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Axar Patel Catch (Source: X)
Axar Patel pulled off an effort of the highest order on Thursday (March 5) during India’s T20 World Cup Super 8 match against England, taking place at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The Delhi Capitals captain might not get his name on the scorecard for the successful attempt he had put for that, but surely it will go down as one of the most iconic moments in the history of the T20 World Cup.
It was a spectacular relay catch taken by Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel did all the hard work to get the job done. In the process, England’s in-form batter Will Jacks, who won the Player of the Match for a record four times in the ongoing edition, had to make his way after a quickfire 20-ball 35.
Axar Patel Sets New Fielding Standards For India
Though it was not the first Axar Patel attempt which made headlines earlier. Nevertheless, the latter one defeated the effort he had put in a few overs earlier.
It all happened during the 14th over of England’s innings when Arshdeep Singh came to bowl the last ball of the over after three consecutive wides. Will Jacks picked up the full toss delivery outside the off stump, and attempted to play over deep point.
However, Axar stretched as much as he could and kept his balance while flicking back the ball after catching it. Dube then completed the last part, and the star-studded Wankhede crowd erupted in joy to celebrate the moment.
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England Counter India With An Unreal Fightback
Just when everyone felt India were cruising past England with a record-breaking first innings total, England put up a show with the bat that no one would have imagined. Jacob Bethell was the architect of it, as he smashed a century off 45 balls, smashing seven sixes and eight fours. He is still in the middle, as England need 32 runs off the final 10 balls to pull off an impossible task.
Jacob Bethell had little support from his teammates, as Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Phil Salt failed to step up when their young gun required.
Earlier in the game, Sanju Samson played an exceptional knock of 89 off 42 balls, which had eight fours and seven sixes. Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma all chipped in with important contributions, but a lacklustre bowling performance, courtesy of wayward bowling from Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel.
Among all of them, Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional with the ball in hand, taking a wicket while conceding 33 runs off his four overs. Hardik Pandya was superb as well, returning figures of 2/38 off his four overs in the game which will be remembered for a while.
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