London – Embarrassed by India in its opening match, Pakistan astonishingly turned the tables on its archrival to win their Champions Trophy final by a crushing 180 runs at The Oval on Sunday. –AP/UNB
India was the lopsided 4-9 favorite by English bookmakers to win a record third Trophy in a record fourth final, but Pakistan blew away all predictions and expectations with a win of stunning ease.
Pakistan, made to bat first for the first time in the tournament, racked up a final-record innings of 338-4, founded on a 128-run opening stand between Fakhar Zaman, who earned his maiden one-day international century with 114, and Azhar Ali, whom Fakhar ran out on 59.
India was then routed for 158 in the 31st over.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed took the last catch and aeroplaned around the pitch with his arms out before he was swamped by teammates.
India’s top three batsman – Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and captain Virat Kohli – came to the final having combined for 874 runs, more than 80 percent of the team’s tally in the tournament.
But Sharma was out for a duck off the third ball, Kohli went for 5, and Dhawan, the player of the 2013 tournament and a candidate for this one, was out for 21.
Pakistan strike bowler Mohammad Amir, who missed the surprise semifinal victory over England because of a back spasm, took out all three of India’s premier batsmen for figures of 6-2-16-3.
