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India were 'lacklustre', Yuvraj Singh 'timid' in CT final: Kumar Sangakkara

Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was critical of India's performance in the Champions Trophy 2017 final against Pakistan.

By Ians English

London, June 19: Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara has hailed Pakistan's opening batsman Fakhar Zaman and pacer Mohammad Amir's heroic performance in their victory over India in the Champions trophy final here.

Final match report</a>; <a class=Final scorecard" title="Final match report; Final scorecard" />Final match report; Final scorecard

Yuvraj Singh in action against Pakistan in the league phase of Champions Trophy


Fakhar slammed 114 runs off 106 balls to help Pakistan post a formibadle total of 338/6. His innings consisted of twelve boundaries and three sixes.

Amir then smashed away the Indian top-order batsmen with a superb opening spell of six overs during which he made a three-wicket haul conceeding only 16 runs.

"Zaman batted freely and aggressively. Mixing attacking boundary options and smart strike rotation, he anchored the Pakistan total with the most important innings of his life. Ably supported by Azhar Ali, and a telling cameo from Mohammed Hafeez, the final total of 338 was a daunting one."

"If captain Sarfraz Ahmed had come in earlier instead of Imad Wasim to lead the final charge, perhaps the total would have even gone beyond 350," Sangakkara wrote in his column for the International Cricket Council (ICC), describing the heroics of Fakhar's batting.

"Mohammad Amir, returning after his back spasms, proved once again why he is one of the finest pace bowlers in the world right now by ripping the heart out of the Indian batting," he added.

Sagakkara also said that India's chase was off-colour right from the start and felt that the Indian batsmen played on the backfoot.

"India was a bit lacklustre in their chase once Kohli was dismissed. Yuvraj Singh seemed timid and slow. Hanging back to the fast bowlers as if expecting every delivery to be a bouncer and only showing intent to the slower spinners," he said.

"The dangerous Dhoni was bounced out and Jadeja failed to sacrifice himself to allow the incredibly exciting Hardik Pandya to take India towards an unlikely victory," he added.

IANS
Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:52 [IST]
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