Right then, that’s all we have from this game. The annoying rain dampened our spirits here but the action in the 2023 Asia Cup continues on September 3rd, when the two teams from Group B, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, face off at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The first ball will be bowled at 3.00 pm IST (9.30 am GMT), but our build-up will begin much sooner. See you then, cheers!
Earlier in the game, after Rohit Sharma called it right and opted to put runs on the board, Pakistan pacers utilised their overcast conditions to their advantage, and India found themselves struggling at 66-4. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya then got together and forged a solid recovery with a 138-run stand. Ishan’s 82 and Hardik’s 87 bailed India out of trouble, putting the pressure back on Pakistan. They were also helped by the bizarre tactic of Babar Azam not bringing the pacers on in the middle overs. However, just as India were setting themselves up for a strong finish, they were pegged back in quick succession by Pakistan’s pace trio. The departure of Pandya triggered a collapse, as India lost their last five wickets for just 27 runs. For Pakistan, their pacers took all 10 wickets, a feat achieved by any team in the Men’s Asia Cup for the very first time. India’s arch-nemesis Shaheen Afridi was the standout bowler with a four-wicket haul. Naseem Shah was unlucky not to get a wicket in his first spell but eventually ended up with three, while Haris Rauf accounted for three wickets as well.
Alas! The rain has had the final say in this high-octane clash between Pakistan and India. The forecast was always for rain, but we hoped that we could squeeze in at least 20 overs in the second innings, but it wasn’t to be. Both teams take a point each from this game and thanks to their win over Nepal in the opening game, Pakistan have qualified for the Super Four. As far as India are concerned, they are off the mark in the Asia Cup but will have to beat Nepal in their next game to make it to the next stage.
UPDATE – 9.52 pm IST (4.22 pm GMT) – THE MATCH HAS BEEN CALLED OFF! The umpires were out in the middle and having a chat. The drizzle seemed really light and they had folded their umbrellas as well. However, they walk up the stairs and inform both the captains that there will be no more play. Handshakes all around as this block-buster tie comes to a disappointing end.
UPDATE – 9.34 pm IST (4.04 pm GMT) – It is still raining steadily and things are looking glum at the moment with all the covers firmly in place. The players are still in the dressing room and we are reaching the abandoned game territory. The latest time for the game to resume in order to have a 20-over-per-side game is 10.27 pm IST (4.57 pm GMT) so just less than an hour for us to hope for the rain gods to relent. We have our fingers crossed as this would be quite an anti-climax to such a highly-anticipated encounter. Stay tuned…
UPDATE – 9.03 pm IST (3.33 pm GMT) – Live pictures show the Indian players striding out to the centre for warm-up drills. The two umpires have completed their inspection and they now walk up the stairs to inform their decision of the inspection to the two captains, Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam. Just as we say, it has started to drizzle again and the covers are back on. This is proving to be quite frustrating for the players and the spectators as the wait continues once again. We will bring you more updates shortly.
UPDATE – 8.37 pm IST (3.07 pm GMT) – Good news! The rain seems to have relented and the ground staff have made their way out to the middle to begin the process of removing the covers. The match officials are also out there, having a chat with the ground staff. We will certainly lose some overs and for those eager for the revised targets, it will be 254 in 45 overs, 239 in 40 overs, 203 in 30 overs and 155 in 20 overs. There are more promising signs though as the umpires have scheduled an inspection for 9.00 pm IST (3.30 pm GMT). We will keep you posted regarding the result of the inspection.
UPDATE – 8.16 pm IST (2.46 pm GMT) – Sigh! Pakistan’s chase should have gotten underway by now but it is still drizzling. Live visuals show that the entire ground has been covered, probably for the first time in the day. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that the rain subsides soon for us to witness the battle between the Indian seamers and the Pakistan batters. We will start losing overs in about five minutes at 8.21 pm IST (2.51 pm GMT). Stay tuned for further updates.
Right then, the game is evenly poised at the halfway mark. India would have liked a few runs more but at one stage in their innings, 266 looked unlikely. They have the resources to defend this total. On the other hand, Pakistan did allow India to recover through some ordinary bowling and fielding but did well to pull things back. Do the Pakistan batters have in them to get over the line here? We shall find out when we return in a bit for the chase.
Pakistan’s man of the moment, Shaheen Afridi, is in for a chat. He says that it was their plan to strike with the new ball. Mentions that the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were crucial. Adds that every batter is crucial for him. Shares that he liked Rohit’s wicket more. Reckons that the plan by the pacers worked. Feels that the new ball will swing, but once the ball stops swinging, it will be easier to bat.
Pakistan got off to a flying start after the rain had interrupted play. Shaheen Afridi came in and took the quick wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, dismissing two of India’s most important batters. Haris Rauf cleaned up Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. They faltered in the middle stages of the innings due to a steady partnership between Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya. Rauf struck again dismissing Ishan and breaking the dangerous partnership. Shaheen Afridi bowled brilliantly in the death taking the wickets of Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja. Naseem Shah was very economical today and he ended up with three wickets. Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers with a spell of 4-35.
India’s chances of getting to a good score looked bleak at the start of their innings as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill departed pretty early on in the innings. The heroics of Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya stabilized the innings with their partnership of 138 runs. They batted brilliantly and did not take any risks which gave hope to the Indian fans. Ishan departed after scoring 82. Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja who came in next also put up a steady stand with the former being the aggressor. After Hardik’s wicket, some bonus runs from Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah who helped push India to a score of 266.
India have been bowled out here! The Pakistan fast bowlers have proved their worth in this game and dismantled a strong batting line-up. There was a bit of stoppage due to rain but it cleared off soon and allowed a whole 50 overs to be bowled. India’s middle order made sure that they went past the 250 mark. The target for Pakistan is 267. It has started to rain but let’s hope it clears up soon and we can have a prompt start to the second innings.
48.5 overs (0 Run)
OUT! CAUGHT! Naseem Shah gets his third of the game and Jasprit Bumrah’s short cameo comes to an end! This has been a wonderful bowling performance by the Pakistani fast bowlers as they have managed to claim all 10 wickets in this inning. This is bowled on a good length and outside the off stump. Jasprit Bumrah looks to go over the leg side boundary but does not connect the ball as cleanly as he would have liked. Agha Salman at deep square leg settles under the ball and takes a catch comfortably to end the Indian effort. The Men in Blue have managed to post 266 runs on the board and wasted 7 balls in their inning.
48.4 overs (4 Runs)
FOUR! Jasprit Bumrah continues to play his shots and four more useful runs for India! This is bowled on a good length and outside off. Jasprit Bumrah tonks this towards long off and collects a much-needed boundary for India!
48.3 overs (1 Run)
On a good length and outside the off stump. Mohammed Siraj pushes this towards point and Jasprit Bumrah immediately calls him through for a single.
Mohammed Siraj is the last man in.
48.2 overs (0 Run)
OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Kuldeep Yadav’s vigil comes to an end and Naseem Shah finally gets his second wicket as he is rewarded for some good bowling! This is bowled on a good length and outside the off pole. Kuldeep Yadav throws his bat at this one with no real foot movement and gets the slightest of edges through to the keeper. Mohammad Rizwan accepts it gladly and India are now just one wicket away from being bowled out. Pakistan have done remarkably well in these last 10 overs to keep the game well within their reach.
48.1 overs (0 Run)
Naseem Shah bowls this on a good length and outside the off stump. Kuldeep Yadav taps this towards the point fielder.
47.6 overs (0 Run)
Jasprit Bumrah safely negotiates Shaheen Afridi’s last over and prevents him from getting a five-wicket haul! This is bowled on a good length and angling away from the right-hander outside off. Jasprit Bumrah shoulders his arms to this one. A fast bowler knows exactly what another fast bowler would wants!
47.5 overs (1 Run)
Goes full and into the stumps. Kuldeep Yadav clips this to the right of mid on and takes a quick run.
47.4 overs (0 Run)
Another fuller length ball bowled outside off from over the wicket. Kuldeep Yadav dabs this watchfully back down the pitch towards the bowler.
47.3 overs (1 Run)
A slower delivery bowled full and at the stumps. Jasprit Bumrah dabs this into the leg side with soft hands and sets off for a single.
47.2 overs (0 Run)
Goes really full and outside the off pole from ’round the wicket. Jasprit Bumrah looks to squeeze the ball out but does not get any bat on it.
47.1 overs (1 Run)
Delivers this on a good length as well and outside the off stump. Kuldeep Yadav guides this towards deep backward point for a run.
47.1 overs (1 Run)
WIDE! Shaheen Afridi angles this down leg on a good length. Kuldeep Yadav leaves this one alone and the umpire calls this wide.
46.6 overs (0 Run)
Back to bowling on a good length and outside off. Jasprit Bumrah feels for this one but is unable to get bat on it.
46.5 overs (4 Runs)
FOUR! Jasprit Bumrah continues to give the Indian fans something to cheer about! This is a cracking shot from a lower-order batter and he is demanding a promotion here! This is bowled full as well and outside the off pole. Jasprit Bumrah drives this into the gap between cover and mid off for four runs and hold his pose as the ball races towards the fence.
46.4 overs (0 Run)
Bowls this full and outside the off stump. Jasprit Bumrah knocks this straight towards the fielder at mid off.
46.3 overs (1 Run)
Into the pads this time and on a good length. Kuldeep Yadav dabs this into the leg side and takes off for a run. Haris Rauf runs after the ball and aims at the non-striker’s end. A direct hit and Kuldeep Yadav would have been a goner this time.
46.2 overs (0 Run)
Attacks the stumps on a yorker length. Kuldeep Yadav digs this out towards the cover fielder.
46.1 overs (0 Run)
Haris Rauf bowls from ’round the wicket to the southpaw and serves this full, outside off. Kuldeep Yadav dabs this towards the fielder at point.
45.6 overs (1 Run)
On a good length this time and outside the off stump. Kuldeep Yadav dabs this towards cover and takes off for a quick single. A direct hit at the non-striker’s end but replays show that Kuldeep Yadav has made it into the crease in time. Not great technique though as he plonks his bat inside the crease instead of sliding it.
45.5 overs (0 Run)
Bowls this one wide outside the off stump on a fuller length. Kuldeep Yadav takes a big stride forward and looks to push at the ball but gets beaten on the outside edge.
45.4 overs (0 Run)
Goes over the wicket to the left-hander and nails the yorker at the stumps. Kuldeep Yadav digs this out back down the pitch towards the bowler.
45.3 overs (1 Run)
A full toss bowled outside the off pole. Jasprit Bumrah guides this towards deep backward point and takes a run.
45.2 overs (4 Runs)
FOUR! More useful runs for India and Jasprit Bumrah is showing the world that he can bat! This is bowled on a good length and outside off from ’round the wicket. Jasprit Bumrah lofts this over the infield towards long on for four runs.
45.1 overs (0 Run)
Shaheen Afridi bowls this full and outside off. Jasprit Bumrah pushes this towards the mid off fielder.
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