game :-

With the match evenly poised and both teams vying for a spot at the top of the table, Virat Kohli stepped up and smashed an unbeaten 82 off 48 deliveries. His innings included six fours and five sixes before he was dismissed on a full delivery. Although his innings only lasted seven overs, it was still enough to propel India into victory.