After just one inning of play on Saturday, rain forced the blockbuster India vs Pakistan Match Asia Cup 2023 to end in a tie.
Due to the ongoing rain in Pallekele, Pakistan bowled out India for 266 in 48.5 overs with pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi recording figures of 4-35.
Pakistan under Babar Azam advanced to the Super Four stage of the competition after winning their first match in the 50-over competition, a crucial matchup before the World Cup in India later this year.
On Saturday, the points were distributed.
For a brief period, the rain stopped, and ground personnel removed the covers as the umpires contemplated lowering Pakistan’s goal. However, another series of storms ended the game.
On Tuesday at the same location, India will play Nepal, who are making their Asia Cup debut.
India vs Pakistan Match Asia Cup 2023: India Slow Consolidation
In their opening game of the competition, India decided to bat but fell to 66-4 after a devastating opening delivery by left-arm fast Shaheen.
Ishan Kishan (82) and Hardik Pandya (87) responded in a partnership of 138 to give their team a battling total, but rain eventually got the last word following the third interruption of play.
Shaheen shook up the opposition’s top order by bowling both batsmen, Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma, both of whom were crucial targets.
Before the game was abandoned, Shaheen told the broadcasters Star Sports, “I think both (Virat and Rohit) were crucial wickets.”
“Every batter is the same for me,” he continued. However, I thought Rohit’s wicket was superior. The ball crept back in to evade the opener’s defence and knock the off stump when Shaheen bowled to Rohit on a length around the off.
Fellow quicks Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah provided effective support for Shaheen, each taking three wickets.
In a reversal of roles, Pandya and the left-handed Kishan blasted the opposition bowlers with boundaries.
The batsmen resisted Shaheen’s two-over effort to break the partnership, and as Kishan reached his fifty, the fans erupted in raucous applause while Pakistan, whose fielding on the pitch remained shoddy, grew frustrated.
Earlier, Rohit smashed Shaheen for a couple of fours, but after a 33-minute break, the pace bowler got back at him to dismiss the Indian captain for 11.
When Kohli (4) inside-edged an incoming delivery against his stumps, he hushed the predominantly Indian audience.
As India slid to 48-3 and quickly lost opener Shubman Gill for 10 following a second rain delay, Rauf bowled the returning Shreyas Iyer.
In addition, following Kishan’s 81-ball innings, which included nine fours and two sixes, he ultimately returned the batsman with the catch.
Pandya persisted in the fight and struck three boundaries off Rauf in one over before falling to Shaheen.
The Indian innings took 48.5 overs to complete, with number 10 Jasprit Bumrah making 16 before getting bowled by Naseem. Naseem Shah, who was arguably the best bowler without wickets to show for until then, took out the last three wickets to restrict India.
After the resumption of the rain, which ultimately had the last word, ground workers covered the pitch as players exited for the inning break.
The entire tournament was initially scheduled to take place in Pakistan, but due to political unrest and security worries, all games involving India were moved to Sri Lanka.