Former Indian captain Virat Kohli had a nervy a centesimal T20 worldwide as teammate Hardik Pandya led India to a five-wicket win over Pakistan within the Asia Cup on Sunday.
Pandya picked up three for 25 together with his fiery short-pitched deliveries and helped India to restrict Pakistan to 147 earlier than smashing an unbeaten 33 off 17 balls, which carried India to 148 for 5 with simply two balls to spare.
Pakistan was set to upstage India however a relaxed Pandya smashed three boundaries within the penultimate over in opposition to Haris Rauf earlier than ending off the sport in fashion with a six over extensive mid-on in opposition to left-arm spinner Nawaz (three for 33).
India’s ploy to problem the Pakistan high order with brief balls after successful the toss labored completely as Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-26) obtained the important thing wickets of captain Babar Azam (10) and Fakhar Zaman (10) contained in the batting powerplay.
Pandya then sliced by means of the center order and in addition had top-scorer Mohammad Rizwan (43) dismissed with one other sharp bouncer earlier than quantity 11 Shahnawaz Dahani smashed two late sixes to offer Pakistan a glimmer of hope.
Within the absence of injured Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s second-string quick bowlers nonetheless dominated India’s sturdy high order.
Debutant Naseem Shah had KL Rahul bowled for a golden duck earlier than Kohli was dropped on zero by Zaman at second slip off the second ball he confronted from the 19-year-old pacer’s excellent first over.
After his early escape, Kohli smashed Dahani together with his trademark pull to the midwicket boundary within the second over earlier than top-edging a six over the keeper’s head in opposition to Rauf. Nonetheless, Kohli was tied down by each spinners Shadab Khan and Nawaz earlier than falling halfway by means of the India innings with 35 off 34 balls.
With seven required off the final six balls, Nawaz clear bowled Jadeja with the primary ball earlier than Pandya completed off the sport in fashion.
