Pakistani bowlers rattled India’s top orders but Indian middle order batsmen helped them reach a small winning target with 5 wickets in hand and 4.3 overs to spare in the 13th Asia Cup T20I in Dhaka on Saturday.

Earlier, Shaheed Afridi’s side folded their innings for a paltry 83 at Mirpur. In reply, India made 85 for 5 in 15.3 overs at the flood-lit Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

India’s Hardik Pandya took three wickets conceding only eight runs as Pakistan fell like a pack of cards in the 4th match of the twenty20 tournament. Shaheed Afridi’s side folded their innings for the meagre 83 that they made in 17.3 overs.

In reply, India, too, faltered against a power-packed Pak bowling.

Mohammad Amir took three Indian wickets, sending Rohit Sharma, Rahane and Suresh Raina to the pavilion within a short span of time.

Sent in to bat first, unpredictable Pakistan gave in meekly, setting a meager target for their arch-rivals on Saturday night. Sarfraz Ahmed top-scored 25 off 24 balls including three boundaries.

Pakistan lost their three top-order batsmen– Mohammad Hafeez, Sharjeel Khan and Khurram Manzoor — for 32/3 in 5.5 overs.
Ashish Nehra made the first breakthrough for India in the very 4th delivery dismissing opener Hafeez, caught behind by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni at 4/1.

Sharjeel and Manzoor followed Hafeez soon, at 22/2 in 3.3 overs and 32/3 5.5 overs respectively. Among the trio, Manzoor (10 off 18b; 1×4) was the only double figure scorer. Including skipper Shahid Afridi, the middle-order batsmen also failed to build any remarkable pair. Pakistan could not back in the match losing the rest wickets in a gradual interval.
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Source: The Financial Express