As it happened: India thrash Pakistan by nine wickets in Asia Cup Super Four tie

The ball-by-ball update and scorecard

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to bat first in their crucial Super Four stage match in the Asia Cup against India being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Gulf News is covering all the action as it happens with inputs from our Chief Cricket Writer K.R. Nayar and Reporter N.D. Prashant:

■ Also Read: Full match report

10:20pm

What a clinical performance from India. They are through to the finals in authoritative fashion. Won by nine wickets in 39.3 overs with Rohit Sharma unbeaten on 111 off 119 balls and Ambati Rayudu 12 not out.

Pakistan bowlers have been let down by their fielders here. There should be lot of soul searching before their must win match against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

Players greet each other after the match. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Scoreboard:

Pakistan 1st innings
Imam ul-Haq lbw Yuzvendra Chahal 10
Fakhar Zaman lbw Kuldeep Yadav 31
Babar Azam Run Out Yuzvendra Chahal 9
Sarfraz Ahmed c Rohit Sharma b Kuldeep Yadav 44
Shoaib Malik c MS Dhoni b Jasprit Bumrah 78
Asif Ali b Yuzvendra Chahal 30
Shadab Khan b Jasprit Bumrah 10
Mohammad Nawaz Not Out  15
Hasan Ali Not Out  2
Extras 0b 5lb 0nb 0pen 3w 8
Total (50.0 overs) 237-7 

Fall of Wickets: 1-24 ul-Haq, 2-55 Zaman, 3-58 Azam, 4-165 Ahmed, 5-203 Malik, 6-211 Ali, 7-234 Khan Did Not Bat : Amir, Afridi

Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 9 0 46 0 
Jasprit Bumrah 10 1 29 2 
Yuzvendra Chahal 9 0 46 2 
Kuldeep Yadav 10 0 41 2 
Ravindra Jadeja 9 0 50 0 
Kedar Jadhav 3 0 20 0 

India 1st innings
Rohit Sharma Not Out 111
Shikhar Dhawan Run Out Hasan Ali 114
Ambati Rayudu Not Out 12
Extras 0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 1w 1
Total (39.3 overs) 238-1 

Fall of Wickets: 1-210 Dhawan 
Did Not Bat: Dhoni, Karthik, Jadhav, Jadeja, Kumar, Yadav, Chahal, Bumrah

Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk 
Mohammad Amir 5 0 41 0 
Shaheen Afridi 6 0 42 0 
Hasan Ali 9 0 52 0 
Mohammad Nawaz 7 0 35 0 
Shadab Khan 8 0 54 0 
Shoaib Malik 4.3 0 14 0 

Man of the Match: Shikar Dhawan
Umpires: Rodney Tucker and Ruchira Palliyaguruge
Match Referee: David Boon

10:05pm

Century for Rohit Sharma from 106 balls. It was once again a delight watching him in full flow. The crowd errupts and India now need 17 to win.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma celebrates after completing his century. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

9:55pm

Dhawan run out for 114. A bit casual, but he has done his part. India need just 28 to win.

Rohit Sharma congratulates Shikhar Dhawan after completing his century. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

9:50pm

Century for Dhawan with a boundary in just 95 balls. It is his 15th ODI century and is studded with 15 hits to ropes and a six. Sharma is on 94. India 198 for no loss. Need just another 40 to win.

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan plays a shot. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

9:45pm

Dhawan just one shot away from his ton. He is on 98 off 92 ball. India 193 for no loss in 32 overs . Rohit Sharma on 91.

9:35pm

Pakistan were 99 for 3 in 27 overs and India now 157 for no loss in the same number of overs. Pakistan is surrendering meekly.

9:30pm

India' is 150 for no loss in 26 overs. Rohit Sharma and Shikar Dhawan have made the Pakistan bowling attack look so ordinary. They are milking the runs at will now.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

9:20pm

India just need 100 from 150 deliveries. Sharma is on 59 and Dhawan is on 80.

9:10pm

Fifty for Rohit Sharma off 65 deliveries. He has made that drop catch from Imam count. India cruising at 119 for no loss in 22 overs. 

9:00pm

India reach 100 in 19.1 overs. Looks like India is running  away with the game. Pakistan need to draw inspiration from somewhere and find a breakthrough. Hand shakes between Rohit and Dhawan. They know they have put the team on the victory path with their dominant show.

Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan plays a shot during the match. AFP

8:50pm

Shikhar Dhawan is the first to reach his half century in 56 balls, it is his 26th ODI half century. Pakistan bowlers have no clue how to end this partnership which is growing very big. India is 91 for no loss in 18 overs.

India's captain Rohit Sharma, left, and Shikhar Dhawan run between the wickets during the match. AP

8:40pm

India 72 for no loss in 15 overs Shikhar Dhawan going strong on unbeaten 43 and Rohit Sharma on 28.

8:30pm

When India openers in the middle the Pakistan bowling looks so easy to handle. Added to that dropping a catch of Sharma has made things easy for the opening pair 62 for no loss in just 12 overs.

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir, right, reacts after India's Shikhar Dhawan, left, hit a boundary on his delivery. AP

8:20pm

India after 10 overs are 53 for no loss. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan making Pakistan pay for missing out of opportunities. Drop catch of Sharma clearly going to hurt Pakistan. The skipper has been in fine form so far in the tournament.

8:05pm

Rohit Sharma has been dropped by Imam Ul Haq. You have to feel for Shaheen Shah did everything right there. Rohit was into the drive early but Imam made a mess of it. India is 38 for no loss in 7 overs.

India's captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the match. AP

7:55pm

India 18 for no loss after four overs. Skipper Rohit Sharma is on 3 and Shikhar Dhawan on 15.

6:55pm

Innings break: Pakistan have managed to post 237 for 7 in 50 overs. Shoaib Malik top scored with 78. India will be happy with their effort with the ball. If Pakistan have to fancy any chance of winning this contest then they will have to make early inroads.

It was a brilliant exhibition of death bowling from India. Just 26 off last five overs. 

6:50pm

Pakistan 234 for 7 in 49.3 overs. Shadab Khan is clean bowled by Bumrah.

6:30pm

Pakistan are six down for 211. Asif Ali's blitz (30 off 21) has come to an end. Stumped by Dhoni off Chahal going for a wild slog.  Can Pakistan score 250? Five overs to go.

Pakistan's Asif Ali is clean bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

6:25pm

Shoaib Malik's fine knock of 78 comes to an end. Bumrah gets the edge as Malik was looking to flick it through fine-leg. Pakistan 205 for 5 in 44 overs.

Pakistan batsman Asif Ali plays a shot. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

6:15pm

Six...four...Six.... Bhuvneshwar Kumar is getting smashed here from Asif Ali.  Pakistan 193 for 4 in 42 overs. Malik is on 73.

6:05pm

The 107 runs partnership between Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik in 23 overs has been broken. Sarfraz (44) finds Indian skipper Rohit Sharma at covers off Kuldeep Yadav. He must be hugely disappointed here for throwing away his wicket. The 107 runs partnership in 23 overs ends. 

India's Kuldeep Yadav (left) with captain Rohit Sharma celebrate the dismissal of Pakistan's Sarfaraz Ahmed. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

6:00pm

With the sun going down and the office hours ending, the stands are filling up. Still plenty of cricket remaining in this contest. Pakistan 150 is onboard with Malik smashing a six off Jadeja.

Pakistan's Shoaib Malik plays a shot. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

5:45pm

Shoaib Malik has clearly carried that match winning form from the last match against Afghanistan into this one. He has scored another fine 50 off 64 under pressure. Pakistan have recovered well and are 141 for 3 in 35 overs. Sarfraz Ahmed is on 35.

Malik’s 43rd ODI half century gives hope of posting a total of over 250. His partnership with Sarfraz Ahmad has swelled to 88 runs.

5:30pm

Kedar Jadav is getting a bit of hammering here. Sarfraz has smashed him for two boundaries in the 31st over. Pakistan 128 for 3 in 31 overs. Malik and Sarfraz moving along nicely on 43 and 29 respectively. 

Cricket enthusiasts cheer their teams during the match. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

5:15pm

Two blunders from Pakistan. Fakhar Zaman not asking for a review and Babar Azam gifting his wicket through run out. Pakistan fighting for a challenging total and are 100 for 3 in 27.1 overs.

Malik is on 24 while Sarfaz is on 19. Malik is slowly taking an aggressive approach here. He is looking to unsettle Chahal here and have slogged the latter for a six in the last over.

4:55pm

India have really slowed down things here. Runs are coming at a trickle. Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik are trying to resurrect the innings. Pakistan 82 for 3 after 22 overs.

India's Ravindra Jadeja runs out Pakistan batsman Babar Azam. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

4:35pm

Pakistan seems to be losing their plot here and are in a bit of bother. Babar Azam is run out for 9. They are 58 for 3 in 15.5 overs.

4:30pm

Pakistan are two down. Fakhar Zaman out legbefore to Kuldeep Yadav. There was gloves involved but Zaman seems to have not felt it as he lost his balance and just walked without asking for a review. Pakistan is 56 for 2 at the end of 14 overs. 

India's Kuldeep Yadav celebrates after he dismissed Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman. AFP

4:25pm

Pakistan is 50 for 1 in 14 overs. 

India's Yuzvendra Chahal celebrates after he dismissed Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq. AFP

4:15pm

Pakistan 31 for 1 after 11 overs. Babar Azam is on 2 and Fakhar Zaman on 14. Lot will depend on this pair as Pakistan have made a very slow and cautious start.

Indian and Pakistani fans cheer for their teams during the match at Dubai Cricket Stadium. AP

4:05pm

Yuzvendra Chahal strikes for India. Never read the leg break wrongly especially from Chahal when playing across.  It's the big wicket of Imam-ul-Haq leg before following a review. Pakistan 24 for 1 after 8 overs.

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman, left, and Imam-ul-Haq run between the wickets during the match. AP

3:50pm

Imam Ul Haq enters double figures batting on 10 while the aggressive Fakhar Zaman is on 5. Pakistan 20 for no loss in 6.1 overs

Pakistan, who lost to India in the first round by eight wickets, brought back paceman Mohammad Amir and leg-spinner Shadab Khan who regained fitness after suffering groin injury.

They replaced Haris Sohail and Usman Shinwari in the squad which beat Afghanistan by three wickets in the Super Four stage match on Friday. India kept the same team that beat Bangladesh in the first Super Four game.

Both teams have won their opening Super Four stage matches. India was dominant in its comprehensive seven-wicket win over Bangladesh, while Pakistan triumphed over a fighting Afghanistan with just three balls to spare.

The winner today is almost guaranteed to secure a place in the final.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Imam-ul-Haq, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 6. Asif Ali, 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Mohammad Nawaz, 9. Shaheen Afridi, 10. Hasan Ali, 11. Mohammad Amir

India: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Rohit Sharma (capt), 3. Ambati Rayudu, 4. MS Dhoni (wk), 5. Dinesh Karthik, 6. Kedhar Jadhav, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Jasprit Bumrah