India outclass Pakistan in one-sided Asia Cup affair
India have easily secured an easy win against Pakistan in a Group A match of the Asia Cup 2018 played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The Indian team was off to a steady start in the second inning with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were slowly rotating the strike and keeping things moving in the early overs in their effort to chase Pakistan's meagre 163-run target.
The action really started in 8th over when Usman Khan conceded 19 runs, including two sixes and a four. India was at 46 runs at the end of this over.
India stood at 58 at the loss of no wickets after Ashraf bowled the 10th over. Sharma scored a huge six on the second ball of the 12th over, sending India's total to a booming 82-0. Two balls later, he scored his first 50 of the match, bringing the total to 85-0.
Sharma's stroke of luck didn't last as he was caught out on the first ball of the 13th over, when India stood at 86-1. This was the first wicket to fall for India and was taken by Shadab Khan as he bowled his first delivery of the match
Hundred came up for India in the 16th over as Fakhar Zaman replaced Shahdab Khan mid-over as the latter seemed to have hurt his back while following through on the third ball of the over.
India's second wicket fell at 104 in the 17th over when Dhawan played a reckless cut shot off Faheem Ashraf's ball straight to Babar Azam at backward point.
The match, a one-sided affair at this point, went on swiftly as India cruised though the last leg of the run chase after the Green Shirts seemed to have conceded defeat in their heads already. The match ended in the 29th over when Ambati Rayudu smashed Shoaib Malik's final ball for a four.
Pakistan innings
Fakhar Zaman and Imamul Haq opened the batting for Pakistan, whereas Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar shared the new ball for India.
The Indian pacers stuck to a tight line and length in the opening two overs, which put the pressure on young Imam. He tried to accelerate the scoring by charging down the pitch and paid the price, nicking one behind to MS Dhoni.