Colombo: In the end, the rainy weather couldn’t prevent India from walloping Pakistan by 228 runs on the reserve day of their Asia Cup Super 4 clash at Premadasa Stadium here on Monday night.
It was by far Team India’s biggest victory against their traditional rivals, the previous best being a margin of 140 runs.
India’s openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had given India a terrific start with a rapid 121-run opening partnership yesterday. Rain prevented play on Sunday after both were dismissed.
There was a delayed start on the reserve day today, but once cricket resumed, Virat Kohli and comeback man KL Rahul shared a memorable unbeaten third-wicket partnership of 233 runs which took India to their joint-best score of 356/2 in an ODI against Pakistan.
Man-of-the-Match Kohli remained unbeaten on 122 (94 balls, 9×4, 3×6) while Rahul was 111 not out (106 balls, 12×4, 2×6) as they put the Pakistani bowlers to the sword.
In the course of his 47th ODI century – now just 2 behind Sachin Tendulkar – Kohli crossed 13,000 runs in the 50-over version.
Facing an uphill task, Pakistan were never in the hunt. India’s fast bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Md Siraj, Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur – moved the ball around in the early overs and picked two wickets before more rain forced another break.
Thankfully, the weather cleared and once action resumed, it was Chinaman specialist Kuldeep Yadav who ran through the middle and lower order of the Pakistan line-up.
Pakistan pacers Haris auf and Naseem Shah didn’t bat as they picked up injuries earlier. But their presence would hardly have made any difference.
Brief Scores: India 356/2 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 122*, KL Rahul 111*, Shubman Gill 58, Rohit Sharma 56). Pakistan 128 in 32 overs (Kuldeep Yadav 5/25).
Result: India won by 228 runs.
Man of the Match: Virat Kohli.
