Watch: Mohammed Siraj trapped Abdullah Shafique plumb in front with a clever cross-seam variation after getting off to an expensive start in the India-Pakistan clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today (October 14).

India won the toss and elected to field first in the all-important India-Pakistan game in front of more than a 100,000 people at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, they didn’t get off to the best of starts.

Coming into the game having conceded 76 runs from nine overs against Afghanistan in Delhi, Siraj started poorly, being hit for three boundaries by Imam-ul-Haq in his first over. At 41-0 after 7.5 overs, the Pakistan openers looked set and comfortable at the crease with the pitch playing no tricks.

Siraj, into his fourth over, was looking off colour and would most probably have been replaced after that over. But a clever change of seam orientation meant that the last ball of the eighth over skidded through and hit Shafique low on the pads right in front of the wicket.

Siraj is known for his wobble seam deliveries that jag back in to the right-hander. But the ball which got Shafique was a completely cross-seam delivery, one that Siraj doesn’t employ as much.

The umpire had no hesitation in raising his finger and just like that, Siraj made a comeback against the run of play, handing India their first breakthrough.

Babar Azam and Imam stitched a short partnership for the second wicket before Hardik Pandya got Imam caught behind in the 13th over and gave him a mini send-off. Mohammad Rizwan then survived a scare in the very next over as he was given out lbw against Ravindra Jadeja but was saved on review by the barest of margins.

At the end of 15 overs, Pakistan’s score read 84-2.

Watch Mohammed Siraj catch Abdullah Shafique plumb in front with clever cross-seam delivery:

 

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