Asia Cup | Kuldeep, Axar leave Pakistan in a daze

A nervy evening at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium turned into a night of celebration for India as Suryakumar Yadav’s team maintained its stranglehold over Pakistan. In a Group-A battle of the arch-rivals at the Asia Cup on Sunday, India strolled to a target of 128 in 15.5 overs with seven wickets in hand to virtually seal qualification for the Super Four phase. Post victory, the two teams did not exchange customary handshakes.

The crushing triumph was set up by the Indian bowlers, who restricted Salman Agha’s men to 127 for nine in 20 overs. Shaheen Afridi’s unbeaten 33 off 16 balls at No. 9 was the lone silver lining for Pakistan with the bat.

India’s crafty attack was at its very best. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was again the ace in the pack with figures of 4-0-18-3, and was ably assisted by Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah.

The job was completed by India’s formidable batting unit. The chase began with Abhishek Sharma thumping Shaheen for a four and six. Shubman Gill also struck successive boundaries against Saim Ayub, who claimed three wickets, before being stumped. Abhishek went on to hammer a 13-ball 31 as India motored to 42 for two in four overs.

With the asking rate in control, the rest of the batters did not have to do anything daft. Suryakumar did as required with an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls.

For the Indian fans to break into thunderous applause at the start of the game, it took no time. Off the first legitimate delivery of the game, Hardik Pandya dismissed Saim as his airy drive spooned to Bumrah at backward point. Next over, Hardik sprinted from fine leg and held onto a skier from Mohammad Haris to give Bumrah his opening breakthrough.

On a sluggish surface, Fakhar Zaman tried to play the role of aggressor. Twice in the third over, he got Hardik away for boundaries.

At the other end, Sahibzada Farhan clumped Bumrah for two sixes before the field restrictions eased. Yet, Pakistan had ambled along to 42 for two in six overs with Farhan at a run-a-ball 19.

With the desperation of the Pakistan batters mounting, it was easy to foretell Fakhar’s attempted slog when Axar came into the attack in the eighth over. To the latter’s credit, he gave the ball a bit of air and drew the left-hand batter into a miscue that carried to long-on. In his very next over, Axar would also trap Salman in his net.

Not much of a revival was in store for the Pakistanis as wickets kept tumbling. Kuldeep joined the jamboree with back-to-back breakthroughs of Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz, reducing the rival to 64 for six in 12.5 overs.

Considering India’s firm grip on proceedings, Pakistan’s ambition in the latter overs was limited to looking for a fighting total.

Hopes were pinned on Farhan, but after a subpar 40, he succumbed off his 44th delivery for Kuldeep’s third scalp of the innings.