India’s charge at the Asia Cup Super Four stage began in familiar fashion as they brushed aside Pakistan with a six-wicket win in Dubai. Chasing 172, their highest target against Pakistan in T20 internationals, India made light work of the challenge, winning with seven balls to spare.
The tone was set from the very first delivery of the innings when Abhishek Sharma pulled Shaheen Shah Afridi over fine leg for six. On a weekend evening when the Dubai International Cricket Stadium was packed with fans who had paid at least 375 dirhams for a ticket, India’s openers ensured the contest quickly became one-sided.
Abhishek and Shubman Gill raced to 69 without loss in the powerplay, the highest score in the first six overs in this year’s tournament. The partnership was worth 105 from just 59 balls before Faheem Ashraf finally bowled Gill for 47. The vice-captain’s knock, laced with eight boundaries, came at a strike-rate of 168 and included strokes all around the ground.
At the other end, Abhishek was even more destructive. The left-hander plundered 78 from 39 balls with five sixes and four fours, four of his maximums coming off Abrar Ahmed’s bowling. It was a display that left Pakistan’s spinners with no answers. He eventually holed out to Abrar but not before leaving India within touching distance of victory.
Suryakumar Yadav fell for a duck but Tilak Varma’s breezy 30 from 19 balls ensured India never stumbled. The chase was completed with four wickets down, giving India their 12th win over Pakistan in their last 15 meetings.
Earlier, Pakistan’s 171 for 6 had promised more at the halfway stage. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 58 off 45 balls, though his innings was twice reprieved by dropped catches. India’s fielders shelled four chances in total, with Abhishek, Kuldeep Yadav and Gill among the culprits. Farhan combined with Saim Ayub for 72 runs, and later Faheem Ashraf’s late cameo of 20 from 8 deliveries added some respectability.
Shivam Dube was India’s unlikely hero with the ball, removing both set batters and finishing with 2 for 33. Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy bowled tidily to choke Pakistan in the middle overs, forcing a barren stretch of 39 deliveries without a boundary.
Pakistan’s innings also suffered from lapses, including a comical run-out of Mohammad Nawaz when he wandered out of his crease and was caught short by Suryakumar Yadav’s throw. By the end of their innings, the sense was that Pakistan had fallen short once again.
That feeling was confirmed in ruthless style by India’s batters, who ensured that the on-field rivalry mirrored the current gulf between the two teams.
