Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz led Pakistan to victory against India in a Super 4 match of the 2022 Asia Cup on Sunday, setting up the team’s highest successful run chase.
Rizwan scored his second successive half-century, making 71 runs off 51 deliveries. Nawaz made 42 off 20 balls with six fours and two sixes, allowing Pakistan to reach 182/5 in 19.5 overs. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam praised Nawaz and Rizwan after the match.
“I didn’t fire today but Nawaz and Rizwan’s partnership was outstanding,” Azam said. “Our spinners and fast bowlers at the death set the stage for us.”
The right-and-left combo of Rizwan and Nawaz overwhelmed leg-spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal before the latter two fell in the death overs against the former.
“We needed 10 runs per over when I walked in to bat so I knew I had to attack on every chance I got,” Nawaz said. “I didn’t try and overplay, which you sometimes can when you’re under pressure.”
Hardik Pandya launched a failed short-ball tactic before Rizwan and Nawaz dismissed Chahal. Nawaz then attacked Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling, giving just enough damage and pressure on team India.
Meanwhile, Shadab Khan dismissed KL Rahul while Nawaz got the key wicket of Suryakumar Yadav in the tenth over. Nawaz also caught Pandya for zero at short midwicket.
Pakistan conceded 93 runs in the first half of the innings, not allowing Indian power-hitters to score in the latter half. Nawaz then grabbed 1-25 off his tidy four overs.
Khushdil Shah and Asif Ali later displayed stellar batting against the Indian bowling unit, allowing Pakistan to secure the win over Team India.
India's performance
After scoring a 12-ball 14, Rishabh Pant was dismissed by Khan in 14th over. Meanwhile, Pandya was dismissed by Mohammad Hasnain for a duck in the 15th. In the previous match between India against Pakistan, Pandya was the top performer.
Deepak Hooda scored 16 runs off 14 balls and was dismissed in the 19th over. Virat Kohli played quite well, scoring 60 runs off 44 balls, but he was out in the 20th over. Nawaz caught both Hooda and Kohli off-guard as the duo attempted to improve their chances, but only managed to score 88 in the last ten overs.
India had an opportunity to turn the tables in the 18th over. Unfortunately, Arshdeep Singh dropped an easy catch from Bishnoi, which give Asif Ali a major reprieve. Asif had not scored any runs at that point and went to hit an eight-ball 16 before Singh claimed his wicket in the last over.
India’s defeat in the hands of Pakistan was a surprise to many fans, who acknowledged that both teams played well.
