Another walk in the park for India as openers make merry

India rode a feisty 105-run opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to chase down Pakistan's 171 with seven balls to spare in the first Super Four match of the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday.

- Somshuvra Laha

Once again, handshakes weren't exchanged at the toss as India put Pakistan to bat before notching their highest ever successful chase against them. Sahibzada Farhan set up Pakistan with an entertaining fifty but India came out firing on all cylinders with Sharma scoring 74 off 39 balls and Gill 47 off 28 balls,

Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson fell cheaply but Tilak Varma hammered 30 off 19 balls to help India coast to another comfortable victory with Hardik Pandya at the other end.

This was a day of mixed fortunes for India. Jasprit Bumrah was off colour after a long time. Between him and Hardik Pandya, India leaked more than 10 runs per over. Nine extras in the form of wides and no balls were conceded.

More shocking though was India’s catching. Sharma dropped a dolly, Kuldeep Yadav made a mess of a sitter before Gill dropped an even easier catch in the outfield. When it came to batting though, India were on the button. Chasing in Dubai is always the safer pick but so exhilarating was India’s opening stand that even a slowdown in the form of two wickets in the space of four balls couldn't stall them.