India will chase 172 for victory after Pakistan slipped from 91 for 1 at halfway to 171 for 5 at the end of their 20 overs – their highest first-innings total against India in T20Is, yet one that still feels a touch under par on a true Colombo surface.
Sahibzada Farhan provided early energy, cracking 58 from 45 balls after being promoted to open. When he and Saim Ayub (38 off 27) were coasting along at better than nine an over, Pakistan looked set for something nearer 190. Instead, a tangle of dot balls – 39 legal deliveries without a boundary – saw momentum leak away.
Shivam Dube, asked to fill the sixth-bowler slot, was central to the squeeze. His clever mix of cutters removed both set batters and closed with 2 for 33. “Those heavy balls into the pitch just keep you honest,” observed television analyst Dinesh Karthik during the innings break. Varun Chakravarthy (0 for 25) and Kuldeep Yadav (1 for 31) then tightened the noose with their contrasting wrist-spin.
Pakistan managed only 80 runs in the back ten overs. “We were aiming for 185 plus,” assistant coach Abdul Rehman told the host broadcaster. “Credit to India, they shut us down in the middle.” A late cameo from Faheem Ashraf – 20 not out from eight deliveries, including a straight six off Arshdeep Singh – lifted the total past 170 and at least gave the crowd something to cheer.
For India, the equation is straightforward: overhaul 172 and record the highest successful chase of this Asia Cup. They will, however, need to watch the new ball carefully; Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah found a hint of movement under lights during the powerplay of Pakistan’s innings.
The pitch has stayed even and the outfield is rapid, so the target is within reach. Yet, as Wasim Akram warned on commentary, “Get stuck like Pakistan did and the run-rate climbs in a hurry.” The first three overs of each phase may well decide whether Farhan’s fifty proves decisive or merely enterprising.
