India beat Pakistan by five wickets in a last-over T20 thriller at the Asia Cup on Sunday at the Dubai Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, thanks in large part to the efforts of Hardik Pandya, who excelled with both bat and ball.
Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 35, and Pandya, who remained unbeaten on 33, combined for a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 52, helping India win by four wickets with two balls to spare while chasing 148.
India won their first game after bowling out Pakistan for 147 runs because of the efforts of pace bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pandya, who combined for seven wickets.
Pandya, who bowled medium-pace and recorded figures of 3-25, remained composed to knock the winning six in a tight chase in the six-nation event that serves as a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in October/November in Australia.
India beat Pakistan in Virat Kohli’s 100th T20 international, improving their record against their archrivals to 8-2. In their previous match with Pakistan, India lost to Pakistan by 10 wickets in last year’s T20 World Cup at the same venue.
While Pakistan’s rookie fast bowler Naseem Shah excelled with statistics of 2-27, he was forced to hobble in the final few overs due to a foot injury, allowing India’s right-left batting tandem of Pandya and Jadeja to take command.
By the end of the game, Pakistan had taken eight wickets, with Naseem having bowled Suryakumar Yadav for 18, and Mohammad Nawaz having rattled the stumps of Jadeja.
Nawaz’s left-arm spin dismissed Virat Kohli, who had made 35 runs and also dismissed Rohit Sharma, the captain, for 12.
Naseem got an early breakthrough when he bowled KL Rahul out for a duck as the opener pulled a quick delivery against his stumps.
With a couple impressive boundaries, including a wristy drive over mid-on, Kohli, who has endured a prolonged lean spell and recently spoke of his mental health difficulties, looked to find his flow and bat till he was out.
Pakistan’s innings was done in 19.5 overs, and Dahani hit two sixes in his 16 off of just six balls before he was bowled by left-arm medium-pace bowler Arshdeep Singh, who finished with two scalps.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
