Controversial third umpire decision was the center of attraction as Pakistan beat India by 5 wickets in the Super 4 encounter of Asia Cup 2022. After winning the toss, Pakistan asked India to bat first on a wicket which was batsman’s paradise and the men in blue managed to score 181 runs in their designated 20 overs. India managed to get an ideal start as Rohit and Rahul added 54 runs in just 31 runs for the opening wicket. India kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Virat Kohli’s masterclass(60 off 44) ensured that India reach a comfortable total. Pakistan lost Babar early but Mohammad Rizwan held one end of the wicket and ensured that Pakistan reached the target comfortably.
Rizwan first steadied the ship with Fakhar Zaman(15 off 18) and then put up a 73 run stand with Mohamamd Nawaz in just 41 balls to put Pakistan in a dominant position. After the wicket of Nawaz, the wicket-keeper batsman continued to play his shots but Hardik Pandya send him packing in the 17th over of the innings to make the pendulum swing in balance.
A controversial third umpire decision of Asif Ali and a dropped catch by Arshdeep Singh proved costly to India. Ali pounded Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 19 runs in the 19th over to make the equation look pretty easy for Pakistan with just 7 needed of 6 balls. Arshdeep went for a four on the second ball of the over but a dot ball and wicket of Ali ensured 2 needed of 2 balls.
He tried to bowl a yorker to newcomer Iftikhar Ahmed but it ended up being a full toss and the Pakistani batter drove it back down the ground for 2 runs to finish the match and hand over a 5 wickets victory to the men in green.
How India can meet Pakistan in the finals
Out of the last 14 editions of Asia Cup played till 2018, India have never met Pakistan in the finals but the story can be different this time around. If the two teams are to meet in the final, some terms have to be fulfilled for another cracker Sunday next week.
1- India need to win their remaining two matches against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka
2- Pakistan also need to win their remaining two matches against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. If they lose any match from here on, things may come down to net run rate or other win/lose factors.
