Cricket: Pandya leads India to dramatic Asia Cup win over Pakistan – Gulf Digital News

Cricket: Pandya leads India to dramatic Asia Cup win over Pakistan – Gulf Digital News

DUBAI: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya picked up three wickets and then smashed an unbeaten 33 to seal a five-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a low-scoring thriller in the Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament in Dubai last night.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up four wickets, including the prized scalp of Babar Azam, while Pandya expertly used short-pitched deliveries in India’s inspired fast-bowling display to help them skittle out Pakistan for 147.

All Pakistan wickets fell to India’s fast bowlers with Arshdeep Singh taking two and Avesh Khan picking up the remaining one.

In reply, the Pakistan bowlers fought hard and took the match to the final over when Pandya hit a massive six to seal the victory with two balls to spare.

Pakistan came into the contest having mauled India by 10 wickets in a Twenty20 World Cup match at the same venue in October in their last meeting.

It was India who landed the first blow when Bhuvneshwar dismissed Pakistan batting mainstay Babar for 10 in the third over with a sharp rising delivery after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field.

Pandya dismissed the big-hitting Iftikhar Ahmed for 28 and also sent back well-set opener Mohammad Rizwan, who made 43, and Khushdil Shah