Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan score tons as India defeat Pakistan by 9 wickets in Asia Cup clash
Dubai, Sept 23 (IBNS): Riding on skipper Rohit Sharma (111*) and Shikhar Dhawan's (114) match-winning knocks, India defeated Pakistan by nine wickets in a Super Four stage match of the Asia Cup here on Sunday.
Dhawan and Rohit added 210 runs in the opening stand as India chased down the target of 238 runs quite comfortably.
After restricting Pakistan at 237 runs for the loss of seven wickets, India reached 238 runs by losing just 1 wicket and .
This was India's second victory against Pakistan in the tournament.
India had thrashed the ICC Champions Trophy winners in the group stage match of the tournament earlier.
Dhawan and Rohit provided India a strong start at the beginning of the innings.
Dhawan smashed 16 boundaries and two sixes in his 100-ball knock as he completely shattered the opposition bowling attack.
Rohit, who was playing his 187th ODI match, played another heroic knock for the country when it was needed during the high-voltage clash against the arch-rivals.
He hit seven boundaries and four sixes to score his 19th ODI hundred.
He also completed 7000 runs in ODIs during the course of the match.
After Dhawan departed, Rohit and Rayudu (12*) reached the target without losing a wicket.
Pakistan bowlers completely struggled in the match and it was only one run out which claimed the wicket of Dhawan in the innings.
No Pakistani bowlers could pick up an Indian wicket or put some pressure on the famed batting line-up.
India have not lost a single match so far in the tournament.
Jasprit Bumrah shined and Pakistan's Shoaib Malik countered as India restricted their neighbours to 237 runs for the loss of seven wickets earlier.
Pakistan had a poor start to the innings as they lost three wickets with just 58 runs on the scorecard.
However, Malik (78) and Sarfraz Ahmed (44) countered the situation and normalised the proceedings for Pakistan after initial jolts.
Malik hammered four boundaries and two sixes in his 90-ball knock and played the role as an anchor for his side.
Skipper Ahmed hit two boundaries in his crafty knock.
They added crucial 107-run for the fourth wicket.
Pakistani opener Imam-ul-Haq (10) departed early in the innings after Ahmed opted to bat first.
Fakhar Zaman (31) failed to convert the start he got in the match to a big score.
Asif Ali (30) added some quick runs at the end of the innings.
Spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets for India while pacer Bumrah bowled brilliantly in the death overs to keep Pakistan restricted below 250 runs.
Bumrah also scalped two wickets.
Brief Scorecard:
Pakistan: 237/7 in 50 overs (Shoaib Malik 78, Bumrah 2/29)
India: 238/1 in 39.3 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 114. Rohit Sharma 111 no)
India win by 9 wickets
Image: BCCI Twitter page
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