Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya produced an exquisite rescue act whereas Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a fiery spell however rain compelled India and Pakistan to separate factors in an Asia Cup match that had all of the elements of an exciting end right here on Saturday.
Earlier than the heavens opened up, India posted 266 all out in 48.5 overs.
Kishan (82 off 81 balls) and Pandya (87 off 90 balls) milked 138 runs for the fifth wicket stand off 141 balls to carry their facet from 66 for 4 in 14.1 overs.
The no end result meant that Pakistan ended their Group A proceedings with 3 factors, and it additionally assured them of a spot within the Tremendous 4 of the match.
India, who logged a degree from their opening fixture, are anticipated to beat Nepal on Monday and progress to the Tremendous 4.
Nevertheless, the match supplied some vivid factors to each the groups earlier than the soggy finish.
From an Indian perspective, the efficiency of Kishan and Pandya will probably be handled as a cheerful portend.
They joined forces after Pakistan pacers Afridi, who accounted for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early, and Haris Rauf mixed to rock India’s top-order.
In a way, it was a moderately unfamiliar job for each Pandya and Kishan batsmen who usually love to offer a wallop to the bowlers.
However the circumstances in Pallekele, which at all times had a lick of drizzle, and a high-octane bowling assault meant that the Indian pair must curb their shot-making instincts.
They needed to be exact within the collection of every shot, and wanted to be further affected person.
Afridi (4 for 35) tailed the ball in, Naseem Shah examined their consciousness outdoors the off-stump and Rauf (3 for 58) pounded in these heavy balls, however the Indian duo soaked in all these powerful moments.
The boundaries and large photographs weren’t straightforward to come back by however Pandya and Kishan pushed the board forward with singles and their 50-run partnership got here in simply 52 balls.
Pandya was joyful to play the second fiddle Kishan throughout their fifth wicket alliance.
This was the primary time the left-hander was batting under the No. 4 slot in his profession, and he did not present any indicators of nerves.
That Pakistan captain opted to offer an extended spell to his spinners Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Agha Salman additionally performed its half in Kishan getting settled within the center.
Kishan introduced his 50 in a mere 54 balls. There have been instances when Pakistan pacers, notably Rauf, examined him with short-pitched balls, making an attempt to use his Achilles Heel.
However on at the present time, the Jharkhand man successfully negated the bumpers, coming properly behind the road and utilizing his wrist to offer course to the ball or hold it low.
Kishan might have simply transformed the innings into his second three-figure rating in ODIs. However his try to play an enormous pull off Rauf ended within the fingers of Babar contained in the circle.
Nevertheless, his innings might need eased some worries within the Indian camp a few wobbly middle-order within the absence of KL Rahul.
As soon as Kishan departed, Pandya took cost of the Indian innings and slammed spinner Nawaz for a large six over mid-wicket.
The innings of Pandya might be considered as one other brick within the new profile of an innings-builder that the all-rounder has been making an attempt to compile for himself. This surefootedness of Pandya will definitely be welcomed by the group think-tank.
Nevertheless, Afridi returned to snap his keep whereas Pandya was motoring in the direction of his maiden ODI hundred.
The left-arm pacer rolled his fingers to ship a slower ball and Pandya simply prodded it into the fingers of Salman at further cowl.
From thereon, just a few beefy blows by Jasprit Bumrah carried India previous the 250-run mark.
Nevertheless, simply after the top of the Indian innings, one other spell of regular downpour began and it by no means allowed the match to renew.
