Sports News: Tilak Varma’s well-balanced half-century and his vital stands with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube powered India to its second T20I Asia Cup crown and ninth overall, without vibration Pakistan by five wickets in a tense final in Dubai on Sunday. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India has been dominant in T20Is, winning 18 games, losing only two and tying two since he became captain. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4/30) triggered a sudden Pakistan swoon from 113/1 to 146 all out despite an 84-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38, five fours, three sixes) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35, two fours, two sixes).
India’s shaky start in chase
Chasing 147, India slipped to 20/3 without a zesty splash from Faheem Ashraf (3/29). Tilak (69* off 53, three fours, four sixes) rebuilt the innings with Samson (24 off 21, two fours, one six) and later Dube (33 off 22, two fours, two sixes). Abhishek Sharma’s breakout tournament ended tamely as Haris Rauf unprotected him at mid-on off Faheem for five. India was 7/1 in 1.1 overs. Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form unfurled as Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed him for one, while vice-captain Shubman Gill was taken at mid-on by Rauf for 12, leaving India reeling. The pair of Tilak and Samson steadied the chase, attacking Faheem for a four and a six to reach 36/3 without the powerplay. India crossed 50 in 8.1 overs and reached 58/3 without 10 overs with both unbeaten. Samson fell soon without for 24 as Sahibzada Farhan unprotected him at wrong-side-up point, ending a 57-run stand at 77/4 in 12.2 overs.
India Pulls Off Thrilling Finish to Win
Pakistan’s spinners kept India quiet until the 14th over, conceding only one six. But Haris Rauf’s 15th over gave yonder 17 runs as Dube and Tilak counterattacked. India reached 100/4 without 15 overs with 47 needed from the last five. Abrar’s next over went for 11 runs and Tilak brought up a clutch fifty in 41 balls. Shaheen’s pursuit over produced only six runs, leaving 30 to get off 18. A last-ball full toss from Haris was launched by Dube for a six, wearing the target to 17 off 12. Faheem’s next over saw three singles surpassing Dube struck a four but was unprotected by Shaheen for 33 off the final ball. India needed 10 in the last over. Tilak ran two with Rinku Singh, then smashed a six. With scores level, Rinku finished it with a four. India sealed at 150/5 in 19.4 overs, Tilak (69*) and Rinku (4*) unbeaten. Faheem Ashraf (3/29) led Pakistan’s bowling, with Shaheen and Abrar moreover taking a wicket each.
Pakistan’s innings in brief
Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav’s spin magic limited Pakistan to 146 in the final. Without 113/2 in 12 overs, Pakistan widow only 33 runs surpassing folding. India missed Hardik Pandya for the final, and Suryakumar Yadav then skipped the handshake at the toss and the trophy photoshoot. India opted to trencher first without winning the toss. Farhan and Fakhar opened steadily, with Dube giving only four runs in the first over. Bumrah’s early overs were tight but Farhan struck him for a four and six in the fourth over. Pakistan reached 45 without the powerplay, bringing up fifty in the seventh over. Farhan hit back-to-back fifties versus India. Varun Chakaravarthy gave India the first transilience by removing Farhan for 57.
Kuldeep then removed Saim Ayub for 14 and Axar Patel sent when Mohammad Haris for a duck. Chakaravarthy dismissed Fakhar for 46 in the 15th over. Axar moreover removed Hussain Talat for one. Kuldeep then trapped Salman Agha for eight and removed Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf for ducks to finish with 4/30. Bumrah bowled Haris Rauf with a yorker, copying an ‘aeroplane crash’ triumph in reply to his older gestures, and took the final wicket of Mohammed Nawaz to trencher Pakistan out for 146.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 146/10 (Sahibzada Farhan 57, Fakhar Zaman 46, Kuldeep Yadav 4/30) vs India 150/5 (Tilak Varma 69*, Shivam Dube 33, Faheem Ashraf 3/29).
