T20 warm-up: Kamran, Malik lift Pakistan over India
Pakistan, chasing India's commanding 185-3, appeared to be out of contention when they lost five wickets by the 12th over with just 91 runs on the board at the Premadasa stadium.
But Akmal and former captain Shoaib Malik turned the game around with a brilliant unbroken stand of 95 off 46 balls that helped Pakistan beat the shell-shocked Indians with five balls to spare.
Akmal plundered six sixes, including the winning shot off seamer Irfan Pathan which sailed over the cover fence. Malik remained unbeaten on 37 off 18 balls.
Virat Kohli had earlier top-scored for India with 75 not out, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets for 23 runs.
Some 3,000 Sri Lankan fans watched the arch-rivals battle out in the middle in the only warm-up match to be beamed live by the host broadcasters of the World Twenty20 that opens on Tuesday.
"We knew that if India could post a huge total, so could we," said Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez. "Kamran was exceptional, and Malik's experience also helped."
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the batting worked well, but the bowlers needed to contain runs on the easy-paced wickets.
"It was not really a bad game for us," he said. "We have got to work on a few things with our bowling."
India and Pakistan are drawn in different groups for the preliminary league, but are seeded to meet in the Super Eights round in Colombo on September 30.
In other matches, England beat Australia by nine runs, Ireland pipped Bangladesh by five runs, the West Indies slammed Afghanistan by eight wickets and South Africa overcame New Zealand by nine runs.
Reigning champions England piled up 172-6 after being sent in to bat, with opener Alex Hales top-scoring with 52 off 38 balls. Luke Wright hit a 29-ball 35 and Eoin Morgan scored a brisk 30 from 16 balls.
Australia managed only 163-6 in reply against the tight England bowling despite a polished 71 off 51 balls from Michael Hussey, who hit five sixes.
England, who take on Afghanistan in their opening match in Colombo on Friday, play another practice match against Pakistan on Wednesday.
A middle-order collapse saw Bangladesh go down to Ireland despite Shakib Al Hasan's hurricane 52 from 23 balls that was studded with three fours and five sixes.
Ireland made 164-6 after being asked to take first strike, with Paul Stirling hitting a 41-ball 71 with five fours and as many sixes. Ed Joyce scored 39 from 36 balls.
Shakib and Tamim Iqbal (35) took Bangladesh to a comfortable 105-2, before four wickets fell for 21 runs to allow Ireland to bounce back.
West Indies opener Chris Gayle warmed up for the tournament with an unbeaten 65 off 48 balls as the West Indies eased past Afghanistan's modest 122-7 in the 16th over.
New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor hammered seven sixes in an unbeaten 75 from 42 balls, but could not prevent South Africa from carving out a nine-run victory.
South Africa rode on captain AB de Villiers' 54 to make 186-6 before four wickets from Dale Steyn restricted the Black Caps to 177-8.
You can view a slideshow of pictures from the match here.
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COMMENTS (88)
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@Sania: Shoaib has performed well in the practice match against India as per script given to him by Sania but just watch out his performance against India in tournament matches.
@antanu g:
So you are the same Bangladeshi immigrant who lives in India but, hates India? Are you in a position to teach us "secularism" and other values?
Shoaib Malik only performs against India, there will always be something weird about it :)
We won but we should not forgot that whenever pakistan won the lost their consistency in the very next match.
We surprised everyone as usual, great team, let's show the world there's more to us than meets the eye!!!!!!!!
@nitish: U r not indian. No two ways about it.
@Pakboy: U deserve only warmups!!
@Indian: Whether it warm up or not, It was Pakistan vs india match. You got that?
India has won recent world cups I.e. 2007, 2011 and recently under 19 by beating Pakistan. So it had 'it' factor along with jubilation of winning world cup. But of course, yesterday, although it is warm up match, it is first time that Pakistan has won world cup related match against India. I hope they continue to play with full sportsman spirit and hope no controversy and big comments like big & small hearts
Shahid afridi is now a liability unless he improves his batting and comes higher up the order
Lets hope we get to this type of performance in actual tournament.
I can totally see this Pakistani team win the T20 warmup world cup.
@Someone:
He's a good T20 batsman, in terms of style he is what Shahid Afridi should be (Afridi is more of a hype-generating brand name than a cricketer now). But he still has to work on his wicketkeeping.
so malik done the trick with kamran mallik and plzzz never under estimate the out form bats and bowler.....caz if they are out of form then they try to come in form forcefully@Omar:
YES YES WE DID IT we Pakistanis can do anything. we chased such a high target well done to kamran akmal pakistan zindadbad keep it up boys
Well batted Akmal. just loved his shot selection. Hope we always have Indo-Pak matches without any controversies. Hope to see you in Finals against us :-) Congrats Guys.
Khalas! We dont need to play the worldcup now, we got the cup:)
Indian Team exposed badly by Pakistan... Indians cannot defend any total, they have 100 yrs old bowlers still playing and there is no youth replacing them... IPL is only producing scandals , bad attitudes and Lust for Money...!
@Obaidullah:
And you lost straight 8-0 in test matches. Most of your victories occurs in Asian team. India is hardly a threat outsides Asian pitches. Pakistan is not that great either but believe me, India is way over rated team. Enough said!
@THE: we won the senior world cup, we won the under 19 world cup, we won the odi series against nz etc and yet you believe that pakistan is doing better than india. You are brainwashed my brother.!!
As per survey, Pakistan is going to lift the cup whereas England, Australia, Sri lanka and other lower ranked teams are just out of this tournament and should be giving walk over to Pakistan.
Great. I wish we had couple of FAST bowlers. Is it too late to include Junaid Khan for the WC? I bet he is better than any of the fast bowlers in the team at the moment.
Congrats Pakistan
Shahid Bhai-take a break with Pepsi and Fight against Polio! Umar Akmal- still immature, should be left out, no big hero against India-ever.
good cricket my team green. we never thought if Pakistan could chase such a huge target but match between India and Pakistan is never predictable. Enjoy Pakistan and Indian Fans and good wishes for the future matches.
unbelieveable that the ET moderation teams lets through as comments.
There should be some sort of control...... its a newspaper, not a BLOG website or youtube?
Well done Pakistan, congratulations. However, Pakistan winning the practice match would surely pump up India for the tournament matches to take revenge of this defeat.
@ Pakistanis, this is warm up match. We will dust you in real competition.
Sania Mirza is in trouble now, Shoaib performed against India! Shoaib gets ready, Bhabhi is furious.
practise matches CAN'T be fixed HENCE WE WON!
@ET: If you can publish "nitish" hate filled comments, then you can also publish my polite reply.
@Morons: Yep, do you only say that when India looses? Let us enjoy this victory, don't be too negative, it's not everyday that our team successfully chases 186 in a T20, let alone any format of cricket!!
It was a Dama Dum mast Qalandar for Team Green especially by Mr. Kamran, Malik, Hafeez & Ajmal. . If Pakistan require more power and depth in Bat & Bowl they require following changes: Kick Out Sami and Replace with Junaid Khan. Kick Out Umar Akmal and Replace with Asad Shafiq. Trust Me its for better cause! Umar Akmal last Six Month performance in any format for not high enough for his place in any format of cricket, send him to First Class Cricket or County for improvement PCB.
@nitish: Thank you for being honest about your feelings! Thank you for not chanting the slogans of your false secularism. Reading your comments, I feel so good about my grand parents leaving India in 1947 and proud to be a Pakistani!!
P.S: Would you kindly tell the same to the muslim members of the Indian team or maybe they are reminded of people like you everyday!!
Congrats team Pak! Akmal and Shoaib batted really well. And the Indian bowlers were totally clueless toward the end. Cheers from across the border.
HUH?? This win has warmed up the fans more then the players..
I congrats all muslims including from india for their win......
@Ali, Australia: She's answered that one before!!
@Ali, Australia: Question itself is the answer.Nevertheless we dont consider muslims as indian.They r burden for us.
Kamran Akmal probably surprised his own family!! He's played a Gem of an innings today and I think justified his selection in the side. Malik also played very nicely but I still have doubts about him, I think he only plays well against his sustallis... !! :)
It was great warm-up and I am sure both teams know much more about the wickets in Sri Lanka and the capacity of their bowling attack.
Well done Pakistan!!! Wonderful knock by Kamran Akmal...
@Omar
Boy did u speak too soon LOL
@ zalim Singh Consolation speech FROM Pakistan!
Oustanding display by Kamran and Shoaib to rescue a win which looked unlikely after quickfire wickets in the middle order. Kudos.
Well Done GREEN TEAM.
Well done Pakistan. Great match. Wonderful team effort but the centre stage belongs to Kamran Akmal for his masterful stroke. What a match!!
well done Pakistan.team.....congrats from an Indian
we won we won we won we won we won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!shoaib malik silences all!!!!!kamran akmal destroys india!congrats to all
disappointingly I didn't see any appreciation for kamran in the first ten comments, people try to malign kamran for dropped catches but can't speak a word for his good performance.....
Shoaib Malik upset his in-laws :)
What a match
Done and dusted...:)
I wonder who did Sania Mirza support in this match. India or hubby (Shoaib)? :p
@Zalim Singh... Consolation speech for India now.. What a game. Congrats team green..
This game should silence Kamran Akmal's critics once and for all. The guy is an absolute class batsman, way better than the lazy top order.
VICTORIOUS...Yeay !!! hail K.Akmal !!!
Congrats Pakistan !
@Ammarttitude: Its just some silly game and that too warm up and you are burning? Why why? May you are better than us in all fields but its not showing in any except one. Burning American flags and killing your own
Boom ... Boom and 185 is achievlble. Be positive.
consolation speech for pakistan now.
Another poor performance by afridi!! I wonder why Shoib malak is in team? Give chance to youngster for better results.
keep smiling and have fun. its a game and just enjoy. Pakistan will work on their bad points
We want an exciting finish with memorable victory
If there's Aman ki Asha, why do Pakistan has to lose all the time??
We all know that Pakistan is better than india when its about almost everything, i mean in Cicket, Hockey, Dramas, Movies, Talent, we're better than than in every field.. I still can't understand Pakistan losing to india in Cricket, why??
Again a big challenge for Pakistan batting
No Issues, Aman kee Aashaaa
I think Pakistan will lose 185 is too high target Throw out Sami from the team & throw out Malik