Desk Report:
Morning does not always predict the day! The surprise that Pakistan showed at the beginning of the innings, there was no ‘C’ in that surprise at the end. Or the nightmare that India started by losing three wickets for 20 runs in pursuit of the target, the Indian batters first showed resistance and then aggression. The fact that one team could not maintain it despite a good start, or the other team could turn the situation in their favor even after a bad start – this is what showed who is the most worthy team of the final. India won by showing a steely mentality of not giving up even in adverse conditions. India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets and became the champion of the 17th Asia Cup.
Pakistan batted first after losing the toss and scored 146 runs. In reply, India won with 5 wickets intact. This is India’s ninth title in this continental tournament, including the ODI and T20 versions.
India started badly in the chase of lakhs, but as time went on, Tilak Verma, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dubey kept the team on the winning track. Samson-Verma’s 57 off 50 balls for the fourth wicket and Dubey-Verma’s 60 off 40 balls for the fifth wicket accelerated India’s victory.
Tilak Verma played a great innings under pressure. He played an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls. His innings was studded with 3 fours and 4 sixes. Sanju Samson, who contributed well to India’s victory, scored 24 off 21 balls before being dismissed. Shivam Dubey scored 33 off 22 balls.
India needed 10 runs to win in the last over. Verma took 2 runs off the first ball of Haris Rauf’s over. He hit a six on the next ball. He needed 2 runs off the last four balls. Rinku Singh got a strike when he scored 1 run on the next ball. He secured India’s victory with a magnificent four with 2 balls to spare. This is India’s third win against their arch-rivals in this Asia Cup.
Earlier, Pakistan batted first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and scored 146 runs in 19.1 overs.
Seeing the way Pakistan started, it was impossible to imagine that they would be bowled out before 150 runs. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman had put on a great opening partnership of 84 runs. They did not care about the Indian bowlers. They even attacked Jasprit Bumrah. Farhan also hit Bumrah for three sixes. Farhan was the first batter to hit Bumrah for three sixes in this edition. When the two were rapidly advancing the run wheel, it seemed that Pakistan might score a big score today. But the partnership was broken when Farhan made 57 off 38 balls off Varun Chakraborty’s ball and Tilak Verma caught the ball. Despite a great start, Pakistan suffered a setback when Sayem Ayub was dismissed in the 13th over. Before his dismissal, Pakistan were 113 for 1. But after Ayub’s departure, Pakistan lost wickets one after the other.
Pakistan lost their last 9 wickets for just 33 runs. Fakhar Zaman scored the second highest score after Farhan, 46 off 35 balls. Sayem Ayub was the third Pakistani batsman to reach double figures.
The most successful spinner with the ball was Kuldeep Yadav; he took 4 wickets for 30 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraborty and Axar Patel took 2 wickets each.
