Rauf finished with figures of 9-0-58-3, as the three Pakistan quicks shared the ten wickets between them. Rauf dismissed Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Kishan, as Pakistan bowled India out for 266.

Rauf came in at first-change, behind Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. After Afridi had bowled Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Rauf gave Pakistan their third breakthrough, with Iyer failing to send a short ball out of the infield.

Five overs later, Rauf was back at it, slipping one through the defences of Gill, and ending his 32-ball, 10-run stay.

Despite the early setbacks, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya put on a solid resistance, rebuilding the innings and taking them past 200. On 82, Kishan tried to take on Rauf, but only managed to balloon the ball in the air. Babar Azam took an easy catch at mid-on, bringing an end to his defiant knock.

Rauf, excited about his scalp, looked at Kishan’s direction and animatedly waved towards the pavilion. The send-off was completed by a roar from the Pakistan quick, still staring at Kishan. It was a different Rauf from the smiling opponent who chatted with Virat Kohli the evening before the clash, discussing their last encounter, in Melbourne last October.

Pandya, too, departed not long after, as the lower order crumbled to 266 all out. The innings break never ended, however, as rain prevented the players from taking the field. Eventually, persistent rain forced the match to be called off.

Pakistan lead the group with three points, sharing one point each with India from the Pallekele washout.

haris rauf
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