Pakistan beat India by five wickets in Asia Cup Super Four

Indian fans who dominated the crowds during the contest against arch rivals Pakistan ended disappointed after their team suffered the defeat – AFP

DUBAI, AFP: Mohammad Rizwan made 71 as Pakistan beat India by five wickets in their opening Super Four game at the Asia Cup yesterday.

Chasing 182 for victory, a 73-run stand between Rizwan and the left-handed Mohammad Nawaz (42) helped Pakistan achieve their target with one ball to spare in Dubai.

Earlier, Virat Kohli’s 60 guided India to 181-7 after being put in to bat first in the tournament, which acts as a tune-up to the T20 World Cup in October-November.

Kohli, who hit 60 off 44 balls before being run out in the final over, helped India survive a middle-order stutter to post a competitive total after being put in to bat first in Dubai.

He reached his 32nd half-century in 36 balls with a six off pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain amid chants of “Kohli, Kohli” at a packed stadium. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan stood out with figures of 2-31 from his four overs.

India skipper Rohit Sharma came out all guns blazing to smash pace bowler Naseem Shah for a six and four in the opening over of the match. Opening partner K.L. Rahul soon took the cue to whack Naseem for two cracking blows over the fence.

The openers put on 54 runs briskly and attempted to make full use of the powerplay, when only two fielders are allowed outside the inner circle, by hitting lofted shots, but Rohit fell when he mistimed Haris Rauf.

Khushdil Shah clung on to a sky-high catch as Rohit went back after scoring 28 off 16 balls in the sixth over.

Shadab struck the next over to cut short Rahul’s stay on 28 and then left-arm orthodox spinner Mohammad Nawaz removed the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav for 13.

Kohli, who has slowly come out his lean patch with scores of 35 and 59 in the previous two matches, kept the score ticking and got the occasional boundary.

But Pakistan kept chipping away with wickets including the left-handed Rishabh Pant for 14 and Hardik Pandya for a second-ball duck off Hasnain.

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan had an injury scare when he landed awkwardly on his right leg in an attempt to stop a bouncer but was able to continue.

Ravi Bishnoi finished off the innings with two boundaries as Fakhar Zaman faltered twice in the deep, including dropping a catch that reached the ropes.