Asia Cup: Pakistan reach ‘Super Four’ as Indo-Pak clash abandoned

Sports Reporter :
The prestigious Group-A match of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Asia Cup between the two titans of world cricket, India and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Thus, the two neighbours splitted one point each.

Pakistan confirmed their ‘Super Four’ berth.

Earlier, Pakistan defeated Nepal by 238 runs in their first Group-A match at Mulatan in Pakistan on August 30.

Mighty India will take on minnows Nepal at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka tomorrow.

So, it is matter of time for India to reach the ‘Super Four’ berth.

Electing to bat first, India piled up a fighting total of 266 off 48.5 overs.

India faced an early debacle as they lost four wickets for 66 runs.

Fifth-down Ishan Kishan and sixth-down Hardik Pandya salvaged their team from debacle contributing together 138 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Ishan was dismissed by Haris Rauf when India’s total was 204 for the loss of five wickets.

Ishan hit a marvelous 82. His 81-ball innings was studded with nine fours and two sixes.

After Ishan’s dismissal, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja built another notable partnership adding together 35 runs in the sixth wicket stand before Hardik Pandya was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi when India’s score was 239 for the loss of six wickets.

Pandya notched up a terrific 87. His 90-ball innings was laced with seven fours and a sixer.

After Pandya’s departure, Indian batters failed to make any remarkable partnership.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah played the key role to mop up the tail-enders.

Shaheen Shah Afridi captured four wickets in the space of 35 runs, while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf grabbed three wickets each instead of 36 and 58 runs respectively.