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Live Commentary: Champions Trophy, Group B - India vs. Pakistan - as it happened

Live text commentary as India took on Pakistan in Group B of the Champions Trophy and beat them by eight wickets.
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India took on Pakistan in the final match of Group B in the Champions Trophy in a game that had no say on the final standings.

It was a frustrating day with four delays for rain and Pakistan, despite moving to 50-1, only managed 165 from their revised 40 overs.

India's required score started at 168 but was revised down throughout the day after rain breaks and eventually they reached the 102 they needed with eight wickets to spare.

Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary below.


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Thanks for joining me today and be sure to come back to us tomorrow for England's vital match against New Zealand. Goodbye.

Despite lots and lots of rain that result was never unlikely. They run a quick single to take the win and their third victory in the group. They march on to the semis, while Pakistan go home. We knew that, though.

INDIA WIN BY EIGHT WICKETS!

Karthik gets frustrated by Riaz's variation of length and swings at a short one but misses with his hook. But that's better a few balls later from Kohli, who swings a low pull to the rope leaving India needing one run.

That's a lovely cover drive from Karthik. There's no need for the field to chase that as he steps forward, playing with the spin of Ajmal to crash it to the boundary. This is the best spell of weather all day, how lovely of it.

The batsman are playing for singles, nothing too risky, and you can't blame them for that really. Three come from the over and India are edging towards the win now.

Ajmal comes again. His bowling is tricky to pick, so Kohli is watchful before pushing to long-on for a single. Karthik's edge almost races to the boundary but Riaz fields superbly and instead they run three.Then Karthik almost picks out Junaid in the field, but the Pakistani player misread the flight and it goes over his head for four. Nine from the over and India need 15.

Karthik is unable to get off the mark for the rest of the over. India need 24.

Dhawan has seen enough of Kohli pinching singles and doubles. He uses every ounce of pace from Riaz to crash a four off the middle of the bat just behind point. He then rocks back and top-edges the ball behind his head and away for four. He tries too much, though, and is gone. It's a nothing delivery really from Riaz, and Dhawan picks out Jamshed at third man. It's a poor end to a great innings.

WICKET! Dhawan (48) c Jamshed b Riaz

Ajmal comes back in and Kohli delays his shot to nudge towards cover for a single. Dhawan gets one too and it's just those two from it. Of course, there's no need for India to hurry as they need 33 just runs from 48 balls.

Wahab Riaz comes in and Kohli glances a very fast delivery indeed - 93 mph, since you ask - down to third man for a couple and finishes the over with a single, also to the off side.

So Hafeez finally finishes his over, with just a single for Kohli from the final three balls of it.

Hello all. I'm back, you're back, the players are back, the sun is back, the umpires are back. Everyone's back and India now need 102 from 22. They're on 63 as it stands, so have just over 10 overs to get the 39 they need.

An update for you then. India's new target will be 102 form 22 overs. Play is to get underway at 6.45pm, so please do join me then.

The players have to be back out I'd say in the next 15-20 minutes or there just isn't time to complete the match. Can they dry the pitch in time? Pakistan will be hoping not..

No news as per the restart or revised overs as yet...

I am led to believe that the rain has stopped. But it now depends on how heavy it was, whether the outfield will dry in time for our near-nine overs to be completed.

The covers remain on, the clouds remain grey. It's a full set of rain covers too. Time is quickly running out for India to be able to reach 20 overs, which is the minimum allowed for a result. They have batted for 11.3 so far, so there still needs to be some time for those to be completed before 7pm.

Sometimes it really is a frustrating sport. The sense of arranging an international cricket tournament in England aside, whatever happens here was already irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Trying to crowbar a result out of it is serving no real purpose.

No further news as yet. It could well end up being reduced to 20 overs for India. It would need to restart probably in about half an hour to be finished in time.

So presumably more overs will be shaved off India's chase. At what point will they just call it off? It's a dead rubber anyway. Yes, the cricket that we have had has been good, but it doesn't seem sensible to go on like this for much longer.

RAIN STOPS PLAY: That's the fourth time today, and it's getting quite tiresome. Off come the players, on go the covers again. It's not even heavy this time and doesn't look like continuing for long.

New man Kohli wastes no time getting in on the action, as he smashes his second delivery square for an excellent four to get him underway.

Finally a breakthrough for Pakistan. Rohit's eyes light up with a pitched up delivery that spins in to him but he can only clip it straight to Misbah at midwicket.

WICKET! Sharma (18) c Misbah b Ajmal

It's Dhawan doing most of the scoring. He gets four of the five runs from that last Mohammed Hafeez over.

Some good running sees seven come from the over in the end, with Dhawan leaving it late to pinch two off the final ball.

Ajmal to finish his over then. He has five deliveries to Dhawan.

I can now confirm that those two things are indeed true. So the players are making their way back out now with four fewer overs.

Supposedly the revised target will be 157 off 36 overs, with play to start again at 5.30pm. But I'll confirm that when certain.

It's sunny again at Edgbaston and has stopped raining, so we'll probably be back with a slightly revised target before too long.

There are quite a lot of covers on for what didn't seem like too heavy a shower. As always I'll keep you updated with any news...

RAIN STOPS PLAY: It's time for some spin as Saeed Ajmal comes on. Just for one ball, though, as we're back off for rain. Fingers crossed it's not long...

They don't want to use all the 40 overs for this chase, as they run a very quick single following a flick to square leg from Dhawan. Six further runs come from the over and they're really getting a move on. Dhawan is up to 27 off 23.

Irfan comes in again for another over. Dhawan glances one to square leg and runs a comfortable two, then he gets one pitched in too short so cuts it over gully and straight of third man to the boundary. He takes a single and Sharma gets one of his own with a deft flick over slips.

Dhawan hasn't hit a boundary for a couple of overs, so he advances to Junaid but misses the ball completely. Khan has a thing or two to say, so next ball Dhawan spanks it to the boundary at deep cover point.

Sharma opens his boundary account guiding the ball through backward square and point, before switching sides and pulling behind square leg for another. Dhawan ducks under Irfan's final ball and it's another productive over for the men in blue. Good start, this.

Junaid is equally sprightly at the other end, but Dhawan nullifies that with an exceptionally confident thump through the covers off what was not a bad ball at all. He then guides one behind square on the off side for a single. Six overall from the over and Dhawan is just beginning to find his range.

Irfan is really troubling Sharma with his pace. It's been a very nervous start from the right-hander, who finally pinches a leg-side single. Dhawan at the other end has faced only four balls and he takes one of his own with a pull from a fairly short ball from Irfan.

It's Junaid Khan given the ball from the other end and he's very close to LBW on Sharma, but the ball had pitched well outside leg so was a good decision not to review. It's a measured start from the Indians and they only manage one from Junaid's over - and that was due to a slight midfield.

Sharma sticks his bat out at the first ball and guides it to third man for a single. Irfan bowls a wide but follows it up with a wicked bouncer that fizzes past Dhawan's head. Irfan finds a shade of swing and Dhawan gets a controlled thick-edge to the off side for a single. Four from the first over and a good start from the giant bowler.

Welcome back everyone. As you can see, the Duckworth/Lewis calculators have been in action in the interval and they have worked out that based on Pakistan's performance before the rain break and then after it that India's chase is just two more than it would have been anyway. Rohit Sharma and Dhawan to face Irfan first. Let's go!

INDIA REQUIRE 168 TO WIN

I'm taking a quick 20-minute break for the turnaround, so please do come back just before 4.30pm for India's response.

I'm just waiting to see whether Duckworth/Lewis changes much with that total. When I find out how much they need, I'll let you know.

END OF INNINGS: Amin starts the final over well, pulling a shortish one from Yadav for four, but he cannot reach the second one. He goes after the next, but doesn't time it to the off side and has to settle for a single which brings Irfan back. He's really unlucky to smash the stumps with his shot and Yadav is quick to take one out the ground to run him out. India should win this.

WICKET! Irfan (0) run out (Yadav)

Amin slashes at his first delivery from Sharma, but it kept low and fizzed through. He takes a step back and slogs over point; it drops short of the fielder but they run just one. Sharma gets a go at the giant Irfan and he steps into a block. One over remains.

Fantastic direct hit from Kohli, who gives it the fist pumps in celebration. Khan pushed his first delivery and went for the single, but Kohli was just too good and took the stump out of the ground with his hit.

WICKET! Khan (0) run out (Kohli)

That's a good take from Rohit, diving just short of cover to take the catch. Ajmal got frustrated and got caught with a slightly short one, pinging it to Rohit. I'd be shocked if Pakistan have done enough here - Junaid Khan in now.

WICKET! Ajmal (5) c Rohit b Sharma

Yadav comes back in to bowl. Rohit Sharma has a shy at the stumps as Pakistan run a quick single, but Ajmal would have been safe. Amin then pulls but can only get one as it's fielded at square leg.

Pakistan bring up their 150 with Ajmal tucking the ball to square leg. Back on strike Amin goes back over Jadeja's head - he doesn't catch it quite right but there's enough on it to reach the boundary. Three overs left.

Here's Sharma again and he opens with the wrong line, with Amin smacking a simple cut over deep backward point. Then there's good running from Pakistan to pressure Karthik into a fielding mistake. He then slashes at a cut but misses the ball completely and finishes the over with two more. Better from Pakistan.

Jadeja carries on and the variation in pace and flight is just too good for Pakistan at the moment. That's backed up with some excellent fielding from Karthik to produce a splendid maiden over. What a demonstration of spin bowling this is. Pakistan's score is looking very below-par with five overs left.

Ajmal almost does exactly the same as Riaz with his first delivery, but it just misses the stumps. Ajmal pulls for a single, wants the second and they nearly get in a tangle but manage to survive.

Amin works another single from Ashwin to put the new man on strike. He defends his first ball but goes after one that Ashwin tosses in full, misses it and gloves it through the gap and into the stumps. In comes Saeed Ajmal.

WICKET! Riaz (0) b Ashwin

More from Jadeja and he's still bowling well. Pakistan are forced to work singles from his fairly skiddy action. Jadeja then gets one to spin hugely from the middle and past the edge, before the very next ball he's gone! It goes straight on and Malik, looking to open his shoulders, is caught plumb. They review but, excuse the pun, it's fruitless and in comes Wahab.

WICKET! Malik (17) LBW b Jadeja

Amin gets off the mark at the first time of asking, glancing one off his pads, and Malik follows suit to send the new man back on strike. They run a comfortable two with a push to the covers. A single to point finishes the over. Better from Sharma, but he still has to sort out his line.

India call for a review as Sharma drifts one down leg side with Dhoni flying to his left. The call is not out but they seem convinced that it's out and yes it is. It's a really good review as hotspot shows a nick - that's exactly why the technology is there. Yet they don't seem to want it in Tests. Umar Amin in to bat.

WICKET! Shafiq (41) c Dhoni b Sharma

Boundaries are still hard to come by, so the running between the wicket is having to be swift. Five singles come from the over and Jadeja can't really ask for much more than that.

Now some seam into the bowling attack as Sharma comes in. Pakistan must start picking up their run rate but they begin the over by working a single each. Sharma seems to be the one that they want to target, though, as Malik smacks the ball past point for a good four. He then slashes at one but it doesn't bounce and is well stopped by the pads of Dhoni. Sharma is struggling and he lets one go wide of leg stump, which is signalled as such by the umpire.

Malik is almost undone by a very similar ball form Jadeja that dismissed his captain. He eventually gets off strike with a clip to fine leg, giving Jadeja one shot at Shafiq. It's defended and is another fine over from Jadeja.

Kohli is back in, replacing Ashwin. There seems no threat in his bowling - it's not quick, it doesn't spin or swing, and after a couple of watchful deliveries Malik latches on to one dropped far too short and spanks it to the midwicket fence. A single finishes the over, with seven from it.

He gets off the mark straight away with a push to extra cover. It's still looking drizzly and threatening in the sky, but for now it's not quite hard enough yet.

Right on cue, a four. Shafiq steps back to Jadeja and whips it to the midwicket boundary. He follows up with a very late cut that used the pace on the ball to reach the boundary at third man. Then, following a single, disaster for Misbah. He shuffles across but misses the ball and it crashes right into his stumps. Shoaib Malik in next.

WICKET! Misbah (22) b Jadeja

Misbah and Shafiq share three singles at the start of the over, but it's again good bowling by Ashwin. The field is constantly moving and the gaps are being opened and closed. Again no boundary with just four from the over following a final single from Shafiq towards long-on.

It's really good from Ashwin until the final ball is slightly short, but he's then saved by backward point as Khartik dives to his left to stop the ball. Just one from the over, with 15 left in the innings.

There is an umpire's review as Misbah's foot just popped up for a split second with Dhoni whipping the bails off, but he got it down in time. The batsmen again trade in singles with four plus a wide from the over.

Now it is time for Jadeja, and he's straight into a really good line and length. However, he drifts one slightly leg side which allows Misbah to clip to square leg for a single. Just three from the over and, believe it or not, there's drizzle again...

India's target will be Duckworth-Lewis adjusted, to take into account Pakistan's first 19 overs were played as if we would have 50. There is an urgency about the batsmen now and they're running quickly between the wicket. They rotate the strike with the first five balls of Ashwin's next over and Misbah nudges fine for two off the final ball. Another seven from Ashwin.

Virat Kohli has been handed the ball at the other end, so it's double spin. It's an interesting move from Dhoni to play a part-time spinner instead of Ravindra Jadeja. Misbah gets a single and Shafiq three from the over.

Pakistan are wasting no time here after the restart. Ashwin bowls the first over after the break and after a couple of singles Misbah pulls out the reverse sweep and gets four. Seven from the over after lunch and they've now had half their allotted overs.

The players are coming out onto the pitch now and they're almost ready to get going. Shafiq and Misbah are ready and waiting. The change to 40/40 means that the bowlers can only bowl eight overs.

An update on that earlier rumour I heard. It won't be 38 overs; they somehow think they can squeeze in 40 a side. They're wrong, I'm sure of that, but however many are cut it just makes Pakistan's task harder, as they were batting for 50 overs.

A reminder, in case you've forgotten - which would be more than understandable - of the state of play at the moment. Pakistan have made 70-3 off 19 overs, the last of which was bowled at not long after midday. There was a rain delay in the middle of those overs too, after which Pakistan put on just 20 runs for two wickets. Will they have a similar slow start when we get back on?

In fact, I'll stay around. I've got nothing better to do than update you on every drop of rain in Birmingham. I'm also hearing rumours that it might be reduced to 38 overs, but nothing official on that so far. Taking off just 24 overs of the day seems staggeringly ambitious to me. It's certain to rain again.

PLAY TO RESUME AT 2.45PM: Of course, that is if the rain stays away. The ground staff are out there with all manner of equipment to soak up the outfield. I'll be back in 15 minutes ahead of the resumption of play at what will by then be a glorious Edgbaston. Right?

However, the outfield still does look very wet. It's also very windy and grey. If I was explaining to an alien that cricket was a summer sport I think he'd mark me down as a time-waster. People on Twitter seem surprised as well, I thought it was global knowledge that the weather in the UK is dreadful. Anyway, when I hear anything from the umpires I'll let you know.

All covers but the one on the actual pitch are off now. The umpires are having a look around. I reckon they'll set a time that the players can get back out. It had better be soon before the rain comes again.

If cricket was really invented in England, you'd think it wouldn't be a summer game. Surely the weather wasn't actually nice in England in the summer 150 or so years ago?

Just five minutes away from the inspection. Exciting times. The rain has eased for several minutes now and hope is beginning to build that we might get restarted. I very much doubt we'll get through another 81 overs, though, even if we had the rest of the day without rain.

The pitch inspection is actually at 2.15pm, to correct myself from earlier. But what's five minutes in a day of rain? The covers are being tentatively removed now as the rain has eased up a little, but the sky doesn't look promising.

Up to this point, England beat Australia in their opening game and lost to Sri Lanka in their second. New Zealand's one result so far came when they beat Sri Lanka and they are looking really quite good - as they showed in the recent ODI series when they beat England 2-1.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a much better day, because that match really does matter. New Zealand top Group A from England - The Kiwis' no result against Australia putting them one point ahead of the Three Lions. A win for either side tomorrow will see them through to the semi-finals.

There is still rain in the atmosphere and another heavy downpour is expected before too long. The wind is what's making it all so unpredictable - it could blow a storm over or the clouds away.

I suppose it's just as well that this match is a dead rubber. It wouldn't matter, except to the paying spectators of course, if it eventually has to be called off. A reminder: India have already won the group and Pakistan have already finished bottom.

We're told now that there will be a new inspection at 2.10pm. That's half an hour away. The problem with that is that the weather forecast said that the longer the day goes on the more chance there will be of rain. Let's just say I'd be shocked if we got through this match.

Just as they do, the covers have to go back on for some more drizzle. I'm not sure how many overs they'll take off, but they'll have to start doing so soon.

The umpires are just coming out for their inspection... I'll let you know what they decide.

Hello and welcome back. It's not looking good I'm afraid, the covers are still on.

The rain was very, very heavy and although the sun is coming back out there will not be a pitch inspection until 1.30pm. So with that in mind I may as well take a break for half an hour or so; please do join me at around 1.15pm when I'll hopefully have good news.

The rain appears to have stopped. Let's hope it stays away long enough to get restarted. In fact, let's hope it's for long enough to complete the innings but I won't be pushing my luck there.

The good news is that the sky is brightening up somewhat. It's still raining, mind, but there's a chance that it might stop before too long, looking at how much better it looks than about 10-15 minutes ago.

The last rain break did not serve Pakistan well at all. They recovered from losing the early wicket to get themselves to 50-1, with Hafeez in particular batting well. However, he was gone the very first ball back after the delay, caught by Dhoni off Kumar.

It has got so dark at Edgbaston now that you can see the advertising hoarding glow. That is not a good sign at all.

India got off to the perfect start, managing to dismiss Jamshed in just the third over. He survived an LBW appeal having wrongly been given out the over before, but he was caught by Raina at second slip off Kumar.

It looks like it's night-time out there at the moment, so I wouldn't expect an immediate return like that last break. I'll go through the 19 overs so far in a minute, as there has actually been a fair amount of action.

I do always wonder about the logic of hosting a cricket tournament in England. There's rarely a couple of weeks straight without any rain. Anyway, it is here and it's now very gloomy indeed at Edgbaston. As always I'll update when I hear anything about the resumption.

RAIN STOPS PLAY: The umpires call the players off before it starts to hammer it down because it really is going to. The groundstaff are quickly on. It looks to be heavier than the last shower, but hopefully it too will blow over.

The bad news is that there is a huge grey cloud looming and looks likely to hit before long. That's a really good shot from Shafiq, who picks a shorter ball, but not short enough, and pulls through midwicket for four. The rain has hit and the players will be off very shortly if not now.

Misbah is very watchful to Ashwin early in his innings but after three defensive shots he takes a single to mid-on, with Shafiq defending the final ball into a gap for another one.

Misbah and Shafiq both squeeze singles towards the third-man area to start the over, with the captain getting another a few balls later by flicking off his pads to backward short leg. Just three from the over.

Misbah is in and the captain gets off the mark, pushing towards mid-wicket for a quick single. Shafiq advances down and to his right to turn an off-side delivery to leg for one of his own and he finishes the over with a drive through the cover region, but just for two. Five runs and a wicket from the over.

I don't know how that one stayed in the air, but it did. Akmal gets an inside edge on the ball, it misses the stumps then hits Dhoni on the leg and spins up to Kohli at leg slip. Good decision to have a leg slip in there and now Pakistan are in trouble.

WICKET! Akmal (21) c Kohli b Ashwin

Kumar's spell continues and he is now into his eighth over. Shafiq works a couple of runs towards Sharma at square leg, before really good fielding from Raina almost catches the non-striker out as he looked for the run.

Ravichandran Ashwin comes on at the Birmingham end, replacing Sharma. We have a leg slip in place for the spinner. His first delivery is too far down the leg side and Shafiq picks up an easy single. The bastmen pick up another single each but the rate has dropped once more.

Just one run from the over, which was from the last bowl following some casual fielding from Kohli. It gets Shafiq off the mark.

What a catch that is from Dhoni! Hafeez isn't happy because there was movement behind the bowler's arm, but he's got to go. The very first ball after the break and Hafeez edges a full one, with Dhoni taking a diving catch to his right. He was looking very good, but then after the rain he's gone. I said the delay would suit India but I didn't quite expect that. Asad Shafiq in.

WICKET! Hafeez (27) c Dhoni b Kumar

Kumar will start his seventh over in a few moments, and he will bowl to Hafeez.

Indeed, the players are back out so we're nearly set to go again. It could turn into a frustrating day with too many more showers like that one.

The sun is fully out now and there are shadows and everything. That means that we should get started again very shortly. I'll let you know when I hear word.

The forecast for today is for delays such as this one. There will be sunny spells but also rain showers that are likely to blow away with the strong breeze. The sky is looking a bit more blue again and some of the covers have come off, so hopefully we'll resume before too long.

That's a shame for Pakistan, as they had recovered from a slow start and both Hafeez and Akmal were looking much more settled. The early wicket was a blow and it could have been much worse for them, but this delay will probably benefit India more.

RAIN STOPS PLAY: The rain is back, and this time it's a little heavier. The umpires think it's going to stay a little longer this time, so off go the players and on come the covers.

Ishant continues at the other end and there's a slight noise as the ball clips the thigh pad of Hafeez as it flies past. Akmal connects well with a hook shot that didn't bounce particularly high, but comes away with a single.

Hafeez still cannot get any joy from Kumar, however. The batsman swings at a full one but misses completely and is lucky not to nick it. He runs out of patience and slaps a single to the leg side, before Akmal is streaky with a drive down the ground as the ball lands just wide of Khartik's dive at mid-off. The batsmen then get in a scramble and Hafeez's dive after being sent back is just about successful.

Really nice shot from Hafeez there, who moves across his stumps to a delivery wide of off and glances it for four behind square leg. He then earns another two off his pads. So 4.3 run rate off the first 10 overs, and it's looking ok now for Pakistan.

Kumar, who has been excellent, continues. Akmal pushes one towards mid-on for a single, before Hafeez is almost undone by a slight outswinger but it doesn't quite catch the edge. Just that single from another fine Kumar over.

It's still drizzling, but also sunny now as Ishant Sharma comes in to the attack to replace Yadav. The bowler looks to be on top of the battle early, but Akmal steps into a drive and thrashes the ball just straight of point for his second boundary. Hafeez glances a slightly wide one off his pads for four the other side, with nine coming from Sharma's first over. The score looks a lot more respectable now.

At the other end Akmal keeps the run of boundaries going with a pull for four after advancing a few steps down the wicket. After a single, Hafeez gets his third-straight four but this time there was a hint of luck as he thick-edges a cut over his stumps and past Dhoni. The bad news is that the rain has started to fall...

It took a while but finally a run for Pakistan, courtesy of Hafeez who guided the ball to third man. Then Akmal times a pull dreadfully and it goes in the air but dissects the men at midwicket and mid-on. Hafeez earns Pakistan's first boundary with a lovely drive through the cover region, and then smacks a second with a pull to deep square leg. Ten from the over.

Kumar is really fire up. He drops one slightly short and bamboozles Akmal, who was expecting a fuller delivery. The opener is really struggling to get runs and it's two consecutive maidens for Kumar. This time without a wicket.

The ball has barely come off the middle of any player's bat so far as Akmal also gets an edge, but it's thick and well safe. They run one and Hafeez too edges thick, but it falls safe and is fielded at deep backward point. A fine delivery from Yadav gets some swing back in and gets through the gap between bat and pad but misses the stumps.

Hafeez's first delivery is an absolute pearl from Kumar, whose line is inches wide of off stump and it fizzes past the batman's edge. A wicket maiden from Kumar and a really good example of ODI bowling.

That one is out. Jamshed cannot make the most of his early reprieve and plays at an almost perfect delivery across his body from Kumar. It finds the edge and flies to Raina in the slips and Pakistan have lost a key man. Mohammad Hafeez is in.

WICKET! Jamshed (2) c Raina b Kumar

Umesh Yadav is in at the other end at a very windy Edgbaston. There's a really, really awful early decision from Richard Kettleborough, who gives Jamshed out but everyone could see it was going over. A review overturns it. Just one from the over in the end, so a good start for India.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is tossed the ball to open the bowling. He gets a touch of swing off the very first ball and Jamshed tucks it off his pads for an early leg-bye. Akmal watches a couple before wagging at an inswinger - he gets an outside edge but it drops short and through the slips for a single and Jamshed gets his first with a late shot past the slips.

So Nasir Jamshed and the promoted Kamran Akmal are making their way out to the middle and we're almost ready for cricket. Only 13 degrees today in Edbaston, so not particularly summery.

It's a packed house as we listen to the national anthems. It's hard to say which side has more support in today, but it looks as though the Pakistanis just shade it. There's a fair bit of blue sky about at the moment, so we should at least get going on time.

It is a very new-look Indian side. The last time the two teams faced in a knockout tournament India had over 1000 more caps, but with no more of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh they have a fresh team and from early indications yet another successful one.

Whatever happens here the group will remain unchanged at the end of the day. India have already topped it and Pakistan will be propping it up following yesterday's result in which West Indies and South Africa drew at a wet Cardiff, putting the Proteas through in second.

Unfortunately, the weather is not supposed to be kind enough to provide us with a full day of cricket. The clouds are already thicker than they were 20 or so minutes ago, but it will hopefully hold off until a bit later. Although with the problems Pakistan have had so far they might be all out before their 50 overs are up.

The change for Pakistan is in their batting order, with Shafiq moving into number four. For India, no need at all to change, but we'll have to wait until later on to see their explosive openers - Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.

PAKISTAN XI: Jamshed, Akmal†, Hafeez, Shafiq, Amin, Misbah*, Malik, Ajmal, Riaz, Khan, Irfan

INDIA XI: Dhawan, Sharma, Kohli, Karthik, Raina, Dhoni*†, Jadeja, Ashwin, Sharma, Kumar, Yadav

TEAM NEWS: Dhoni confirms that India are unchanged today, while Misbah's Pakistan have just one alteration. Asad Shafiq comes in for Imran Farhat.

Misbah-ul-Haq said that he would have chosen to bat had Pakistan won the toss. Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said:

"I think we were planning to bat first. The wicket is really dry and it gets slower and slower, so it is better for us to set a target.

"India against Pakistan is always a big game and the people at home want us to do well. The players know this and want to perform."


Dhoni's decision, he said, was based on the forecast for later. Rain is expected at some point this afternoon so wants to get out there and bowl first.

BREAKING: India's captain MS Dhoni has won the toss and has decided to field.

Hello everyone and thanks for joining me today for the final game from Group B of the Champions Trophy. The rivalry is fierce between these two nations, but unfortunately there is nothing riding on this - at least in terms of the tournament itself.

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India's opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan reacts after after being caught out during his side's ODI against the West Indies on June 16, 2011
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