India outclass Pakistan with 7-wicket win in Asia Cup clash

KABUL (Pajhwok): India extended their dominance over arch-rivals Pakistan with a commanding seven-wicket victory in the Asia Cup T20 match, taking their head-to-head record to 11-3 in the shortest format of the game.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, but their batting line-up faltered under pressure against India’s disciplined bowling attack.

The match, played at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, saw India take control from the outset. Hardik Pandya removed Saim Ayub with the first legal delivery of the match, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Few Pakistani batters offered resistance, with Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring with 40 off 43 balls. Despite hitting two sixes off Jasprit Bumrah — a rare achievement — Farhan’s knock failed to lift Pakistan to a competitive total. They ended their innings on a modest 128 for 9.

Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel dominated the middle overs, sharing five wickets between them. Kuldeep took 3 wickets, while Bumrah, Axar, Pandya, and Varun Chakravarthy also chipped in with one or two each.

Pakistan struggled for momentum, managing 63 dot balls. Their run rate crossed six an over only in the final over, largely due to a late cameo by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who struck an unbeaten 33 off 16 balls — his highest T20I score.

In reply, India began aggressively. Abhishek Sharma hit a four and a six off the first two deliveries from Afridi, setting the tone. Though Ayub struck back by removing both openers — Sharma and Shubman Gill — India had already reached 41 for 2 inside four overs.

Pakistan briefly built pressure during the middle overs, but failed to maintain it. India lost just one more wicket — that of Tilak Varma — before Suryakumar Yadav (26 not out) and Shivam Dube (22 not out) guided them to victory with 25 balls remaining.

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