| Overs 39.3: It's all over! India (238/1) thump Pakistan (237/7) by nine wickets Overs 39: Overs 37: Overs 35.2: HUNDRED Overs 34: Overs 33.3: OUT! Overs 33: Overs 32.2: HUNDRED Overs 31: Overs 30: Overs 28: Overs 26: Overs 25: Overs 24: Overs 21.5: FIFTY Overs 20: Overs 19.1: Overs 18: Overs 17: Overs 16.1: FOUR! Overs 15: Overs 13: Overs 11: Overs 10: Overs 9: Overs 7: Overs 5.4: DROPPED! Overs 5.2: SIX! Overs 4: Overs 3: Overs 2: Over 1: Good recovery by Pak after the initial stutter but is 237 enough? Perhaps not given how the pitch has played unless… https://t.co/U6taQeOXwi — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) 1537714838000 Overs 50: India restrict Pakistan to 237/7 Overs 49.3: OUT! Overs 49: Overs 48: Overs 47: Overs 44.5: OUT! Overs 43.4: OUT! Overs 43.1: Overs 42: 22 RUNS! Overs 41.3: SIX! Overs 41: Overs 38.5: OUT! Overs 38: Overs 37.1: Overs 34.5: FIFTY Overs 33: Overs 31: Overs 30: Overs 28: Overs 27.1: Overs 25: Overs 24: Overs 22: Overs 19: Overs 16: What a peculiar last few minutes! Babar Azam must be gutted with his part in two dismissals. Had to take a call on… https://t.co/oqg1gnTWQ7 — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 1537706379000 Overs 15.5: OUT! Overs 14.3: OUT! Overs 14: Overs 12.2: SIX! Overs 12: Overs 10: Overs 8: OUT! Overs 6: Overs 4: Overs 2: Over 1: TOSS: India (Playing XI): Pakistan (Playing XI): Pitch Report Sunil Gavaskar Asia Cup 2018: India's biggest victory over Pakistan It's the biggest win for India in terms of wickets in one-day internationals. India skipper Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 111 off 119 balls as they chase the modest target with 63 balls to spare. India virtually through to the final of the Asia Cup after registering fourth straight win in the tournament.India 236/1, need two more to winIndia 229/1, need nine more to win. Rohit Sharma 108* & Ambati Rayudu 6*for Rohit Sharma off 106 balls, his 19th in ODIs. India 220/1, need 18 more to winRohit Sharma also became the ninth Indian batman to score 7000 runs in ODIs, when he reached 94 today.India 211/1, need 27 more to winShikhar Dhawan run out for 114 (100 balls). India 210/1Dhawan's superb innings ended on 114 off 100 balls, which included two sixes and 16 fours. The 210 runs stand is the best opening partnership by India against Pakistan.India 208/0, need 30 more to winfor Shikhar Dhawan off 95 balls, his 15th in ODIs. India 198/0India 190/0, need 48 more to winBoth Shikhar Dhawan (98*) and Rohit Sharma (91*) are in 90s now.India 179/0, need 59 more to winThe required rate is below 3 now.India 164/0Rohit Sharma (81*) and Shikhar Dhawan (82*) are in 80s now. Will both score tons today?150 comes up for India (Shikhar Dhawan 80* & Rohit Sharma 71*). Need 86 more to winIndia 138/0 at the half-way mark (Shikhar Dhawan 80* and Rohit Sharma 57*). Need exactly 100 more to winIndia 131/0, need 107 more to winTeam India is cruising towards the modest target. Both Shikhar Dhawan (75*) and Rohit Sharma (55*) looked quite comfortable in the middle.for Rohit Sharma off 65 balls, his 37th in ODIs. India 118/0India skipper Rohit Sharma hit a six and four boundaries for his watchful half-century.India 107/0, need 131 more to win the contest100 comes up for IndiaIt is the 13th time Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have put on a 100-run partnership for the opening wicket. They became the second best Indian opening pair behind legendary duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly (21).India 91/0Shikhar Dhawan completed his 26th ODI fifty off 56 balls, which included seven boundaries.India 85/0Rohit Sharma (39*) started the Mohammad Nawaz over with a four and finished it off with another boundary. 10 runs came off it.Rohit Sharma (34*) swept it behind square for first boundary since the tenth over. India 79/0India 72/0Shikhar Dhawan 43* and Rohit Sharma 28* have slowed down a bit in the last five overs, scoring 22 runs without hitting a boundary. Last boundaries came in the tenth over.India 64/0, need 174 more to winShikhar Dhawan 41* and Rohit Sharma 22* putting up another solid stand for the opening wicket as India cruise in the run chase.India 57/0India's opening stands in Asia Cup 2018 so far: 45, 86, 61, 57*. Both India openers are in good form.India 53/0Shikhar Dhawan (34*) hit two fours off Mohammad Amir in the over to bring up fifty-run stand for the opening wicket with skipper Rohit Sharma (18*).India 45/0Shikhar Dhawan 26*, Rohit Sharma 18* so far looked solid in the middle. India scoring at a good rate.India 38/0Shikhar Dhawan (24*) hit two fours off Hasan Ali in the over.Imam-ul-Haq dropped an easy chance to give Rohit Sharma (14*) a life. It could be the turning point in the match.Rohit Sharma pulled it over backward square leg for first maximum of India run chase, off Shaheen Afridi. India 29/0India 18/0Shikhar Dhawan 15* hit one more boundary, this time off Shaheen Afridi's delivery. But it was the only runs the youngster conceded in the over.India 14/0Shikhar Dhawan hit first four of the India innings off Mohammad Amir as he scored seven runs in the over.India 7/0Good start by young Shaheen Afridi, gave away just one single in the over.India 6/0Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma out in the middle to start the India run chase. Mohd Amir with the ball for PakistanGood, discipline bowling in the death overs by Indian attack restricted Pakistan to below-par 237/7 in Dubai. India conceded just 26 runs in the final five overs. Shoaib Malik was the top scorer for Pakistan with 78 off 90 balls, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/29), Kuldeep Yadav (2/41) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/46) took two wickets apiece for India.Jasprit Bumrah cleans up Shadab Khan for 10. Pakistan 234/7Pakistan 232/6Good comeback by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, after conceding 22 in his last over, as he gave away just seven runs in the penultimate over. No boundary for Pakistan late in the innings.Pakistan 225/6Brilliant over from Jasprit Bumrah, gave away just four singles in it. Can Pakistan reach 250, with just two overs left in the innings?Pakistan 221/6Mohammad Nawaz ended the Yuzvendra Chahal over with a four as Pakistan scored eight runs in it.Yuzvendra Chahal cleans up Asif Ali for 30. Pakistan 211/6Asif Ali was looking dangerous as he smacked two sixes and a four for his 30 off 21 balls, before Yuzvendra Chahal uprooted his stumps to end the quick-fire cameo. Pakistan lost two wickets in the last seven balls.Big Wicket. Jasprit Bumrah dismisses Shoaib Malik for 78. Pakistan 203/5Shoaib Malik scored 78 off 90 balls, which included two sixes and four boundaries, and set a good platform for Pakistan to launch the final assault.200 comes up for Pakistan. Shoaib Malik 78* & Asif Ali 22*Massive over for Pakistan -- 193/4Shoaib Malik started the Bhuvneshwar Kumar over with a four and Asif Ali finished it off with 6, 4, 6 off consecutive balls as India pacer conceded 22 runs in it.Asif Ali smacks it over long-on off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Pakistan 182/4Pakistan 171/4Another good over by Kuldeep Yadav, gave away just two singles in it.Kuldeep Yadav breaks the stand, scalps Sarfraz Ahmed for 44. Pakistan 165/4Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Sarfraz Ahmed to end the 107-run fourth wicket partnership between the Pakistan skipper and Shoaib Malik.Pakistan 160/3Hundred runs partnership between Shoaib Malik (62*) and Sarfraz Ahmed (42*) as they set a good platform to launch a late attack against India.150 comes up for Pakistan - 155/3SIX! Shoaib Malik smacked a huge six straight down the ground off Ravindra Jadeja to bring up 150 runs for Pakistan.for Shoaib Malik off 64 balls, his 43rd in ODIs.<doc-sep>ASIA CUP 2018 India vs Pakistan, Round 1 of 3? by Prakash Govindasreenivasan • Last updated on Since the start of the decade, India have had a 6-4 win-loss equation against Pakistan in ODIs. © Getty Can the cricketing rarity that is an India-Pakistan One-Day International be inconsequential? Technically, yes. But let's rewind a bit. In June 2017, Pakistan fans got the ultimate gratification in terms of score-keeping with their Indian peers with a Champions Trophy final victory. Sarfraz Ahmed said that the previous meeting doesn't have any bearing on the one coming up, but try telling that to the fans from both sides of the border. The India-Pakistan rivalry is old, and the sub-plots are always fascinating. The two teams are coming up against each other in the UAE - the neutral venue where they have played the most against each other - after a period of 12 long years. Since the start of the decade, India have had a 7-4 win-loss equation against Pakistan in ODIs. Since the bilateral series of 2012, the two teams have only met at multi-team events where the overbearing pre-match narrative has been about whether Pakistan can break that hoodoo. One of those two wins came in the Asia Cup, but the inability to beat India in ICC events was still held against them. Until Champions Trophy 2017, of course. Now the scales have been tipped, the pressure has shifted, further adding to a fantastic rivalry that has sporadic renewals. Hong Kong have also given Pakistan a few reasons to cherish. The Indian middle-order is still unconvincing, Bhuvneshwar Kumar went wicketless and for the majority of the Hong Kong chase, it appeared like they'd pull off an upset against India. They eventually didn't, but a thoroughly tested India might just be there for the taking. The result of this game of course, will have no bearing on what happens ahead, to the extent that India will remain A1 in the seedings and play their Super Four fixtures in Dubai. But there's more to this match than the result. This will be just the first meeting - one sure to whet the appetite of the rivalry-famished fans - before the possibility of two more rendezvous, if they both end up in the final. So, can the cricketing rarity that is an India-Pakistan One-Day International be inconsequential? Onlytechnically, yes. When: September 19, 2018, 3:30 PM Local time, 5:00 PM IST Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium What to expect: It's the sort of fixture that even sapping Dubai heat won't have a bearing on. A packed house, braving the weather, is expected to grace the stadium. All the pitches used in the tournament so far have been slow, and Wednesday's is going to be no exception. Team News: India India have a big overnight decision to make. Jasprit Bumrah has to return for the Pakistan clash, but it would be cruel on Khaleel Ahmed, if it is at his expense. Shardul Thakur had an ordinary evening, and should make way. The next big call is in the top-order. The bench has Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul waiting to get in, but with Ambati Rayudu performing well and Kedar Jadhav doubling up as the sixth bowling option, only one player can be relegated to the bench - Dinesh Karthik. KL Rahul coming in would mean he either bats at 4 or takes No.3 and Rayudu moves a spot down. If Pandya is indeed a player they cannot do without - which is likely to be the case - then Khaleel will have to be benched. Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, KL Rahul/Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya/Khaleel Ahmed Pakistan Mohammad Amir has three wickets in eight ODIs in 2018 but Sarfraz Ahmed came to his strike pacer's defence in a press conference, even going to the extent of citing the example of Mohammed Shami, who he felt bowled well in the Tests in England but didn't have too many wickets to show for the effort. There's logic in giving the left-armer a rest, considering they have enough similar fast bowlers to trouble the Indian batsmen and the fact that they've already made it to the Super Four stage. Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan, Mohammad Amir/Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali Did you know: - Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has three hundreds and a half-century in his last five ODI outings - If Yuzvendra Chahal picks two wickets against Pakistan, he'll become India's third fastest to 50 ODI wickets (in 27 matches) - behind Ajit Agarkar (23 matches) and Kuldeep Yadav (24 matches). What they said: "People say this is Pakistan's home ground and you can say that, but I believe the conditions here are even for every team. The weather here is like it is in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pitches are also similarly slow. So it isn't really home ground for anyone. It is an even ground for all." - Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed on whether his team enjoy home advantage. © Cricbuzz TAGS RELATED STORIES<doc-sep>The captains always try to underplay the occasion, but an India-Pakistan match has forever been a mouth-watering prospect. While the match is about the skill sets of players, much of it is played in the mind and the players who hold their nerve better emerge triumphant in the end of this high-octane clash. There are interesting subplots in the match and how they play out could well determine the eventual result of the match. We take a look at the important player battles in the match. Mohammed Amir vs Rohit Sharma “He is just a normal bowler, on that given day if he is good, he is good. It is not as if he turns up and blows everyone away,” Rohit Sharma had said before India met Pakistan in the 2016 Asia Cup. Well, Amir trundled up and dismissed Rohit in that match and then accounted for him in the finals of the Champions Trophy in 2017. Although, he has not been in good wicket-taking form in the recent past, his angle has always troubled Rohit. India’s captain looked good in the match against Hong Kong, but could not bat deep into the innings and the match against Pakistan is his opportunity to make a statement. Usman Khan Shinwari vs Shikhar Dhawan The young left-arm seamer was the man of the match in the game against Hong Kong. He accounted for three wickets in one over and impressed one and all with his pace and unnerving accuracy. He has the ability to swing the new ball and Dhawan has struggled against the away swinger in England. However, he did find form against Hong Kong and has been India’s gun player in limited overs cricket in the past one last year. Hasan Ali vs MS Dhoni “The last time I took three wickets in the Champions Trophy final, my favourite was MS Dhoni’s wicket. I am looking forward to bowling against him again,” Hasan Ali said before the tournament. He has been one of Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker over the past one year and has picked 57 wickets in 25 matches (since 2017) and has been Sarfraz’a go-to man in the middle overs. ALSO READ: The mirage of Mohammad Amir and threat of Hasan Ali MS Dhoni, on the other hand, faced a lot of flak for his sluggish batting in the ODIs against England and he has generally struggled against back of a length bowling. Hasan Ali generally bowls the hard length and this tussle in the middle overs could well decide the result of the match. Jasprit Bumrah vs Fakhar Zaman File picture of Jasprit Bumrah (AP) One of the turning points in that famous India-Pakistan final at the Oval in 2017 was when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Fakhar Zaman early in the piece, but had overstepped. Zaman went on to slam a century and took the match away from India. The left-hander has only gone from strength from strength ever since his debut and is one of the key cogs for Pakistan. In 19 matches, Zaman has peeled off 1089 runs at a staggering average of 72.60 and with a strike rate of 101.58. However, Bumrah is now a Test bowler for India and was mighty impressive in the just-concluded Test series against England. There is a visible change in his attitude and he now looks to set batsmen up and then goes for the kill. India need to get rid of Fakhar early if they want to control the innings and Bumrah would ideally want to set the record straight. Kuldeep Yadav vs Shoaib Malik Shoaib Malik loves the Indian bowling attack and scores runs for fun against the bowling attack. In 39 matches against India, Malik has scored 1661 runs at an average of 47.45. However, he will have to face the mystery of Kuldeep Yadav, who has been India’s trump card over the past 15 months. Malik is a terrific player of spin, but Kuldeep with his variations can be a handful. A spicy contest is on the cards! ALSO READ: An all-time India-Pakistan combined ODI XI Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Babar Azam Bhuvneshwar returns to the side after an injury layoff and has to lead the Indian attack. He has now experience on his side and Rohit will look towards him to take care of Babar Azam, who has been one of the most prolific run-scorers for Pakistan, more so in UAE.<doc-sep>
If all other things in the world were normal, Wednesday's match between India and Pakistan would be a dead rubber. Both teams have made it to the next round, and where they finish in the group stage doesn't matter as each of the four teams in the next round plays each other once anyway. But unfortunately, all other things in the world are not normal. And thus, no India - Pakistan match is anywhere close to a dead-rubber, at least for the ones who aren't playing the actual match. The two teams will clash for an assured two times - and potentially thrice - in the tournament, but it's the first meeting that's always full of hype and drama. For it's that match which breaks the often long gap between two India-Pakistan matches. It means both sides will have to bring out their A game and be at their best. India didn't do that against Hong Kong on Tuesday and find themselves under a bit more pressure to raise their game. India would have perhaps thought of Hong Kong as a mere formality, and could have even hoped to finish the game as early as possible to extend their rest ahead of the Pakistan game. Instead, they were made to play the entire 100 overs, with Hong Kong putting up a remarkable fight. There were stages where Hong Kong were on top, but didn't have the experience to convert those into a victory. But although they lost, they ensured India left the game with more questions than answers. Those questions will carry into the game against Pakistan. Who are their middle order batsmen? India managed just 48 runs from their last 10 overs against Hong Kong although they got an excellent platform from Shikhar Dhawan, who made 127. Finishing innings in ODIs has been a long-standing problem for India, with MS Dhoni no longer the power-hitter he was, and the rest not standing up. To solve that, India will almost definitely bring Hardik Pandya back. The all-rounder was rested for the Hong Kong game, having played four of the five Tests apart from the limited-overs series in England recently. India still have issues in their bowling, as was evident against Hong Kong, who had an opening stand worth 174. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is just returning from an injury, and his effectiveness with the new ball without swing has come under the scanner in recent times. Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed made an impressive debut, but Shardul Thakur hasn't grabbed his chances. Thakur will in all likelihood make way for Jasprit Bumrah, but whose place will Pandya take? Kedhar Jadhav is just one match into his comeback from injury. Dinesh Karthik scored 33 at No. 4, a position India are trying to fill with a permanent option. If India don't touch their batting combination, they'll have to remove one of Khaleel or Bhuvneshwar to make way for Pandya. And what of KL Rahul? With Dhawan and Rohit Sharma settled, he'll have to take a place in the top order. But Ambati Rayudu scored 60 on comeback, and Rahul hasn't done much in positions below No. 3. There's also Manish Pandey who would want to make a case for the middle-order positions. India will have to answer all these questions and identify their first XI before getting into the next stage of the tournament. On the other hand, Pakistan have looked more settled than they've been in the last few years. In Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik, they have solid batsmen, followed by Sarfraz Ahmed. Their bowling is well-rounded and balanced, with Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan and Hassan Ali taking care of the pace department and Shadab Khan as a potent leg-spinning option. Their bowling is so strong that they don't have a place for Junaid Khan in the XI. India experienced Pakistan's bowling potent in their most recent clash - the Champions Trophy final last June, when India were shot out for just 158. Pakistan scored 338 in that game, but the big difference since then is the emergence of two Indian spinners - Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. The wrist-spin duo has found success all over and have given India wickets in the middle overs. Pakistan's batsmen are yet to face them, and how that battle pans out could well decide the course of this massive dead-rubber clash.