India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023: Match abandoned due to rain, points shared

The fans of both India and Pakistan were left disappointed as the rain gods played spoilsport in the third match of the Asia Cup 2023 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The match was abandoned due to heavy showers after India had posted a challenging total of 266 in 48.5 overs. Both teams were awarded one point each as per the tournament rules.

India, who won the toss and opted to bat first, had a shaky start as they lost their top four batsmen within the first 10 overs. Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah bowled with fire and accuracy, reducing India to 40 for 4. However, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya came to the rescue with a brilliant counter-attack. The duo added 138 runs for the fifth wicket in just 20.2 overs, taking the attack to the Pakistani bowlers.

Kishan, who was making his Asia Cup debut, scored a superb 82 off 81 balls with nine fours and two sixes. He showed no nerves as he played some audacious shots against the likes of Saeed Ajmal and Shadab Khan. Pandya, on the other hand, played a captain’s knock of 87 off 90 balls with seven fours and a six. He anchored the innings and accelerated when needed.

However, both Kishan and Pandya fell in quick succession, triggering a collapse in the Indian lower order. Pakistan’s veteran spinner Saeed Ajmal was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 35 runs in his 10 overs. He was well supported by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, who took three wickets each. India were bowled out for 266 with seven balls remaining in their innings.

The rain started to pour during the innings break and did not relent for a long time. The umpires waited for more than two hours before deciding to call off the match. The fans who had thronged the stadium in large numbers were left dejected as they could not witness any action in the second innings.

Both India and Pakistan now have three points each from two matches in Group A. They will face Nepal and Sri Lanka respectively in their next matches on September 4. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage of the tournament.

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