A contest that promised a lot led to a moist squib as a persistent drizzle compelled each the Pakistan and Indian gamers to stay within the dressing room after no additional play was attainable within the second innings of the highly-anticipated Asia Cup conflict in Pallekele.
India, who have been bowled out for 266 in 48.5 overs after selecting to bat first, shared a degree with Pakistan, who certified for the Tremendous 4s with three factors, courtesy their crushing win over Nepal in Multan earlier within the week.
“We do not have Shaheen, Naseem and Rauf in our nets,” India skipper Rohit Sharma had stated whereas responding to a query within the media convention on the eve of the sport.
India’s batters have had points in opposition to tempo. Particularly left-arm tempo. Therefore, within the nets, you will see batters practising in opposition to aspect angle throw downs and in opposition to bowlers like Jaydev Unadkat, Pradeep Sangwan, Khaleel Ahmed and Aniket Chaudhary. Nonetheless, none of them bowl over 140-plus like Afridi.
Rohit had negotiated the early overs from Afridi properly, digging out full yorkers, having adopted a two-eyed open stance to keep away from getting his pads in the way in which. The 25-minute rain break although, that got here with India at 15 for no loss, gave Afridi an opportunity to revisit the size that he was bowling. It was too full.
The primary two balls after the break have been bowled on a size, leaving Rohit as he poked at them. A set-up was being performed out. The third ball once more on a size, hooped in after pitching and an not sure Rohit, late on the ball, performed half-cock and the white kookaburra crashed into off and center. It was the sixth time that Rohit had fallen to left-arm seam since 2021.
Virat Kohli walked in at No. three and scorched a canopy drive off Naseem Shah. However in opposition to Afridi within the subsequent over, a halfhearted dab to 3rd man took the within edge and castled him. It was Kohli’s fourth dismissal in opposition to left-arm seam since 2021.
When Rauf castled Shubman Gill for a laborious 32-ball 10 after which had Shreyas Iyer caught at mid-wicket off the pull shot for 14 in between one other 20-minute rain break, India had slipped to 66 for Four in 14.1 overs.
An embarrassing collapse was on the playing cards however all-rounder Hardik Pandya 87 (90 balls, 7×4, 1×6) and Ishan Kishan 82 (81 balls, 9×4, 2×6) combined aggression with warning so as to add 138 for the fifth wicket.
There’s a renewed sense of calm and duty in Pandya after he assumed the function of the captain within the IPL for his franchise Gujarat Titans and he carries that very same manner when he dons the India blue.
Whereas shepherding Kishan, Pandya performed anchor, operating ones and twos, and taking India to a place of security. He left properly on size and when the bowlers erred, like Rauf did within the 40th over, he carted them for boundaries.
After Kishan’s departure, Pandya added one other very important stand of 35 for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja. The slog-swept six off left-armer Mohammad Nawaz in opposition to the spin raised visions of a 280-plus whole.
Afridi, although, got here again properly, triggering one other collapse to dismiss Pandya caught off a slower off-cutter after which had Jadeja caught behind in the identical over to finish with figures of 4/35.
Rauf too had a superb end, dismissing Kishan and Shardul Thakur (surprisingly most popular over Mohammad Shami, ostensibly to offer better batting depth) to scale back India from 239 for five to 266 all out.
India face Nepal on Monday on the similar venue and a win or a washout will take them by means of to the subsequent stage.
