Asia Cup: Pandya & Kishan Pull India Out Of A Hole; Rain Delays Pakistan Reply

Pallekele (Sri Lanka): Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya pulled Team India out of a crisis to give them a fighting chance in the Asia Cup blockbuster clash against Pakistan here on Saturday.

In a rain-interrupted game, India slumped to 66/4 before recovering through a brilliant 138-run partnership to post 266.

The skies opened up again just after India’s innings, delaying the start of Pakistan’s reply.

It was the fiery Pakistan pacers, spearheaded by the crafty Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took all 10 wickets to bowl out India in 48.5 overs.

Following a rain break after 4.2 overs, Afridi rocked India by disturbing the stumps of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Comeback man Shreyas Iyer fell for 14 after a promising start while Shubman Gill made a laborious 10 before both were dismissed by Rauf.

Following a second rain interruption, left-hander Kishan impressed during his 81-ball 82, which included 9 fours and 2 sixes. Hardik (87 off 90) played a mature knock, stabilising the innings before opening out.

Had it not been for the spirited fifth-wicket collaboration, India would have struggled to cross 200.