Dubai : Rohit Sharma led India defeated Pakistan in a nail biting thriller in their opening encounter of Asia Cup 2022, by 5 wickets in Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the same ground where Pakistan defeated them last year in ICC T20 WC.
Chasing 148 on a tough Pitch, Indian Batters struggled in front of Pakistani pace duo Naseem Shah and Shahanawaz Dahani, even lost KL Rahul in the very first over. A partnership between veteran duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma began to form, but soon both got dismissed in the hands of Mohammad Nawaz.
After the dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja held the responsibility , from 89-4 they took the score to 141. With 7 required of the last over, and Jadeja being dismissed off the very first delivery, 6 runs were required off 3 balls, and Hardik Pandya sealed the match with a 6 over long off, to seal the thriller for India.
Hardik Pandya finishes things off in style 🎉#INDvPAK #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/O7e4UcWbL0
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 28, 2022
Early, in the 1st innings, having put to Bat, Pakistan struggled and played slow Cricket in the initial overs, losing Babar Azam ,Fakhar Zaman early, but with the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, they built solid partnership. After their fall, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals. Indian pacers with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya took 4 & 3 wickets respectively, changing the course of the match. With some fire power by the tail, Pakistan managed to reach 147 , getting all out before the 20 overs quota.
BRIEF SCORECARD
1ST INNINGS
PAKISTAN: 147 (19.5)
Mohammad Rizwan : 43(42)
Iftikhar Ahmed : 28(22)
INDIA
Bhuvneshwar Kumar : 4/26
Hardik Pandya : 3/25
2ND INNINGS
INDIA : 148-5 (19.4)
Virat Kohli : 35(34)
Ravindra Jadeja : 35(29)
Hardik Pandya : 33*(17)
PAKISTAN
Mohammad Nawaz : 3/33
Naseem Shah : 2/27
