KANDY: The much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and India in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 was washed out by persistent rain after Pakistan’s pace-packed bowling attack restricted India to 266 runs in the first innings. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s half-centuries were the highlights of India’s innings.
As a result of the rain-induced draw, both arch-rivals shared a point each in the tournament.
Pakistan, who already had two points from their dominant victory over Nepal, secured their spot in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s. They finished their group-stage campaign with three points from two matches.
India Batting Against Pakistan
After winning the toss, India began their innings cautiously against the fiery seam bowling of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. Rain briefly interrupted play during the early stages.
Following the rain break, Shaheen Afridi made a significant impact by dismissing Indian captain Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4) in quick succession, reducing India to 27-2.
Haris Rauf further hampered India’s progress by removing Shreyas Iyer (14) and Shubman Gill (10).
Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya then came to India’s rescue with a solid 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This partnership helped India recover from a precarious position of 66-4. Notably, it was India’s highest partnership for the fifth wicket in Asia Cup ODIs.
Both batsmen dominated the Pakistani spin bowlers during the middle overs and notched up half-centuries before the pace bowlers made a comeback, ending their partnership by dismissing Ishan Kishan.
Ishan Kishan scored 82 runs off 81 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes, before being caught by Pakistani captain Babar Azam off Haris Rauf’s delivery.
Hardik Pandya was then briefly partnered with Ravindra Jadeja before falling to Shaheen Afridi’s slower delivery after scoring 87 runs off 90 balls, featuring seven boundaries and one six.
Pakistani bowlers combined to wrap up the Indian innings at 266 in the 49th over after a brief cameo of 16 runs off 14 balls by Jasprit Bumrah.
Shaheen Afridi led the bowling charts in the first innings of Pakistan vs India with figures of 4-35, while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf contributed with three wickets each.
Pakistan Squad
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf.
India Squad
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
