Asia Cup 2023 | Kishan, Hardik and Pakistan pacers shine on a day when the rain has the final say
The HinduThree pacers spewing venom. All of it culminated in one big disappointment for the scores of fans who flocked the Pallekele International Stadium for the high-voltage Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan. Thanks to a persistent drizzle that started towards the end of India’s batting essay, the match officials formally called the game off at 9.52 p.m., 35 minutes before the cut-off for a 20-over chase. When Shreyas Iyer pulled Haris Rauf only to see Fakhar Zaman latch on to a sharp catch at midwicket, at 48 for three, India was in danger of wilting under the big-match pressure. Riding on Ishan and Hardik’s 138-run partnership — dominated by Ishan’s 82 — India put on a respectable total of 266 on the board before folding up in the penultimate over.