The Asia Cup 2023 clash between Pakistan and India, highly anticipated by fans, took an unexpected turn as rain played spoilsport today.
Despite the persistent showers disrupting play and preventing further action, Pakistan managed to clinch a spot in the Super 4s with a stellar performance on the field.
Throughout the match at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy, rain made frequent appearances, causing delays. The Men in Blue could only complete 48.5 overs and set a target of 267 runs, thanks to a remarkable display by the Pakistani bowlers.
Pakistan’s star seamers, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, wreaked havoc on India’s top-order after Rohit Sharma chose to bat first.
Pakistan gained momentum when their pacers dismissed four key Indian batters early in the game. Although the Indian middle-order put up a fight and crossed the 130-run mark by the 27th over, the Pakistan pacers struck back, taking three consecutive wickets and shifting the game in their favor.
Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed 4 wickets, Haris Rauf took 3, and the final two dismissals of Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav were credited to Naseem Shah, who also secured 3 wickets.
The match faced two interruptions due to rain. The first stoppage occurred in the fourth over, with India already scoring 15 runs. A second interruption came when India reached a score of 51-3 during the 11th over but was shortly resumed thereafter.
It is important to note that Pakistan had a strong start to their Asia Cup 2023 campaign, securing a commanding 238-run victory over Nepal earlier in the week.
In contrast, this match marked India’s first appearance in the tournament. Pakistan’s journey to the Super 4s continues, promising more thrilling cricket action in the Asia Cup 2023.
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