Pakistan chased down a target of 120 in just five overs without losing a wicket against India at the Hong Kong Super Sixes today (November 1).
Pakistan captain Faheem Ashraf won the toss and chose to field first in the six-a-side game, India's first of the tournament. Robin Uthappa, leading India, came out to open alongside Bharat Chipli. Uthappa gave India a rapid start, scoring 31 off the first seven balls of the match before he was dismissed by Ashraf.
Kedar Jadhav walked in at No.3 and was dismissed cheaply (8 off 3). Manoj Tiwary (17 off 7) and Stuart Binny (4 off 2) struggled to get the big hits going lower down the order as Chipli held fort from one end before he had to retire out for 53 off 16. India finished on 119-2 off six overs.
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In response, Pakistan openers came out all guns blazing. Asif Ali, who has represented Pakistan in 21 ODIs and 58 T20Is, including two T20 World Cups, was particularly severe, smashing four sixes off his first five balls.
His partner, Muhammad Akhlaq, had a relatively sedate start, reaching six off his first four balls, before unleashing in the third over, bowled by left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem. Akhlaq hit him for three sixes and a four in that over to reach 29 off nine with Pakistan at 68-0 after three overs.
Pakistan needed only another 12 deliveries to score the remaining 52 runs. Manoj Tiwary was smashed for 20 in the fourth over of the innings, before Ali reached his 55 off just 14 balls in the fifth, bowled by Nadeem, forcing him to retire. That brought Ashraf to the crease, who hit three sixes and a four off the five balls he faced to finish the game in the fifth over.
Nadeem was the most expensive Indian bowler, giving away 57 off his two overs. India's next match is on Satruday (November 2) against the United Arab Emirates while Pakistan have won both their group stage games and have finished at the top of Pool C.
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