ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan will resume their Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2023 on Monday after rain interrupted play between the two sides in Colombo on Sunday and forced the match into the reserve day, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.
India were cruising at 147/2 from 24.1 overs against Pakistan when heavy rain interrupted play. After two inspections, the umpires ruled that the match would resume on Monday from the point it was interrupted on Sunday.
Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli and batter KL Rahul will look to build on their 24-run partnership when Rohit Sharma’s team resumes batting against Pakistan on Monday.
“Persistent rain forces the #PAKvIND Super 4 match into the reserve day,” the PCB wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Earlier, India made an explosive start to the innings, with Sharma and opening batter Shubman Gill putting up a century-stand before Pakistan vice-captain Shadab Khan struck, dismissing Sharma for 56 from 49 balls. His innings included four sixes and six fours.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was battered by the Indian openers during his first three overs, returned to the attack shortly and struck gold, dismissing Gill for 58 from 52 balls. Gill was deceived by a slow Afridi delivery that ended up straight into the hands of Agha Salman.
Kohli (8 runs from 16 balls) and Rahul (17 runs from 28 balls) remained not out at the crease when rain paused play.
Afridi took 1/37 from 5 overs at an economy rate of 7.4 while Khan notched 1/45 from 6.1 overs at an economy rate of 7.29. Right-arm fast bowler Naseem Shah troubled the Indian batters early on with his express pace and swing, with figures of 0/23 from 5 overs at an economy rate of 4.6.
The group match between Pakistan and India on Sept. 2 was abandoned by rain, which has played havoc with the 50-over tournament that is a precursor to the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.
Pakistan won their opening match of the Super Four stage and a second win will further enhance their chances of reaching the final on September 17.
Ground staff pull covers as it rains during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Sept.10, 2023. (AP)
Pakistan's Shadab Khan, right, celebrates taking the wicket of India's Rohit Sharma during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on September 10, 2023. (AP)
Pakistan's Naseem Shah, left, gestures as he unsuccessfully appeals for the wicket of India's Rohit Sharma during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on September 10, 2023. (AP)
Playing XI:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
