Dubai: Before Sunday, India have never beaten arch-rivals Pakistan twice in the same edition of the Asia Cup. They not only to managed to do that in Dubai on Sunday but also created a new record by beating Pakistan by 9 wickets, their biggest-ever over the Men in Green in terms of wickets. The win meant India were all but through to the final of the Asia Cup.
India were thoroughly professional and dynamic under their stand-in captain Rohit Sharma. The fast bowlers executed their plan of cramping up the left-hand openers, a legspinner came on early enough in a data-based decision, Jasprit Bumrah thwarted a Shoaib Malik fifty with four overs of excellent death bowling, and for the second match in a row against Pakistan, Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan almost had a net in the middle to seal an easy win.
The winners first restricted Pakistan to 237/7 and then achieved the target with ease. They romped home with 9 wickets and 63 balls to spare. Rohit (111 not out) and Dhawan (114) scored a century each. The latter was adjudged man of the match for his brilliant ton, second of the tournament. Shoaib Malik was the leading scorer for Pakistan with 78 runs while skipper Sarfraz Khan played a patient knock of 44 to ensure Pakistan post a fighting total of 237. It was a trademark Malik innings. He was barely seen scoring those 78 runs in 90 balls.
However, Indian openers foiled every plan Pakistan bowlers had as they stitched together a 210-run partnership to make the chase easy and comfortable. With their wives sitting next to each other, the duo went on to put together India’s biggest opening stand against Pakistan; their 13th hundred stand was now the second-highest for India openers. Unlike in the previous game, there were enough runs for the Indian opening pair to get hundreds. Otherwise, the chase was as easy as the 163 the other night.
