The Champions Trophy 2017 (Part Two)

Mar 22, 2022

The Champions Trophy 2017 (Part Two) Image

Despite having been drawn in the same group, India and Pakistan both made it through to the 2017 Champions Trophy final, staged at The Oval in London.

Group winners India overcame Bangladesh in their semi-final, while Pakistan beat the hosts, England. Having already beaten Pakistan comprehensively in the group stage, India went into the match as clear favourites, but things did not unravel quite as they had planned.

Things began well enough for them after they won the toss and chose to bowl. Unfortunately for them Fakhar Zaman chose that day to make his first ODI hundred, putting on 128 for the first wicket with Azhar Ali, before the latter was run out for 59, having hit a six and six fours.

Zaman then added 72 more with Babar Azam, before getting out for 114. He had faced 106 balls, and hit three sixes and 12 fours. Babar made 46 and Shoaib Malik 12 before Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim shared an unbeaten stand of 71 in just over seven overs.

It meant that Pakistan concluded their innings on 336/4, a record for a Champions Trophy final. Hafeez scored 57 in 37 balls, including three sixes and four fours, while Wasim concluded unbeaten on 25, with a six and a four to his name.

India needed a good start but they did not get one. They lost both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli inside three overs. At 72/6 they were in deep trouble, until Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja helped postpone the inevitable with an 80-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Pandya's run out, for a 43-ball 76 with six sixes and four fours spelled the beginning of the end. India lost their last four wickets for just six runs and were bowled out for 158, with still 19 overs to be bowled. Pakistan won the match by 180 runs and lifted the Champions Trophy for the first time.

Mohammad Amir took 3-16 and Hasan Ali 3-19. Player of the Match honours, though, went to Fakhar.