India defeated Pakistan by 228 runs in the Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2023 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.
Team India delivered a masterful performance today, making it a near-perfect game for them. After suffering heartbreaks in previous ‘reserve day’ games, they came out swinging and pummeled their opponents. The opening batsmen set the tone with aggressive fifties, while the number 3 and 4 batsmen showcased their brilliance with emphatic centuries. Even the highly-regarded Pakistani pace attack looked ordinary as Rahul made a resounding return to ODI cricket and Kohli added another century to his tally.
The second innings witnessed a surreal display of swing bowling by Bumrah and the ever-consistent Siraj, causing trouble on both edges and delivering sensational deliveries. Hardik Pandya’s ball to dismiss Babar will be etched in cricketing memory.
Shardul’s exquisite delivery removed Rizwan, and then Kuldeep Yadav took centre stage, masterfully exploiting the surface, which had seemed tailor-made for pacers, to finish with a remarkable 5/25.
Pakistan faced concerns as Haris Rauf and Naseem couldn’t bat due to potential injuries. Babar and his team have much to ponder. India’s dream performance featured crucial contributions from Rohit, Gill, Rahul, Kohli, Bumrah, Shardul, and Kuldeep, with Shreyas Iyer providing valuable support from the back.
Final Scorecard:
