Colombo: In a match that left Pakistani cricket fans disheartened, India delivered a crushing defeat to their arch-rivals, Pakistan, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday. This victory marked India’s largest-ever One Day International (ODI) win against Pakistan.
India Sets a Massive Target:
India, led by exceptional centuries from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, set a formidable target of 357 runs for Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2023 clash. Despite a delayed start due to rain, India’s batting display was nothing short of remarkable, as they concluded their innings at 356-2 in their allotted 50 overs. Virat Kohli remained unbeaten with a score of 122 runs off 94 balls, while KL Rahul also played a vital role with an unbeaten 111 runs from 106 balls, featuring 14 boundaries.
Pakistan’s Struggles:
Chasing the daunting target of 357 runs, Pakistan faced an uphill battle. Their batting woes were apparent as they could only manage to score 128-8 in 32 overs, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf unable to bat due to injuries. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball for India, claiming 5 wickets for just 25 runs in eight overs.
Fakhar Zaman was the top-scorer for Pakistan, contributing 27 runs from 50 balls, while Agha Salman and Iftikhar Ahmed added 23 runs each. Pakistan’s star batter and captain, Babar Azam, struggled to find his form and was dismissed after scoring just 10 runs in 24 balls, bowled by a delivery from Hardik Pandya.
Rain Interruptions and Match Conditions:
Rain played a significant role in the proceedings, with the match initially delayed. However, once the players took the field, India’s dominance was evident. Notably, the match continued from the point it was stopped due to rain on the previous day, with no overs lost. India, at that stage, was at 147/2 in 24.1 overs.
Haris Rauf’s Precautionary Measure:
Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf was ruled out of the India-Pakistan clash as a precautionary measure after experiencing discomfort in his right flank during the match. An MRI scan revealed no tear, and he is under the observation of the team’s medical panel, as announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Toss and Playing Conditions:
Pakistan had won the toss and chose to bowl first against India. The Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash faced disruptions due to persistent rain, leading to its postponement and subsequent continuation on the reserve day.
India’s commanding performance in this Asia Cup encounter has left cricket fans eagerly awaiting the next thrilling matchups in the tournament.
