Sushant Mishra wins hearts by his kind gesture after hitting Haider Ali with a bouncer

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are battling it out in the semi-final of the 2020 ICC U-19 World Cup in Potchefstroom and the stakes can’t get any bigger than this. An Indo-Pakistan fixture- at any level- garners tremendous interest across the cricketing folklore and the ongoing game is no different. In an attempt to use the scoreboard pressure to strangle India in a knockout fixture, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first.

India’s fast bowling has been tremendous in the tournament thus far and the onus was once again on the likes of Kartik Tyagi, Akash Singh, and Sushant Mishra to give the defending champions an ideal start. And, that is exactly what Sushant did when he bounced out opener Mohammad Huraira in the very first over.

Mishra tested Pakistan’s top-order with sustained short-pitch stuff.  Sushant ended up hitting Haider Ali on his left shoulder in the fourth over of the innings. Ali, who was surprised by the pace, looked to duck the delivery but the pace and skid off the deck were just too good for him. But, the Indian speedster, in a great ‘Spirit of Cricket’ moment, went to Ali and asked whether he was fine or not.

Haider Ali got hit by bouncer of Sushant and he went to him and asked him Are U Okay? Moment of the day #SpiritOfCricket#INDvsPAK #PAKvIND #U19CWC #U19WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ZOBDu7K2Rs

— Hamza Kaleem (@hamzabutt61) February 4, 2020

India regained control after the dismissal of Haider Ali

Coming back to the game, the duo of Haider Ali and skipper Rohail Nazir weathered the early storm after Pakistan lost two early wickets of Mohammad Huraira and Fahad Munir, who was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi half-tracker-ball duck. Ali looked pretty composed during his stay at the crease. 

He maneuvered the ball brilliantly, stroked some sumptuous stroked before moving his way past to a well-deserved half-century. But just as the duo of Ali and Nazir were threatening to post a substantial stand, Haider Ali was dismissed against the run-of-play when he hit a half-tracker from Yashasvi Jaiswal straight to Ravi Bishnoi at the point. Post Ali’s dismissal, Pakistan soon lost another wicket courtesy a terrible mix-up between Rohail Nazir and Qasim Akram.

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