Experienced Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik’s brilliant 78-run knock and some important middle-order contributions helped the Pakistan cricket team to manage a fighting total of 237/7 (50 overs) against India in the Super Four stage game of the Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai).

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed decided to bat first after winning the toss. The top-order batsmen failed to play big knocks as the openers Imam-ul-Haq (10) and Fakhar Zaman (31) and the no.3 batsman Babar Azam (9) were sent back to the pavilion when Pakistan was on 58 runs.

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After that, the Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and the experienced batsman Shoaib Malik rescued the team with the brilliant 107-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Sarfraz scored 44 runs off 66 balls (2 fours) while Malik scored 78 runs off 90 balls (4 fours and 2 sixes).

Later, Asif Ali also played an important knock of 30 runs off 21 balls (only four and 2 sixes) but the Indian bowlers restricted them to 237/7 at the end of 50 overs through some brilliant death over bowling.

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Among the Indian bowlers, pacer Jasprit Bumrah bowled very well as his bowling figure was 10-1-29-2. Also, the two frontline spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (2/46) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/41) bagged two wickets each in that innings.

Some key stats of the innings (For Asia Cup stats – only ODI formats):

• Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik scored 78 runs in this match. It was his third 50+ score against India in the Asia Cup history. Previously, only the former Pakistan batsman Younis Khan had played three 50+ innings against India in the Asia Cup history.
• Also, it was Malik’s sixth 50+ knocks in the Asia Cup history. He has equalled with the most 50+ knocks by any Pakistan batsman in the Asia Cup history as the former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq had also played six 50+ knocks in this tournament history.
• Pakistan batsmen Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik put a 107-run partnership for the fourth wicket. It is their fourth highest partnership for any wicket against India in the Asia Cup history.
• Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik has scored 7,196 ODI runs. He has moved up to the seventh most ODI run-scorer as a Pakistan batsman by surpassing Saleem Malik’s 7,170 ODI runs.
• Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah had the bowling figure of 10-1-29-2. Completing the 10-over quota, it is the fourth lowest runs conceded by an Indian pacer in the Asia Cup history.
• Pakistan scored 237/7 in 50 overs. Batting full 50 overs, it is the lowest total for Pakistan against India in the Asia Cup history. Their previous record was 266/9 (50 overs) at Sharjah on April 7, 1995.
• Since 2000, it is the lowest ODI total for Pakistan against India when they batted full 50 overs.

Here are some Twitter reactions:

Fifty up for @realshoaibmalik..partnership with @SarfarazA_54 looking strong for Pakistan. How much do you think Pakistan will score? #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 23, 2018

Sensational from Bumrah. Better death bowler in world cricket? Only 38 in last 7 overs

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 23, 2018

Good recovery by Pak after the initial stutter but is 237 enough? Perhaps not given how the pitch has played unless they get a couple of early wickets. Fighting score though

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 23, 2018

Fantastic death bowling from @Jaspritbumrah93 amazing consistency. 260 down to 240. India very good start and finish, Pakistan very good consolidation in the middle overs thanks to Shoaib.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 23, 2018

https://twitter.com/lionofpunjb/status/1043891890960191488

https://twitter.com/Sarcasticbaccha/status/1043889208841162753

https://twitter.com/Pun404/status/1043888922336677888

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