The much hyped India vs Pakistan clash lived upto the billing on Sunday (August 28) as Rohit Sharma's team edged out Babar Azam & co. in a last-over thriller of Asia Cup 2022 to win by 5 wickets in Dubai.
At the same venue, Pakistan had thrashed India by 10 wickets in T20 World Cup 2021, and it was a sweet revenge for India as they executed their bowling plans to perfection and then kept their head while chasing 148 despite a fine bowling performance by Pakistan on a tricky pitch.
India won the toss and chose to bowl first, as Bhuvneshwar (4/26), Hardik Pandya (3/25) and Arshdeep Singh (2/33) bowled with a lot of precision especially the short ball to bowl out Pakistan for 147 in 19.5 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan scored 43 but had to consume 42 balls for his effort. No other batter touched 30, and it took some late hits by tailenders Haris Rauf (13*) and Shahnawaz Dahani (16*) to get the team to a fighting total.
India's chase got off to the worst start possible as KL Rahul was dismissed for a golden duck by debutant Naseem Shah. Rohit Sharma struggled for 12 in 18 balls, while Virat Kohli made 35 in 34 balls playing his 100th T20I. Suryakumar Yadav scored run-a-ball 18 but also fell to Naseem with the required run-rate increasing.
Ravindra Jadeja (35) and Hardik Pandya (33*) added 52 runs for the fifth wicket to take India close to the victory. Jadeja was dismissed in the final over but Hardik completed a memorable all-round performance by smashing a six off Mohammad Nawaz, who finished with 3/33, to win the game for India in 19.4 overs.
Pakistan cricket fraternity appreciated the Indian team for winning a thriller, while lauding Pakistan's bowlers for putting up an admirable effort to defend the score. Here are the tweets:
