ASIA CUP 2014 – PAKISTAN BEATS INDIA BY 1 WICKET, DHAKA

This was the first time Virat Kohli captained India for a whole tournament as MS Dhoni was rested by the selectors. India needed to win this match to go into the finals and Pakistan was ready to thwart those plans.

India batted first after Misbah won the toss and lost Dhawan (10) and Kohli (5) early. Rohit Sharma (56) and Ambati Rayudu (58) stabilized the innings while Jadeja (52*) took India to a respectable 245/8 in a crunch match. Saeed Ajmal (3/40) and two wickets each for Mohd Hafeez and Mohammad Talha wrecked the Indian batting lineup.

Though openers Shehzad (42) and Sharjeel (25) gave Pakistan a start of 71 in first 10 overs, Indian spinners Ashwin and Amit Mishra rocked the middle order with quick wickets. Ashwin removed Sharjeel and Hafeez, who made 75; while Mishra took care of Shehzad and Umar Akmal. Shoaib Maqsood (38) steadied the ship.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar jolted the lower order with two quick strikes and quick runs were needed by Pakistan and then in came Boom Boom Afridi. He smacked 34* off 18 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours and ended India’s hopes of making it into the finals. Pakistan won the match by 1 wicket and went into the finals.

Here are the highlights: