Hardik Pandya’s puts on an all-rounder performance as India beat Pakistan by five wickets in a crunch Asia Cup Twenty20 international on Sunday.
Chasing 147-run target at the Dubai international Stadium, the Men in Blue crossed the winning line with just two bowls remaining in the innings.
Pandya remained unbeaten on 33 off 17, while Ravindra Jadeja played a crucial hand of 35 off 29.
Mohammad Rizwan attempted to set the pace for Pakistan with his 43 after early wickets, but the Indian bowlers kept coming back at a packed Dubai International Stadium.
Kumar set the tone for India’s dominance as he dismissed skipper Babar Azam for 10 in the second over and returned figures of 4-26.
Pandya rattled Pakistan’s middle-order with his three wickets.
India elected to field first and Kumar nearly trapped Rizwan lbw with the second ball, but the wicketkeeper-batsman successfully reviewed the decision.
The in-form Azam began with a boundary in the first over but his stay was short-lived as Kumar had him caught at short fine-leg off a short ball.
Rizwan attempted to rebuild the innings with the left-handed Fakhar Zaman as the two struck a few boundaries between them.
Pace bowler Avesh Khan responded after getting hit for a six and four by Rizwan, inducing a faint edge behind from Fakhar (10) to bring alive the Indian crowd.
Indian fielders did not appeal and only celebrated after Fakhar walked off much to the surprise of his partner.
Rizwan then got going with Iftikhar Ahmed in a 45-run stand that was broken by Pandya with a bouncer that saw Iftikhar caught behind for 28.
Pandya struck again to deny Rizwan his fifty and soon got another to further restrict Pakistan.
