India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Match Called Off Due to Rain
Rain interrupts thrilling India-Pakistan clash
Rain played spoilsport in what could have turned out to be a cracking contest as India-Pakistan Asia Cup Group A game was called off in Pallekele on Saturday.
After a couple of brief interruptions during the India innings, heavens opened up for a third time during the innings break that delayed the start of the Pakistan chase. As the wait continued, persistent rains failed to budge down and the match was eventually called off at around 10:05 pm IST.
- Relentless rain didn’t allow a single ball to be bowled after India made 266 in 48.5 overs.
India and Pakistan share a point each
As the two teams shared a point each, Pakistan (total 3 points) qualified for the Super 4 stage of the tournament. Babar Azam and co. had earlier defeated Nepal on Wednesday to grab their other 2 points.
India, with a solitary point, next play Nepal on Monday.
Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya shine for India
Earlier, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya produced a wonderful rescue act while Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a fiery spell in the see-saw contest.
- Kishan (82 off 81 balls) and Pandya (87 off 90 balls) milked 138 runs for the fifth-wicket stand off 141 balls to lift their side from 66 for 4 in 14.1 overs.
- The performance of Kishan and Pandya will be treated as a happy portend.
Pandya’s solid innings gives hope for India
In a sense, it was a rather unfamiliar job for both Pandya and Kishan – batsmen who generally love to give a wallop to the bowlers. But the conditions in Pallekele, which always had a lick of drizzle, and a high-octane bowling attack meant that the Indian pair would have to curb their shot-making instincts. They had to be precise in the selection of each shot, and needed to be extra patient.
- The boundaries and big shots were not easy to come by but Pandya and Kishan pushed the board ahead with singles.
- Pandya, happy to play second fiddle to Kishan, showcased his rebuilt innings-building skills.
Match concludes with steady downpour
However, just after the end of the Indian innings, another spell of steady downpour started and it never allowed the match to resume.
