DUBAI: Pakistan chasing 181 runs against India won by 5 wickets in a nail-biting finish hitting 7 runs in the last over. Pakistan losing their first match against India in the group round, won the Super 4 encounter reaching the target with one ball to spare (182/5 off 19.5 overs). India and Pakistan had played each other 13 times in Asia Cup before this match and India had wnn 9 times out of 13.
Pakistan won the toss and invited India to bat first. Virat Kohli found the perfect day to come in to form and scored 60 runs off 44 balls and laid the foundation for a high score. KL Rahul and Skipper Sharma contributed 28 runs each. India ended up with very competitive score of 181 for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Shadab Khan was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers with 2 for 31 runs while Nawaz was economical and 1 for 25 runs.
Opener Rizwan carried forward his good form with a half century (71 off 51 balls) and kept Pakistan in the hunt. Skipper Babar Azam continued to be out of touch in this Asia Cup with only 14 runs. Nawaz joined Rizwan to increase the run rate and his cameo of 42 runs off 20 balls helped Pakistan to enhance the run rate. At the end of 16 overs Pakistan was 139 runs for 3 wickets needing 43 runs off 24 balls for victory. Ravi Bishnoi bowled best for India picking the prize wicket of the Pakistan skipper (1 for 26 runs) while B Kumar picked up 1 wicket for 40 runs.
Asif Ali (16) and K Shah (14*) picked up 19 runs off the penultimate over bowled by B Kumar and needed only 7 runs off the last over for a memorable victory. Asif Ali fell LBW with 2 runs needed off 2 balls making it a nail-biting finish. Ifthikar Ahamed hit the winning runs to win by 5 wickets with a ball to spare and allowing Pakistan to reach 182 runs for 5 wickets.
The next match will be on Tuesday where India will play against Sri Lanka in Dubai. (RZ) Image credit : ESPN cricinfo