India thump Pakistan; BD in last-ball win over Afghans

DUBAI: India’s captain Rohit Sharma (left) congratulates teammate Shikhar Dhawan on scoring a century during a one-day international Asia Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday.—AP

DUBAI: Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan hit centuries to steer India to a win by nine wickets over Pakistan in an Asia Cup match in Dubai on Sunday.

Sharma notched a 119-ball 111 not out for his 19th one-day hundred while Dhawan made a 100-ball 114 for his eighth century as the pair put on 210 for the opening stand — second best in all India-Pakistan one-day internationals.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by three runs in a sensational finish to their Super Four game in Abu Dhabi.

Needing eight to win in the last over, Afghanistan scored four after they were set 250 to win, finishing on 246-7.

Bangladesh had made 249-7 in their 50 overs.

Bangladesh’s win meant India sailed into the Sept 28 final in Dubai while Pakistan and Bangladesh meet in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to decide the second finalist.

The super effort from the openers saw India overhaul the target with 10.3 overs to spare.

The super four win is the second for India over Pakistan following their easy eight-wicket win in the first round.

The win is India’s highest against Pakistan in terms of wickets, improving on the eight wicket win in Melbourne in 1985.

Pakistan were steered to 237-7 by Shoaib Malik who made 90-ball 78 after winning the toss and batting but it proved too little for the strong batting line of India. Pakistan could have got Sharma out in the sixth over, but Imam-ul-Haq dropped an easy catch off Shaheen Shah, giving India to hit seven boundaries and four sixes.

Sharma, who scored back to back fifties in the last two games, also became the ninth Indian batsmen to complete 7,000 one-day runs in his 187th match when he reached 94, soon after he was dropped on 81 by Fakhar Zaman off Shadab Khan. Dhawan matched his skipper shot for shot, firing 100-ball 114 with 16 boundaries and two sixes. Even when Dhawan got out in the 34th over with 38 needed it was through a run out.

Scoreboard

INDIA :

R. Sharma not out 111

S. Dhawan run out 114

A. Rayudu not out 12

EXTRAS: (w1) 1

TOTAL: (for one wicket 39.3 overs) 238

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-210 (Dhwan)

BOWLING: Amir 5-0-41-0, Shah 6-0-42-0, Hasan 9-0-52-0, Nawaz 7-0-35-0, Shadab 8-0-54-0, Malik 4.3-0-14-0

RESULT: India win by nine wickets

TOSS: Pakistam

UMPIRES: Rod Tucker (Australia) and Ruchira Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka)