India secured their place for the final of Asia Cup 2018 after thrashing their arch-rivals Pakistan by nine wickets (with 63 balls remaining) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai) in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup 2018.

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed decided to bat first after winning the toss but they managed to score only 237/7 at the end of 50 overs.

In reply, Indian openers dominated over the Pakistan bowlers and they secured a thumping victory after chasing down the target in 39.3 overs by losing only one wicket.

Brief Score: Pakistan – 237/7 in 50 overs (Shoaib Malik 78, Sarfraz Ahmed 44; Jasprit Bumrah 2/29)

India – 238/1 in 39.3 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 114, Rohit Sharma 111*)

Result – India won by 9 wickets

Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:

i) Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik scored 78 runs in this match.

• It was Malik’s sixth 50+ knocks in the Asia Cup history (only ODI formats). He has equalled with the most 50+ knocks by any Pakistan batsman in the Asia Cup history (only ODI formats) as the former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq had also played six 50+ knocks in this tournament history.

ii) Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik has scored 7,196 ODI runs.

• Shoaib Malik has moved up to the seventh most ODI run-scorer as a Pakistan batsman by surpassing Saleem Malik’s 7,170 ODI runs.

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iii) 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.

iv) 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 (only ODI formats). Their previous record was 266/9 (50 overs) at Sharjah on April 7, 1995.

v) Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan provided 210-run opening partnership.

• The second best ODI partnership by any Indian partners for any wicket against Pakistan. The record is 231 runs partnership between Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar for the second wicket at Sharjah on April 15, 1996.
• The second best ODI partnership by any opening partners against Pakistan. The record is 284-run opening partnership between the Australian batsmen Travis Head and David Warner at Adelaide on January 26, 2017.
• The second best opening partnership in the Asia Cup history (only ODI formats). The record is 224 runs partnership between the Pakistan batsmen Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed against India at Dhaka on March 18, 2012.

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vi) Both the Indian openers Rohit Sharma (111*) and Shikhar Dhawan (114) scored centuries in this match.

• First time in ODI history when both the Indian opening batsmen scored centuries against Pakistan.
• The seventh time in overall ODI history when both the Indian opening batsmen scored centuries.

vii) Indian skipper Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 111 runs.

• The second highest knock by an Indian ODI captain against Pakistan. The record is 113* by MS Dhoni at Chennai on December 30, 2012.
• The third highest knock by an Indian captain in the Asia Cup history (only ODI formats).

Indian skippers who have scored centuries in the Asia Cup history (Only ODI formats)

viii) Playing his 181st ODI innings, Rohit Sharma completed 7,000 ODI runs and has scored 7,017 ODI runs.

• Third fastest Indian batsman to complete 7,000 ODI runs. The top two Indian batsmen are Virat Kohli (161 innings) and Sourav Ganguly (174 innings).
• Ninth Indian batsman to score 7,000 or more ODI runs.

Batsmen who have scored 7,000 or more ODI runs for Indian cricket team

ix) As an opening batsman, Rohit Sharma scored 5,050 ODI runs.

• Fourth Indian opening batsman to score 5,000 or more ODI runs. The previous three Indian batsmen to achieve this feat were Sachin Tendulkar (15,310 runs), Sourav Ganguly (9,146 runs) and Virender Sehwag (7,240 runs).

x) Indian batsman Rohit Sharma completed his 300 sixes in international cricket as he has hit 301 international sixes.

• The second Indian batsman to hit 300 or more sixes in international cricket. MS Dhoni (335 sixes in international cricket) was the first Indian cricketer to achieve this feat.
• In overall, Rohit becomes the seventh batsman to hit 300 or more sixes in international cricket.

xi) India beat Pakistan by 9 wickets.

• The largest ODI victory (by wickets) for Indian cricket team against Pakistan. Their previous record was winning by 8 wickets for the six times.

xii) India successfully chased 238 runs target after losing just one wicket.

• In the ODI history, it is the highest successful chase for any team against Pakistan by losing one or lesser wicket. The previous record was chasing successfully 223 runs (226/1 in 37.2 overs) by England at Dubai (DSC) on February 18, 2012.