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India have been in red-hot form in the slam-bang format, even ending their trophy drought by clinching the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. So naturally they start as favourites in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, who have lost both the fixtures versus India in this edition. However, it is common knowledge among cricket enthusiasts that the men in green are an unpredictable bunch. Possessing an enigmatic ability to thrive in chaos, on their day Pakistan can outperform even the best in the business. With the geopolitical climate and provocative gestures adding to the drama, expect an absolute crackerjack of a contest.
The gunshot crack of the leather on willow reverberated across the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as Tilak Varma, the precociously talented southpaw, picked up the length in a flash to badger Haris Rauf over mid-wicket. That was the game for India as Rinku Singh later cleared mid-on to seal the deal. The favourites have lived up to the billing.
This was not a lopsided affair like the previous meetings between the neighbours. It ebbed and flowed, went this way and that, and in the end it was India’s depth that outclassed Pakistan, who lost 8 wickets for next to nothing in the first innings but came back vigorously with the ball in hand to spruce up the battle royale.
He employed the long levers to cudgel a six over wide long-on and India seemed to have the game in the bag with that mow but Dubey’s wicket off the last ball of the Faheem Ashraf over has brought a twist in the tale. Rinku Singh is the new man in.
Faheem Ashraf is being attended by the physios as he lumbered to the bowling crease twice without sending down a ball. This is going to be an important over. The commentators reckon the break would work in Pakistan’s favour as it slows the game down and makes India contemplate how to tick off the remaining runs.
The match was gravitating towards Pakistan as Rauf nailed the outside-off line with an extra cover and deep point stationed but he wavers from the plan on the final ball and proffers a full toss that has been received by both hands from Shivam Dubey. Colossal six over mid-wicket. Timely strike and India believe they can get over the line!
This gem of a knock has brought India within touching distance of the Asia Cup title. Pakistan were all over India like a rash in the PowerPlay but Tilak has changed the complexion of the game with a calculated innings. Cheers ring out from the dugout and he soaks up the applause. The job is not yet done though!
17 runs off the over as India come roaring back into the contest. Tilak Varma absorbed the pressure so well when the walls were caving in on India and he is now switching up gears. Three boundaries off the Haris Rauf over as Pakistan can sense this slipping away.
Samson tonked Saim Ayub for a meaty six but Abrar Ahmed floats one outside the off stump to get his number. He had a reprieve on 12 and walks back after doubling his score. This is a crucial stage of the game as India have three left-handers slotted in and Mohammad Nawaz has three overs up his sleeve. Will Salman Agha bowl his frontline left-arm spinner or continue with Saim Ayub?
Sweeping is something Tilak is good at and he leaves Abrar Ahmed befuddled with this crunchy hit. Barely any elevation on that as he fetches the ball from outside the off-stump but long on has no chance whatsoever.
Excellent start by Saim Ayub, who has been a revelation with the ball during the whole tournament, as he gives away just four runs in his first over. There appears to be some dew on the outfield now, much to Pakistan’s chagrin as it negates the two-paced nature of the pitch.
Samson was aiming to utilize the depth of the crease and access the mid-wicket boundary but the good-length ball by Abrar Ahmed was spliced, and the fielder on the fence put it down as he charged in towards the dying ball. Not the easiest of catches but that should’ve been taken at the international level. How costly would this significant error prove?
An aesthetically pleasing cover drive by Sanju Samson, a backfoot punch by Tilak Varma that was executed by just transferring the weight and a leg-drifting freebie from Faheem Ashram means India can afford to breathe a little easy. 11 runs of the last over of the PowerPlay as Tilak cashes in on the long hop.
With his team in strife, Shubman Gill should’ve been satisfied with a boundary in the over – a flat and hard pull – but he is overcome by greed and attempts to produce an encore. This one comes off the cue end and Haris Rauf times his jump to perfection at mid-on. Pakistan have a strong grip on this game now. India would do with some calmness in the middle.
Almost a run-out on the last ball of the over as India seem to be at panic stations. Hesitation between Gill and Tilak but they go for it at last, only for the former to survive a run-out chance at the non-striker’s end. He was nowhere in the frame had the throw been accurate.
The ball is holding in the surface a bit and Shaheen is smart enough to use the cutter to his advantage. Suryakumar was early into the shot and chips a catch to mid-off, where skipper Salman Agha does well to hold on to the low chance. India are in deep trouble in what seemed to be a manageable chase!
While Shubman Gill has looked in sublime touch but failed to convert his attractive starts, Suryakumar Yadav has been out of form. India would hope the underconfident duo steers them to safer shores.
The young left-hander has been in tremendous form, and India’s winning streak in the competition was in large part down to the starts he has provided at the top of the order. However, Pakistan have netted the big fish early thanks to a deceptive slower variation by Faheem Ashraf. Abhishek plays a very tame shot to depart for 5(6).
Shaheen Afridi got the new ball to talk in that over but Abhishek Sharma stole the show with a delectable shot on the second delivery. It was a mere push to the off-side but the timing was so phenomenal that it bisected the gap and raced away for four.
Harakiri of the highest order from Pakistan as they lose their last nine wickets for merely 33 runs. Apart from Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, the determined openers, not a single batter showed the application as India ran through the rest of the line-up with consummate ease.
Kuldeep Yadav conceded 23 runs in his first two overs and proceeded to return 4/7 in his next two overs. Axar Patel bowled a sensational spell to claim two wickets at the cost of 26 runs while Varun Chakravarthy was equally diligent, scalping 2/30 in his full quota.
An inch-perfect yorker does the trick for Haris Rauf. He couldn’t cover the line and drives blindly, only to see his off-stump flattened. Pakistan at the risk of being bowled out under the stipulated 20 overs.
Make that 6 wickets off the last 21 runs! Pakistan doing Pakistan things again as they squander their pole position dramatically. Captain Salman Agha played a blind slog after coming out of the crease and completely mishit it. Terrific catch by Sanju Samson as he ran all the way to his left and then had to dive with outstretched arms to snaffle it.
Shaheen Afridi was adamant to pummel every ball out of the park but Kuldeep made sure he stuck to the tramline, not allowing the biffer anything in the slot. Shaheen kept swinging for the fences irrespective, and was eventually trapped plumb in front with technology coming to India’s rescue.
Pakistan have slid from 84/0 to 131/5, and all the wickets have fallen to the proficient Indian spinners. It hasn’t been a plain-sailing night with Pakistan coming hard at them but the spin trivandrum has shone through regardless.
Hussain Talat tries to take advantage of the favourable match-up and hammer the slog over mid-wicket, but he could only top edge it as Sanju Samson moved a few steps to the left to collect it cleanly. Pakistan have lost 4 wickets for the last 18 runs.
Harris aced the lofted cover drive but the only wrinkle was the direction. He intended to go squarer but the ball went towards long-off as Rinku Singh completes an easy catch to give Axar his first wicket.
The wicket of Fakhar Zaman, however, was the more prominent moment as he was striking the ball clean. Brave bowling from Varun Chakravarthy to keep it full, loopy and wide even as he leaked a six earlier in the over.
Ayub escaped a couple of ill-timed cut shots early in the over but not this time. Not all that short and turns away a smidgen, Ayub does not control the cut and slices it to backward point, where Bumrah bends down and pouches a good low catch. India need to chip away at the wickets if they are to restrict Pakistan to an achievable total.
Although Fakhar Zaman bashed a boundary back past the part-time spinner after reaching the pitch of the ball, this is still an acceptable over. Nine runs off it and India would take that in these circumstances with Pakistan wanting to build on the impetus Farhan’s knock left them with.
Three good overs in a row for Pakistan despite the wicket of the set batter. Ayub has failed miserably with the bat all through the tournament but Pakistan have stuck with him because he is contributing with his secondary skill. However, this is a positive start for the one-drop batter as he helps a wayward ball from Dubey down fine leg.
