POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Sep 5, 2022 : Asia Cup, or India-Pakistan series?
The above was in the equation that the two teams could meet three times in the Asia Cup. But what was seen in the first two matches, maybe no one will object if the two teams meet in the final! You definitely do not want to miss such a thrill! Not only the excitement outside the field, but the fight on the field is fierce. The first match between the two teams in the group stage was quite a ‘low scoring affair’. India and Pakistan showed a ‘high scoring thriller’ in their first Super Four match.
While the previous match in Dubai ended with Hardik Pandya celebrating, this time it saw the excitement of Khushdil Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed. Mohammad Rizwan’s 51-ball 71 in Dubai and Mohammad Nawaz’s 42-run innings from 20 balls helped Pakistan chase down India’s target of 182 with 1 ball and 5 wickets to spare. This is now their highest run chase win against India.
Pakistan had one change in the match due to injury. India, however, made three changes—along with injuries there were also strategic reasons. Deepak Hooda was played due to Ravindra Jadeja’s injury, rested Hardik Pandya was brought back, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also came into the team. Before this match, the head coach Rahul Dravid said that from now on they will field only the best eleven. However, Hooda did not bowl till the end today, they also felt the lack of someone like Ravindra Jadeja or Dinesh Karthik in the role of finisher.
All three of India’s top order were recently in talks. Lokesh Rahul has been suffering from this version for quite some time, he was beaten in the previous match against Hong Kong. Rohit Sharma’s record against Pakistan is not favourable, he has not been in his form recently either. And when Virat Kohli will regain himself – that was becoming the question of crores of rupees.
All three matched themselves against Pakistan. After losing the toss and batting, Rohit attacked Pakistan’s pace attack first, then Rahul also joined. Both scored 54 runs in the first 5 overs. They have also taken the record of Paul Sterling and Kevin O’Brien’s partnership of 13 50 or more runs in T20 Internationals.
Haris Rauf gave the first breakthrough back to Rohit, but it was mainly two spinners – Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan – who brought Pakistan back into the match. Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya or Deepak Hooda—India’s middle order didn’t have explosive innings. Newaz and Shadab gave 56 runs in 8 overs and took 3 wickets. There, 3 pacers gave 121 runs in the remaining 12 overs.
India, however, could have stopped within less runs, but Kohli didn’t let that happen. Despite losing wickets at the other end, batted with great control, playing a major role in a 44-ball 60-run innings to give India a good collection. Kohli has finally returned to form, after two consecutive fifties it can be said now. In the last 2 balls, two misfields by Fakhar Zaman led India to 181 runs. Before Fakhar’s misfield, however, Pakistan had a great time fielding.
Pakistan did not get off to a flying start like India in chasing runs. On the contrary, they also lost Babar Azam in the fourth over – Ravi Bishnoi succeeded in his first over. Fakhar also couldn’t clear the responsibility of conceding an extra 7 runs in the last 2 overs, scoring 15 runs off 18 balls before falling to Yuzvendra Chahal.
But the role that Kohli has played for India, Mohammad Rizwan has done for Pakistan. The wicket-keeper batsman, who held Pakistan’s innings against Hong Kong in the previous match, also did the same against India. However, Mohammad Nawaz has played a major role in advancing Pakistan’s run chase. He played the role of ‘Aggressor’ in great style. Scored 42 runs off 20 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes, 73 runs from 41 balls in his partnership with Rizwan. However, neither of them could finish the match.
However, it was still Pakistan’s middle order that was ahead of all in strike rate this year. Despite seeing the success of Pakistan spinners, Rohit did not bring Deepak Hooda to bowl as the third spinner, relying on 5 bowlers. 26 runs were required in the last 2 overs, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar scored 19 runs in the 19th over. Arshdeep Singh kept India in the match till the last 2 balls. But the attempted yorker was not successful. First a yorker attempt from Asif’s low fouls followed by Iftikhar Ahmed’s doubles ensured victory for Pakistan.
