Dubai witnessed a rare moment on Sunday when Sahibzada Farhan became the first Pakistani batter to hit Jasprit Bumrah for a six in T20 internationals. Notably, he did it twice in the Asia Cup Group A clash, lighting up an otherwise grim evening for his side.
Bumrah had bowled 92 deliveries across five T20Is against Pakistan without conceding a six, a streak that ended in the fourth over of Pakistan’s innings. Farhan launched a good-length ball over long-on, sending the Dubai crowd into a frenzy. He followed it up with another audacious stroke in the sixth over, pulling a short delivery high into the crowd. With that, Farhan became only the sixth batter overall to strike multiple sixes off India’s ace pacer in T20Is.
Joy short-lived
But Pakistan’s joy was short-lived. Hardik Pandya struck early, dismissing opener Saim Ayub with his first legal delivery after starting with a wide. The slide continued as Kuldeep Yadav spun a web, claiming three wickets overall. He first redeemed himself after spilling a tough chance, dismissing Hasan Nawaz with a caught-and-bowled effort and followed up by trapping Mohammad Nawaz lbw the very next delivery.
Farhan fought a lone battle, compiling a patient 40 off 44 balls, but once he fell to Kuldeep, Pakistan’s innings unraveled further.
End of Pakistan’s innings
Pakistan clawed their way back from a nightmare start, salvaging some pride to post 127/9 in 20 overs. Thanks largely to a cameo from Shaheen Afridi. Walking in with his team in deep trouble, the left-arm quick turned power-hitter, smashing 32 off just 16 balls. His fireworks included four towering sixes, two of which came in the final over to lift Pakistan’s spirits.
For India, it was the spinners who dictated terms. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy choked the middle overs and shared six wickets between them.