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Asia Cup 2023 | Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan Lift India Before Rain Prevent PAK Run-Chase

image-lm29p7wiHardik Pandya celebrates his 50 in Asia Cup 2023 match vs Pakistan (AP Photos)

Team India escaped with a no-result in Kandy following their top-order jitters against Pakistan in match number three of Asia Cup 2023.

After the ‘Men in Blue’ had slapped 266 upfront, ceaseless rains at the Pallekele Stadium prevented the launch of Pakistan’s run-chase.

Pandya, Kishan overcome Shaheen Afridi threat

Prior to the game, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. The decision instantly backfired, as the skipper was cleaned up by Pakistan new-ball pacer Shaheen Afridi for just 11 within the fifth over of the innings.

Number three Virat Kohli also chopped on to his stumps to become the second of Afridi’s four victims of the day. Haris Rauf snared two quick wickets himself from his end to have India’s top-order jolted at 66-4.

Watch: Shaheen Afridi cleans up Virat Kohli

Thereafter, Indian middle-order batters Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya formed a belligerent counterattacking 138-run stand, that took their side past the 200-run mark without further casualty. Both cricketers scored sparkling 80s, and accounted nearly two-thirds of the total by themselves.

Kishan’s dismissal at the hands of Rauf led to a mini batting collapse within the Indian camp, as they failed to bat out their 50 overs. They eventually stretched their total to a competitive 266, from 66-4, with tailender Jasprit Bumrah adding some handy runs in the death overs.

Highlights from Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya partnership

Afridi finished with figures of 4-35 while his pace teammates Rauf and Naseem Shah both claimed three wickets each.

Pakistan’s run-chase never took off owing to constant rains at the venue, thus allowing both sides to walk away with a point each. The result enabled the ‘Men in Green’ to storm into the Super Four stage of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.

The Indian team, on the other hand, need to defeat Nepal in their final Group A fixture on September 4 at the same venue.

Brief Scores:

India: 266 (48.5)
Hardik Pandya 87 (90), Ishan Kishan 82 (81)
Shaheen Afridi 4-35 (10), Naseem Shah 3-36 (8.5)

Pakistan: DNB

No result