Virat Kohli hit 49 runs off 51 balls as India beat Pakistan by five wickets in an Asia Cup match on Saturday where both rivals endured dramatic batting collapses.

In a sublime spell of fast bowling Mohammad Amir reduced India to 8-3 before Kohli guided his team to overhaul Pakistan's atrocious 83 with almost five overs left.

Yuvraj Singh was unbeaten on 14, combining a 68-run partnership with Kohli for the fourth wicket.

Earlier, India fast bowler Hardik Pandya returned his career best 3-8. Left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed 2-11 while fast bowlers Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah and left arm spinner Yuvraj Singh chipped in with one wicket apiece for India.

Only two Pakistan batsmen could reach double digits in its lowest total against India. Sarfraz Khan scored 25 while Khurram Manzoor added 10, with extras contributing 15. India won the toss and opted to bowl, exploiting the reckless batting of Pakistan on a seaming track.

Two needless runouts, Manzoor and Shahid Afridi (2), didn't help on a dire day for Pakistan's batting. Chasing a seemingly easy target, India had a desperate start after Amir's double blow in the first over, trapping Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane , both leg-before and without scoring.

Amir then removed Suresh Raina for a single in another fuller length delivery to leave India at 8-3. Kohli showed his class against the four-man hostile bowling attack with support from Yuvraj Singh who appeared uncomfortable but somehow managed to keep his wicket intact.

With eight required to win, fast bowler Mohammad Sami (2-16) broke the partnership by removing Kohli after he clobbered seven fours in his match-winning innings.

Sami then claimed Hardik Pandya (0) but captain MS Dhoni, with 7 not out, smashed a cover-drive boundary in the next over off Wahab Riaz for India's victory.

Teams

Pakistan Squad

Khurram Manzoor, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan

India Squad

RG Sharma, AM Rahane, V Kohli, SK Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni*†, HH Pandya, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, A Nehra