Arch rivals India and Pakistan once again came face to face in the Asia Cup, where Pakistan beat India in the pin ultimate ball of the last over.
Pakistan won the toss and elect to bowl first given the superficial belief of winning the toss and bowling to win the game.
1st Innings
India batting first, the hitman Rohit and KL Rahul cleared their intent to go against the Pakistan pace attack from the first ball itself. The duo took charge in their hands and hammered the bowlers all across the park. India batted at a sublime run rate of more than 12 per over, scoring 50 0f 26 balls. It is for the first time since the T20 inception India played so well in the first six overs.
In the following over Rahul ran down the wicket, taking on Shadab, but found Nawaz at the long on. India was soon reduced to 62 for 2 with both openers back in the stands. Following the loss of 2 quick wickets, Virat Kohli and Surya Kumar Yadav tried to balance the innings but Surya gave away his wicket cheaply. India kept losing wickets from one end and Kohli held his ground firmly from the other side. After losing Pant and Hooda, Kohli had to take charge of his hands. Kohli manages to score 60 of 44 balls with 2 sixes and 8 fours, helping India reach a fighting total of 181 with the loss of 7 wickets.
India was flying well until the 6th over began when Rohit chipped one in the air off Rauf. It was Khushdil at mid-wicket who took the catch and sent Indian Skipper back to the Pavilion.
2nd Innings
Pakistan start their innings with a boundary given a bigger required run rate from the start. Rizwan played an aggressive knock, whereas Babar went slowly from the other end. India soon got their 1st wicket in the face of Babar who departed for 14 off 10 balls. Soon Fakhar Zaman got tricked into Chahal’s spin and gets caught at the boundary ropes by Virat Kohli. India kept Pakistan hitting around the bush, and did not let them surpass the required run rate.
After losing 2 quick wickets Pakistan also needed to balance their innings. Incomes Nawaz, Rizwan, and Nawaz cumulatively added runs from both ends. Rizwan went to bring up his half-century. Whereas Nawaz played the most important cameo in the Pakistan Innings. Nawaz added 42 off 20 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours, scoring 36 of 42 runs in boundaries.
The games swung like a pendulum until Bishnoi sent off Nawaz breaking the partnership and denting Pakistan’s hopes of clinching a win over arch-rivals India. Soon Rizwan slogged a ball wide of the off stump in the Bhuvneshwar’s over his wicket shifting the momentum in India’s favor. Things look good for men in blue until Arsh dropped a dolly from Asif in the 18th over. It was at this moment fans knew that India has messed up the opportunity. Following this incident, Asif went on to score a crucial knock of 16 0ff 10 balls. Two 4’s and a 6’s added salt to injury to Indian wounds at it brought down the equation to 7 required of the last 6 balls.
The thing even turned ugly when the team was penalized for slow over-rate. As a result, 0ne extra fielder has to stay inside the 30-yard circle. As it is said, consequences were bound to occur. Asif Ali smashed Arshdeep straight down the wicket for four runs. While Pakistan looed to stretch for the home run, Arshdeep dented the party with a slow Yorker. As a result, the umpire declared Asif Ali LBW. But the train had already left the station in the pin ultimate ball of the match Iftikhar scored a couple to see Pakistan home and beat India by five wickets. With this win, Pakistan registered their 1st win and increase their chances of qualifying for the finals.
Next, India will play Sri Lanka on the 6th of September at the Dubai International Stadium. While Sri Lanka would look to book a place in the final, India is on a must-win road to survive in the competition to reach the finals.