India clinched an easy 8-wicket victory (with 126 balls remaining) against their arch-rivals Pakistan in the Group A game of the Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With this victory, India reaches to the Super Four round as Group A champions while Pakistan advances to the Super Four round as Group A runners-up.
Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed decided to bat first after winning the toss. Both the Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq (2) and Fakhar Zaman (0) fell very early in the innings as Pakistan went down to 3/2 in 4.1 overs.
Also watch: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Dismisses Both The Pakistan Openers
No.3 batsman Babar Azam and no.4 experienced batsman Shoaib Malik rescued the team from that early collapse and provided an 82-run partnership for the third wicket. However, both the batsmen missed their respective half-centuries as Azam scored 47 off 62 balls (6 fours) and Malik played a knock of 43 runs off 67 balls (only four and only six).
Between that partnership (during the 18th over of the innings), Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered an acute lower back injury and stretchered off the field with the bowling figure of 4.5-0-24-0.
Once that third-wicket partnership was broken, Pakistan lost their next wickets in regular intervals that ended their innings on just 162 runs in 43.1 overs. Apart from the lower-order batsmen Faheem Ashraf (21) and Mohammad Amir (18*), none of other Pakistan batsmen reached the double-digit scores.
Among the Indian bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/15) and Kedar Jadhav (3/23) bagged three wickets each while Jasprit Bumrah (2/23) got two wickets and Kuldeep Yadav (1/37) picked up one wicket.
Also watch: Manish Pandey’s Phenomenal Catch At The Boundary
In reply, Indian opening batsmen – skipper Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan – provided the 86-run partnership that helped the team to win the game comfortably. Rohit scored 52 runs off 39 balls (6 fours and 3 sixes) while Dhawan scored 46 off 54 balls (6 fours and only six).
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The next two batsmen Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik finished the game comfortably with an unbeaten 60-run partnership for the third wicket as both the batsmen remained not out on 31 runs. India chased down that total comfortably in 29 overs after losing only their both openers.
Among the Pakistan bowlers, only Faheem Ashraf (1/31) and Shadab Khan (1/6) were able to pick up wickets during Indian innings.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Congratulations India on a very comprehensive victory. Wonderful team effort and great contributions from everyone #INDvPAK
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 19, 2018
Congratulations India! 👏🏻👏🏻Overall a great team effort by bowlers and batsmen.. well played! 💪🏻 #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 19, 2018
An anti-climax for a game that promised so much. Pakistan will be the first to admit they were dreadful but that has no correlation to what we will see next from them.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 19, 2018
One day the #IndvPak cricket match will live up to its billing. Too many lopsided matches in the recent past…. hopefully we witness a close encounter on Sunday. #AsiaCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 19, 2018
Thumping victory by team India 👏👏 #IndVsPak
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 19, 2018
Pakistan looked hung over from their heady hampions Trophy victory of more than a year ago. Too much pointless bravado, too little thought
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 19, 2018
That was too easy for India. Will take a lot of confidence from this win.
Kedar Jadhav’s spell was the turning point #IndiavsPakistan— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 19, 2018
A resounding win for India, especially considering playing back to back matches in this heat. The bowlers were brilliant and Rohit led the team brilliantly. Congratulations! #IndvPak
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sudhir10dulkar/status/1042469019637313536
Year 2099. World cup, India beats Pakistan for the 50th time.
100 yr old Pakistani Fan: "But the Champion Trophy Final in 2017…"#INDvPAK
— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) September 19, 2018
Live scenes from NDTV office…. #IndvPak pic.twitter.com/zM3ENGANTZ
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) September 19, 2018
“India won by 2 runs as they scored 164 chasing Pakistan’s score of 162..” #IndvPak pic.twitter.com/Kar8TMaKXZ
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) September 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/RoshanKrRai/status/1042450700758867968
Imran Khan said "If India will take one step forward , Pakistan will take two"
Kohli decided not to play against Pakistan, and entire Pakistan decided not to play against India.
— Mahesh Vikram Hegde 🇮🇳 (@mvmeet) September 19, 2018
Udaas Mat Ho… Chal Champions Trophy Finals Ki Highlights Dekhe…#IndvPak pic.twitter.com/HDb91SEHdQ
— Babu Bhaiya (@Shahrcasm) September 19, 2018
I don't understand why we abuse each others country.
please spread love brothers,
Love from Pakistan pic.twitter.com/Ej7HsA2uTL— The Muhammad Nasir (@Nasir_Yousafxai) September 19, 2018
Dear Pakistan,
You Can Now Start Celebrating Your Customary TV Breaking Ceremony. #INDvPAK #INDvsPAK #PAKvIND #PAKvsIND #IndiavsPakistan pic.twitter.com/cmmvZ9SrWS
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) September 19, 2018
