Pak vs India: Match ends in a draw due to rain

Palekele, The Gulf Observer: 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.

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 a 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.