In the most anticipated clash of Asia Cup 2023, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan made a brilliant half-century under pressure against Pakistan. With this fifty against Pakistan, Kishan has now joined the list with former captain MS Dhoni. Kishan has become the fourth Indian wicketkeeper to score a half-century in the Asia Cup and the fourth Indian wicketkeeper to do so against Pakistan in this tournament.
Before Kishan’s half-century, only Dhoni and SC Khanna had scored half-centuries against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Dhoni achieved this feat twice in 2008 and 2010. Kishan came to bat at a tough moment for India when they were struggling at 48 runs for the loss of three wickets. With the help of 9 boundaries and 2 sixes in 81 deliveries, Kishan played a crucial innings of 82 runs against the men in green.
The other achievement is Ishan’s fourth consecutive hundred in the ODIs. Prior to this, he had played innings of 52, 55, and 77 runs in the ODI series against the West Indies. Kishan formed a partnership of 138 runs in just 141 balls which helped India to get an impressive target of 266 runs.
However, the India and Pakistan match was called off due to rain. Pakistan did not play a single over and both the teams got one point each for this match.
Due to weather, the match was also disturbed during India’s inning where the first rain happened at India playing 15/0 after 4.2 overs. However, India was bundled out for 266 runs. For India, Hardik Pandya scored the maximum 87 runs in 90 runs and Ishan Kishan got 82 in just 81 balls.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi got four wickets, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf got three wickets each.
