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New Delhi: The Indian team defeated Pakistan in a one-sided manner in the Super-4 round of Asia Cup 2023. Rohit Sharma-led Indian team defeated Pakistan by a record margin of 228 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India batted first and scored 356 runs losing 2 wickets in 50 overs. In response, the Pakistani team led by Babar Azam collapsed for 128 runs in 32 overs.
Pakistan lost eight wickets, but Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf could not come out to bat due to injuries, due to which they were considered all out. Virat’s unbeaten innings of 122 runs in 94 balls created a series of records. He became the fastest batsman to score 13 thousand runs in ODI.
Whereas, Rahul scored 111 runs in 106 balls. On Sunday, after scoring 147 runs for two wickets in 24.1 overs, play was not played due to rain. From here on the Reserve Day, India extended the innings, but before that Pakistan suffered a big blow due to strain in Haris Rauf’s muscles. Rauf’s MRI was done. Keeping the World Cup in mind, Pakistan decided not to make him bowl further.
Virat and Rahul played cautiously in the beginning and later counterattacked. Rahul started it by hitting a four on Naseem. After this he hit a six and a four on Iftikhar. He completed his half-century in 60 balls. After this, Virat also completed his half-century in 55 balls.
Virat became very vocal after completing his half-century. He scored the next 50 runs in just 29 balls. His special thing was that he was scoring more runs by running less from the boundary and between the wickets. His six hit on Naseem Shah in front of the wicket reminded me of the six hit on Rauf in the T20 World Cup. This was his 47th century in ODI cricket. He stands just two centuries away from the 49 centuries of the great Sachin Tendulkar.
Virat, who was yearning for a century till some time ago, has scored seven centuries in the last one year. He completed his century in 84 balls. Earlier, Rahul scored his sixth ODI century in 100 balls. Rahul’s spectacular comeback, playing his first match after surgery, has allayed the concerns of the Indian team management to a great extent.
India’s score in 40 overs was 247 runs for two wickets, but in the last 10 overs both the batsmen added 109 runs. Shaheen Afridi took four wickets for 35 runs in the first match against India. On Monday, he gave 42 runs in 5 overs and did not take any wicket. His bowling analysis was 1 wicket for 79 runs in 10 overs.
Naseem Shah could not complete his last over and had to leave the field. Both the batsmen made the biggest partnership against Pakistan by adding 233 runs for the third wicket. Virat hit two fours and a six in the last three balls of the innings bowled by Faheem.
