Asia cup: India crush Pakistan in one-sided affair
We would've wanted to bat first too, stated Indian captain.
(Dunya News) – India on Wednesday crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in much-anticipated match of Aisa Cup and became the group toppers.
India adopted a cautious approach in pursuit of Pakistan’s 162. Openers Rohit and Dhawan have opened for blue shirts.
As they settled, Rohit unleashed his usual hard-hitting skills. He hit back to back boundaries in Usman’s over.
After completion of 10 overs, India were 58 without any loss.
Shadab came in 14th over and on the very first delivery, the leg-spinner clean bowled Rohit Sharma. it looked like a loopy legbreak pitched up by Shadab, Rohit leaned forward to the length and stuck his bat out but left a big gap between bat and pad and the ball went right through to hit middle and leg. Rohit made 52 runs.
India brought hundred in the 16th over.
In the very next over, Dhawan was dismissed on individual score of 46.
Rayudu and Karthik carried India home safely with 21 overs to spare.
Pakistan innings
Pakistan have set India 163-run target to win in high-voltage and much-anticipated match of continent’s premier ODI league.
Babar Azam remained top scorer for Pakistan with 47 runs. Shoaib Malik also made useful contribution of 43 runs.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first.
Pakistan’s batsmen started carefully. In first two overs, they managed to score only two runs. As pressure surged, Imam charged down and edged it to Dhoni. He made just two runs.
After losing two wickets cheaply, Babar Azam and and Shoaib Malik stabilized the things in the middle. After completion of 15 overs, Pakistan scored 57/2.
As things started to look good for Pakistan, Kuldeep removed Babar who just fell short of 50. He made 47 runs. Azam and Malik added 82-run for the third wicket.
Soon after Babar’s departure, skipper Sarfraz plays a reckless shot and departed on just six runs. Sarfraz went for the aerial route for the full delivery, he was tempted and he tried to go wide of long on but end up giving his wicket cheaply.
In the very next over, Fakhar took the chance after all that pressure and he skied a top-edge to midwicket.Pakistan made hundred runs in 27th over.
Shoaib—who was looking confident—fell prey to direct hit from Jadhav. He made 43 runs. His innings include 1 four and 1 six.
Soon after Shoaib’s departure, Rohit brough Jadhav to attack as he sensed another wicket.
Jadhave didn’t disappoint his skipper as he removed Asif. Asif cut and managed only an outside edge right into Dhoni s gloves.
Pakistan lost seventh wicket in 33rd over. Jadhav drifted this outside off, and Shadab came forward for the cover drive. The ball sneaked past his outside edge, and Dhoni whisks the bails off. Shadab made just eight runs.
Amir and Shadab dragged Pakistan to 150 in the 39th over.
In the 42nd over, Bumhra removed Faheem to add insult to Pakistan’s injury. Faheem made 21 runs.
Rohit brought Bhuvneshwar to the attack to remove tail enders and latter didn’t disappoint the former as he removed Hassan Ali on individual score of 1.
In the end, all team was dismissed on below par total of 162.
Line ups
Pakistan XI: Imam, Fakhar, Babar, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz (capt), Asif Ali, Shadab, Faheem, Amir, Hasan, Usman Khan
India XI: Rohit (capt), Dhawan, Rayudu, Dhoni, Karthik, Jadhav, Pandya, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Chahal, Kuldeep
