T20 WC: Hardik & Bumrah run riot vs Pakistan

• India pacers strike early vs Pakistan
• Pakistan 34/4 after 5 overs, Azam out
• Kishan's 77 sets up India's total

Colombo, Feb 15 (PTI) India pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya made early inroads into the top order, reducing Pakistan to 34 for 4 after five overs in the high-voltage T20 World Cup clash between

the arch-rivals here on Sunday.

After posting 175 for 7, India struck back with intensity as Pandya dismissed Sahibzada Farhan for a duck off the fourth ball of the opening over. Jasprit Bumrah followed up with a double strike in the next over, removing Saim Ayub (6) and skipper Salman Agha (4) to leave Pakistan reeling at 13 for 3 after just two overs.

Axar Patel compounded Pakistan’s woes in the fifth over, clean bowling Babar Azam (5) with the fifth delivery to leave them in dire straits. Keeper-batter Usman Khan (18 not out) and Shadab Khan (0) were at the crease having endured a tough time.

Earlier, opener Ishan Kishan’s explosive 40-ball 77 provided India the ideal launchpad to post a competitive total. PTI AM AM KHS AM