DUBAI: Seldom does the crowd here in Dubai hang back for the entire length of a one-sided match. At least, that has been the trend in the ongoing Asia Cup. But a free-flowing Rohit Sharma and a hard-hitting Shikhar Dhawan can compel even the most disinterested person to drool over their batting.
Scorecard | BLOG: India vs Pakistan
Sunday was one such evening, there was a show on. The crowd had expected a sterner fight from Pakistan in Round Two of the rivalry. There was some fight when Shoaib Malik shepherded Pakistan to 237/7. All of that evaporated when Rohit and Dhawan owned the stage under lights for the third time in a row. The duo, wielding their willow like a dagger, ripped apart the Pakistan attack. The job was clinically done in 39.3 overs with nine wickets in hand.
ALSO READ: Rohit, Shikhar become India's 2nd most successful opening pair in ODIs
As Dhawan and Rohit brought up their 15th and 19th ODI centuries, there was a loud proclamation of being the best opening pair going around in ODI cricket. Dhawan was run out for 114 off 100 balls as Rohit, unbeaten on 111 off 119 balls, had Ambati Rayudu with him when they crossed the line and put a foot in the final.
The nine-wicket victory is the biggest win for India against arch-rivals Pakistan in ODIs.
During the course of the 210-run partnership, another thing was reiterated: Pakistan is a team that could be sublime and sub-standard in the same match. Malik's pacing of his innings 90-ball 78 was a near-perfect one-day innings on a pitch that seemed like throwing off desert sand when the ball landed in the afternoon heat.
Yet, the three dropped catches off Rohit's bat and inconsistent, ill-planned bowling undid all the hard work done by Malik which seemed to have given a strong chance to defend the total on what seemed a sluggish pitch.
Pakistan was all about emotion. They decided again to bat first despite knowing the conditions favour the batsmen batting second. They brought back an off-colour Mohammad Amir, hoping he could disturb the mindset of the Indian batting. Imam-ul-Haq had claimed the momentum was with them after a thrilling finish against Afghanistan. All of that backfired.
Amir's aggression was overhauled by the authority of Dhawan. Like they always do, the Pakistani bowlers came out charging and banging the ball hard on the pitch. But most landed on the shorter side - all that the duo needed on a slow pitch. Dhawan and Rohit unleashed their disdainful cuts, pulls and hooks. And when the bowlers did pitch it up, they were piercing the in-field with utmost authority.
Imam had feared the consequences of a strong Indian opening partnership. That came true. The bowlers erred in their desperation to hit the Indian openers hard.
Dhawan and Rohit were not going to let their bowling down, as they have done right through the tournament. The Indian bowlers look like following a script - the two opening pacers stifling the top-order with their unwavering line and length and then the spinners coming in to chip away at the middle-order.
Rohit and Dhawan may run away with all the glamour on the night, but their free-flowing batting has much to do with how the bowlers have performed in the first of the match. Jasprit Bumrah's 2/29, Yuzvendra Chahal's 2/46 and Kuldeep Yadav's 2/41 is testimony to a well-coordinated attack. The openers and the bowlers have so far shielded the middle-order from any pressure. India wouldn't mind it for now.
Scorecard | BLOG: India vs Pakistan
Sunday was one such evening, there was a show on. The crowd had expected a sterner fight from Pakistan in Round Two of the rivalry. There was some fight when Shoaib Malik shepherded Pakistan to 237/7. All of that evaporated when Rohit and Dhawan owned the stage under lights for the third time in a row. The duo, wielding their willow like a dagger, ripped apart the Pakistan attack. The job was clinically done in 39.3 overs with nine wickets in hand.
ALSO READ: Rohit, Shikhar become India's 2nd most successful opening pair in ODIs
As Dhawan and Rohit brought up their 15th and 19th ODI centuries, there was a loud proclamation of being the best opening pair going around in ODI cricket. Dhawan was run out for 114 off 100 balls as Rohit, unbeaten on 111 off 119 balls, had Ambati Rayudu with him when they crossed the line and put a foot in the final.
The nine-wicket victory is the biggest win for India against arch-rivals Pakistan in ODIs.
During the course of the 210-run partnership, another thing was reiterated: Pakistan is a team that could be sublime and sub-standard in the same match. Malik's pacing of his innings 90-ball 78 was a near-perfect one-day innings on a pitch that seemed like throwing off desert sand when the ball landed in the afternoon heat.
Yet, the three dropped catches off Rohit's bat and inconsistent, ill-planned bowling undid all the hard work done by Malik which seemed to have given a strong chance to defend the total on what seemed a sluggish pitch.
Pakistan was all about emotion. They decided again to bat first despite knowing the conditions favour the batsmen batting second. They brought back an off-colour Mohammad Amir, hoping he could disturb the mindset of the Indian batting. Imam-ul-Haq had claimed the momentum was with them after a thrilling finish against Afghanistan. All of that backfired.
Amir's aggression was overhauled by the authority of Dhawan. Like they always do, the Pakistani bowlers came out charging and banging the ball hard on the pitch. But most landed on the shorter side - all that the duo needed on a slow pitch. Dhawan and Rohit unleashed their disdainful cuts, pulls and hooks. And when the bowlers did pitch it up, they were piercing the in-field with utmost authority.
Imam had feared the consequences of a strong Indian opening partnership. That came true. The bowlers erred in their desperation to hit the Indian openers hard.
Dhawan and Rohit were not going to let their bowling down, as they have done right through the tournament. The Indian bowlers look like following a script - the two opening pacers stifling the top-order with their unwavering line and length and then the spinners coming in to chip away at the middle-order.
Rohit and Dhawan may run away with all the glamour on the night, but their free-flowing batting has much to do with how the bowlers have performed in the first of the match. Jasprit Bumrah's 2/29, Yuzvendra Chahal's 2/46 and Kuldeep Yadav's 2/41 is testimony to a well-coordinated attack. The openers and the bowlers have so far shielded the middle-order from any pressure. India wouldn't mind it for now.
Source : timesofindia[dot]indiatimes[dot]com
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