Srinagar, Sept 14 (KNS): India’s bowlers produced a clinical performance to restrict Pakistan to a modest total in their Asia Cup 2025 clash, despite a late counterattack from Shaheen Afridi.
Pakistan lost wickets in clusters after being asked to bat. Jasprit Bumrah removed Saim Ayub in the very first over, and Hardik Pandya combined with him to dismiss Mohammad Haris cheaply. Although Sahibzada Farhan (40 off 44) and Fakhar Zaman (17 off 15) tried to steady the innings, Axar Patel’s double strike and Kuldeep Yadav’s triple blow ripped through the middle order.
At one stage, Pakistan were reeling at 64 for 6, staring at an even smaller total.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelShaheen Afridi (33* off 16) then launched a brief counterattack with four sixes, adding some quick runs with Sufiyan Muqeem (10 off 6). But Bumrah struck again to end the cameo support, leaving Pakistan at 111 for 9 before Shaheen carried them to a fighting finish.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the star with 3 for 18, while Bumrah (2/28) and Axar (2/18) also impressed. Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya chipped in with a wicket each.
Pakistan eventually ended with a below-par total, and with the pitch expected to improve under lights, India will back themselves to chase comfortably.(KNS)