In a thrilling Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2023 held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, India showcased their prowess with both bat and ball, leaving Pakistan in the shadows. The game took place on Monday, September 11, and it was a contest that cricket fans won’t forget soon.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, India delivered a masterclass in building a formidable total. Their top-order batsmen put up an exhibition of skill and composure, as they reached an impressive 356/2 in their allotted 50 overs.
Leading the charge were Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who provided the early momentum with brisk half-centuries. Their partnership laid a strong foundation for India. However, it was the exceptional performances of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul that truly powered India to their commanding total. Both Kohli and Rahul played with remarkable fluency, notching up centuries and putting Pakistan under immense pressure.
In the pursuit of a daunting target of 357, Pakistan faced a challenging task against a formidable Indian bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah and his colleagues put up a phenomenal display with the new ball. Pakistan’s top-order batsmen, including Imam-ul-Haq (9), Babar Azam (10), and Mohammad Rizwan (2), departed cheaply, leaving the team in dire straits early on.
Amidst this batting collapse, senior opener Fakhar Zaman emerged as a ray of hope for Pakistan. He played with caution, weathering the early storm and showing glimpses of his potential. However, Fakhar Zaman couldn’t find a way to shift gears and seize control of his innings.
In a bid to break free from the stranglehold imposed by the Indian bowlers, Fakhar Zaman decided to take an aggressive route in the 20th over. Unfortunately for him and Pakistan, his attempt to go for a big shot against Kuldeep Yadav resulted in a missed ball and a clean-up of his stumps.
The dismissal of Fakhar Zaman marked a turning point in the match, and Pakistan found themselves facing an even steeper climb to reach the massive target set by India.
VIDEO: Fakhar Zaman dismissed by Kuldeep
At the end! India (356/2) thrashed Pakistan (128/8 in 32 overs) by 228 runs and won the biggest margin game against Pakistan.