CT 2017: Match 4: Pakistan’s possible DLS targets

The much-discussed game between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy was interrupted by rain as expected in Birmingham’s weather forecast. The game was interrupted for the 2nd time during the Indian innings after 33.1 overs of play with India scoring 173 runs for the loss of one wicket.

After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to field first to use the seam moment early on in the game and to ensure they have a benefit of the target batting second in case of rains. Pakistan picked the 18-year-old Shadab Khan who became the 8th youngest player and 3rd youngest Pakistani to feature in a Champions Trophy game while India left out Mohammed Shami and benched their premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to play the seam bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Once the movement died off, the Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan got the better off the Pakistan bowlers by striking a few boundaries. Indian innings was halted for nearly 50 minutes after 9.5 overs but resumed with no overs lost. Post the resumption, Indians went on the accelerator with Dhawan scoring 68 off just 65 balls with 6 fours and a six before holing out a full toss from Shadab.

He put on a 136-run stand with Rohit for opening wicket in just 147 balls but the Indian run-rate dropped after the wicket. India scored only 37 runs in 8.4 overs during the stand between Rohit and Virat Kohli. Rohit remained unbeaten on 77 off 108 balls with his last 3 runs coming at the cost of 17 balls while captain Kohli scored 24 from 27 before the rain break.

With the rain intervals exceeding over 75 minutes of grace time available for the interruptions, the game was reduced to 4 overs-a-side. With India losing only one wicket till the moment of rain break, post the Duckworth-Lewis Stern method adjustment they will be having a couple of runs more than their score to defend when they come out to bowl.

Here we look at Pakistan’s possible targets after the Duckworth-Lewis Stern method adjustment: