Asia cup 2018 has started with full zest this year as well as the five competing countries are full of energy and in the run to win the title. People had been waiting for this mega competition every time. The Asia Cup 2018 is being held in Dubai. It started off on 15 September with a game between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka which Bangladesh won by 137 runs. Last time Asia cup happened two years ago in 2016 and India won the title hence they are the defending champions this time around and have been quite fairly defending so far in the series.
On Wednesday, 19 September, Pakistan and India came face to face for their first match of Asia cup this season. This was the match which everyone had their eyes glued on since it was between the two forever rivals.
The game started off with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bat first. India took the first two wickets in early overs but once Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik came to bat they steadied the game and did an 82 run partnership. After these two wickets were taken Pakistani batting line up couldn’t score many runs as the Indian bowlers seemed to be in high spirits.
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The Pakistani batsmen were only able to put up 162 runs on the board and were all out.
The Indian batting line up just like the bowlers was full of spirits and gave a good play. Pakistan could take only two wickets as Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf dismiss Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan respectively. After that there no wickets were taken down and team India was able to score 164 runs for two wickets.
Pakistani bowlers were not able to stop the Indian batsman to score the runs resulting in India reaching the total in just 29 overs.
Indian players seemed quite calm and relaxed as it appeared to be a one-sided affair in Dubai last night.
After the defeat Pakistani skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed, said that the Pakistani bowlers, as well as the batsman, couldn’t put up a good show and also praised the Indian team for their performance in the match. He considers this defeat a wake-up call for the team and has wished to make a come back in the next game.
Pakistan has played two matches in the Asia cup so far and has won one of the two plays. Pakistan is yet to encounter India in another nail-biting game on Sunday, 23rd September.
So Pakistan still has a chance to dominate India because the last time they lost a match to India they came back only to hand them one of the biggest defeats India has endured in ODI cricket in recent past. Let’s pray and hope that the next Pak vs Ind match is going to be in our favor.
