Indian bowlers did some great job in the first innings of the Group A game of the ongoing Asia Cup 2018 against Pakistan as they bundled out their opponents for just 162 runs in 43.1 overs.
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).
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.
Also watch: Manish Pandey’s Phenomenal Catch At The Boundary
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.
During the 18th over of that innings, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered an acute lower back injury and stretchered off the field, who had the bowling figure of 4.5-0-24-0.
Some key stats of the innings:
- Pakistan was bundled out for just 162 runs which is their third lowest completed Asia Cup total against India. The top two in this list are 134 (at Sharjah on April 13, 1984) and 142 (at Dhaka on October 31, 1988). Also, it is the lowest completed ODI total for Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium as their previous lowest was 207 (46.2 overs) against Australia on April 24, 2009.
- Seven Pakistan batsmen failed to reach the double-digit scores before getting out. The joint most number of Pakistan batsmen have been dismissed in the single-digit scores in a match of the Asia Cup history. Previously, against Sri Lanka in the 2004 Asia Cup at Colombo (RPS), seven Pakistan batsmen had been dismissed in the single-digit scores.
- Indian right-arm pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a bowling figure of 7-1-15-3. It is the second best bowling figure by an Indian pacer against Pakistan in the Asia Cup history. The record is 5-1-17-4 by Venkatesh Prasad at Colombo (SSC) on July 20, 1997.
- Indian off-spinner Kedar Jadhav had a bowling figure of 9-1-23-3. It is the second best bowling figure by an Indian spinner against Pakistan in the Asia Cup history. The record is 9-0-21-5 by Arshad Ayub at Dhaka on October 31, 1988.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Pakistan isn’t treating this as a 50-over game….imploding. #IndvPak @StarSportsIndia #AsiaCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 19, 2018
India, who looked like were sleepwalking against Hong Kong y’day, have performed with gusto and purpose in the field todsy despite the 2 dropped catches. Pak batting terribly below par. Target seems easy to get
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 19, 2018
That was an outstanding catch from Manish Pandey. Great balance to catch it and a very critical moment in the game #PAKvIND
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 19, 2018
Great start by bhuvi. India is in total control of this game #INDvsPAK
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 19, 2018
Great atmosphere when it is #IndvsPak anywhere in the world. Wishing the Indian team all the best in this chase of 163 pic.twitter.com/8yHKjxMlvp
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 19, 2018
Outstanding bowling performance from India. Have given the batsmen a gettable target. A day is a long time for bowlers!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 19, 2018
Pic of the Day #INDvPAK
We Indians love Pakistani but only to some extent 🙂 pic.twitter.com/1rvXJw2Oja— Mohahahaan (@Mohan9999999) September 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/Shaaryofficial/status/1042394810974396416
https://twitter.com/jaimeme_morbia/status/1042424742672625664
Pakistani players after playing a long innings of 162 runs 😒😂#INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/IXMKbHrWnS
— 🎊 Manisha 🎉 (@Ruler_manisha) September 19, 2018
Meanwhile In #Pakistan's Restaurant 😬😂😬 #INDvPAK #INDvsPAK #PAKvIND #PAKvsIND pic.twitter.com/HIhNuuiMBI
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) September 19, 2018
Pic 1.. Pakistani players at the beginning of the match
Pic 2.. Pakistani players after 27th over of the match#INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/gPfwHhuMUh— Parthiv Patel (@parthivpatel) September 19, 2018
Indian fans searching Pakistan fans #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/OlOPFnYB7i
— Gajender (@gajender00) September 19, 2018