India vs Pakistan: Pakistan all out for 162

Rohit Sharma would be raring to prove his leadeship mantle against Pakistan and whichever team holds their nerve will come out victorious on this big day

Bhuvneshwar Kumar-s tidy seam bowling was complemented by Kedar Jadhav-s unconventional off-breaks as India skittled out Pakistan for a modest 162 in 43.1 overs in an Asia Group league encounter Wednesday.

While Bhuvneshwar 3/15 in 7 overs provided initial breakthroughs, Jadhav, making a comeback to the national team, bowled with control to return with exceptional figures of 3 for 23 in 9 overs to break the backbone of the Pakistani lower middle-order. Jasprit Bumrah 2/23 in 7.1 overs and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav 1/37 in 8 overs also accomplished their task to perfection.

Jadhav-s performance is even more laudable as he did the job of a frontline spinner after Hardik Pandya 0/24 in 4.5 overs was stretchered off the field due to an acute lower back injury. This was after young Babar Azam 47 and veteran Shoaib Malik 43 added 82 runs for the third wicket and looked like taking control of the proceedings.

However, Pakistan suffered a batting collapse losing five wickets for 36 runs before Faheem Ashraf 21 and Mohammed Aamir 16 added an invaluable 37 runs for the eighth wicket to take the total past 150-run mark. Put into bat, Pakistan were in trouble straight away as Bhuvneshwar dealt a twin blow removing the in-form duo of Imam ul Haq 2 and Fakhar Zaman 0 to reduce them to 2 for 3.

Imam charged to a short of length delivery that climbed on him and the thickish outside edge was taken by Dhoni. Zaman, India-s tormentor in the Champions Trophy, mistimed a pull-shot and Yuzvendra Chahal took a well-judged catch. Babar and Malik then resurrected the innings with a fine partnership. The half-volleys on both sides of the wicket were driven with ferocity.

Malik, who is a good player of spin bowling, gave Kuldeep Yadav the charge to hit him for a six and rotated the strike well. In fact, Malik was dropped off Pandya-s bowling, whose agonies increased when he had to leave the field. Babar failed to read Kuldeep-s googly as it clipped his off-bail. From 85 for 2, it soon became 100 for five as Pakistan lost wickets in a heap. Sarfraz Ahmed 6 was dismissed by Jadhav as substitute fielder Manish Pandey took a blinder at long-on.

The Pakistani batsmen found it extremely difficult to read Jadhav-s round arm action as he bowled straight and wide. Asif Ali was caught behind and then Malik was run-out by a direct throw from Ambati Rayudu. Shadab Khan 8 was stumped by Dhoni as he bacame Yadav-s third victim of the match. Faheem and Aamir did try their bit as Pakistan crossed the 150-run mark before Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah wrapped up the tail in the 44th over.

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