Rejuvenated India Dismissed Pakistan's Challenge

Ruthlessness. This is the one word that can describe India's performance over their arch-rivals Pakistan in the 5th match of the Asia Cup 2018 on Wednesday, September 19 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

There were a lot of talks about the India-Pakistan clash before starting the match but it ended with a one-sided affair as India beat Pakistan by 8-wickets chasing 163 with 126 balls to spare.



If India's was below average yesterday against inexperienced Hong Kong, they came up with all guns against Pakistan today. Their problem with not picking wickets with the new ball resolved in this match as Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed both the openers inside the first four overs after Pakistan's skipper Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bat first.

Pakistan heavily relied on their two openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq to get them a solid start. Bhuvneshwar Kumar who had an off day against Hong Kong split the water on Pakistan's hopes and dismissed both the openers cheaply. Their best batsman in recent past, Fakhar Zaman could not even open his account after facing 9 balls while his partner managed to score only 2 off 7 balls. Pakistan was left fumbled on 3 for 2 in 4.1 overs.

After losing both the openers cheaply, Pakistan was needed someone to play responsibly. Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik came to rescue them and put on 82-run partnership for the third wickets. However, their resistance could not last long as Babar Azam failed to read Kuldeep Yadav's wrong'un and bowled out after scoring 47 off 62 balls. Once Babar Azam dismissed the doors had been opened for India and Kedar Jadhav ran through Pakistan's middle order with his part-time spin bowling. Their problems were increased after Malik got run out on 43.



From 85 for 2 Pakistan was left wobbling 110 for 6 in 28.1 overs. Faheem Ashraf (21) and Mohammed Amir (18) tried to fight back with a 37-run stand for the 8th wickets but Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar came to the attack and wrapped up things quickly. They bowled out on 162 in 43.1 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kedar Jadhav were picks of the bowlers for India. Both took 3-wickets each. Bumrah also picked 2 wickets while Kuldeep took a wicket too. Bhuvneshwar Kumar awarded Man Of The Match for his brilliant bowling.

Chasing 163 India came off to a flier as Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan both took Pakistan's bowlers all around the park. In the 8th over of Indian innings, Rohit smashed two sixes and a four to Usman Khan. He completed his half-century off 36 balls. However, he dismissed by Shadab Khan after scoring 52 off 39 balls. Dhawan also caught at point on just 4 short of his half-century. However, India did not lose any wicket further and Ambati Rayudu (31) and Dinesh Karthik (31) finished the match with an unbeaten partnership of 60-runs.

Pakistan did not have much success with the ball as they could manage only two Indian wickets. Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf took a wicket each but they could not put pressure on Indian batsmen.



This was India's sixth win over Pakistan in Asia Cup. Both teams will face each other again on 23rd September in Super 4 round. Before that India will take on Bangladesh in the first match of Super 4 round.

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