India cruise to huge 228 run win over Pakistan in Asia Cup

by Rex Clementine

India recorded their biggest win over arch-rivals Pakistan and collected crucial points in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup in Colombo on Monday.

Having set a target of 357, India bowled out Pakistan for 128 runs, their third lowest total against India, to record a comprehensive 228 run win. It’s India’s biggest win ever over the neighbouring country.

The game extended to the reserve day on Monday threatened to end in a no result after several rain interruptions but India’s bowlers did well to bowl out the opposition in 32 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav finished with a five-wicket haul as Pakistan struggled to pick the left-arm wrist spinner. It’s Kuldeep’s second five wicket haul in ODIs.

Batting first, India had compiled a strong 356 for two with Virat Kohli and K.L. Rahul posting unbeaten hundreds. They added an unfinished 233 runs for the third wicket off just 194 balls, India’s highest partnership for any wicket in Asia Cups.

India’s total of 356 for two is now the fourth highest total at R. Premadasa Stadium and the writing was on the wall for Pakistan at the innings break as no team had successfully chased 357 at this venue.

It was also India’s joint highest ODI total against Pakistan, equalling the 356 they had posted in Visakhapatnam in 2005.

After rain on Sunday play was suspended and was extended to Monday’s reserve day. India resumed on 147 for two and took the game away from Pakistan following the audacious batting of Kohli and Rahul.

Rahul, who was returning to the side after injury reached his half-century in 60 deliveries but upped the tempo to complete a run a ball century. It was his sixth ODI hundred and the first since March 2021.

Rahul finished on 111 not out off 106 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

Kohli, meanwhile, needed 55 balls to reach his fifty but cut loose after that putting Pakistan’s bowlers to the sword.

In the process, the former captain completed 13,000 ODI runs becoming the quickest batsman to do so. The previous record holder Sachin Tendulkar, had required 321 innings for the milestone but Kohli got there in just 267 innings.

Kohli’s hundred came off 84 balls. It was his fourth consecutive hundred at R. Premadasa Stadium and only Hasim Amla of South Africa had scored four successive hundreds before him in one ground – Centurion.

It was Kohli’s 47th ODI century.

Kohli finished unbeaten on 122 off 94 deliveries with nine fours and three sixes.

Pakistan’s attack was weakened with Haris Rauf unavailable to bowl. The fast bowler had sent down five overs but wasn’t available to bowl on Monday as he felt discomfort in his right flank.

Naseem Shah too walked off midway through his final over with a shoulder niggle. Both bowlers didn’t bat during Pakistan’s innings.