- Hardik Pandya (33 runs & 3 wickets) stars in the match, and bags man of the match award
Team India started their Asia Cup 2022 campaign in a buzzing mode as they defeated their arch-rivals Pakistan by 5 wickets in the first T20 of group A at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 33 runs of 17 balls, and in the last over, his huge six took India to victory. Ravindra Jadeja scored 35 runs of 29 balls, while Virat Kohli scored 35 runs off 34 balls. During the first inning, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4/26 of 4 ov) and Pandya (3/25 of 4 ov) helped India to stop Pakistan at a total of 147 in 19.5 overs. Mohammad Rizwan 43 off 42 balls scored highest from the Pakistan side, while Babar Azam scored only 10 off 9 balls.
Rohit Sharma, the India skipper won the toss and decided to bowl first. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam came to bat as the opening pair. Babar gave a catch to Arshdeep Singh while playing a shot on Bhuvneshwar’s ball and out on the fourth ball of the third over. He scored only 10 runs. Then, Fakhar Zaman came to pitch and could not stand before Indian bowlers and gave a catch on Avesh Khan’s bowl on his total 10 scores. Rizwan gave a catch to Avesh on his 43 scores and team’s 96 as the fourth loss of Pakistan. Finally, Pakistan scored a total of 147/10 in 19.5 overs.
While chasing the target, the Indian start was poor as opener KL Rahul was out on his zero and India’s 1 score on the second bowl of the inning. Then, Virat Kohli came to bat and could not do much as he was expected, but he hit a very respective score than Rahul. Kohli played till 9.1 overs and scored 35 off 34 balls including 3 fours and 1 six, while Rohit Sharma was out before him on his 12 scores and team’s total of 50. Then, Ravindra Jadeja came to bat on the fourth number, in the meanwhile Kohli was out as India’s third loss and Surya Kumar Yadav came to pitch as the fifth Indian batter. Yadav could not play a long inning as he has the chance to show brilliance and was out on his 18 and team’s 89.
It was the moment when India was seen into a few pressers, but Jadeja who was still on the crease helped India to come out from the presser, and he played a brilliant partnership (50+) inning with Hardik Pandya. Jadeja scored 35 of 29 balls including 2 fours and 2 sixes, while Pandya took India to win in the last over as he hit a huge winning six on the fourth bowl of the last bowl.
Pakistani spinner Mohammad Nawaz picked 3 wickets, and pacer Naseem Shah picked two wickets during the second inning.
Pandya bags the man of the match award:
All-rounder Pandya played a crucial role in India’s above win as he performed 33 of 17 balls; 4 fours and 1 six through bat and picked three wickets in four overs.
Brief Scoreboard:
Pakistan- 147/10 in 19.5 ov
India- 148/5 in 19.4 ov (won by 5 wickets)
Read also:Asia Cup 2022: Virat Kohli opens up on his form before India vs Pakistan mega battle
