Indian outplays Pakistan in last over thriller: Crowned champions of Asia for the ninth time

DUBAI: India defeats Pakistan in the Asia Cup final to win the title. India chased down the target of 147 runs set by Pakistan in 19.4 overs for the loss of five wickets. Tilak Verma, who scored a half-century and remained unbeaten on 69* (53), secured the victory. The batting performances of Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson were also crucial in the victory. This is India's 9th Asia Cup title.

Chasing a target of 147 runs, India had a shaky start. India had lost three wickets when the team's score reached 20 runs. Openers Abhishek Sharma 5(6), Shubman Gill 12(10) and captain Suryakumar Yadav 1(5) were the wickets that India lost. For the fourth wicket, Malayali wicketkeeper Sanju Samson 24(21) and Tilak Verma put on a 57-run partnership to save India from collapse.

Sanju was dismissed in the 13th over after trying a big shot against Abrar Ahmed. Shivam Dube came in as his replacement. Dube shared a half-century partnership with Tilak Verma. India needed 17 runs in the last two overs. India scored 7 runs in the 19th over bowled by Faheem Ashraf. The match became exciting again with Shivam Dube getting out for 33 (22) in the last ball. India needed 10 runs in the last over. Tilak Verma scored a six, making the crowd go wild. That was followed by a single. Rinku Singh gave a shining victory to team India by making the ball cross the boundary with a four.

Batting first after losing the toss, Pakistan could only manage 146 runs in 19.1 overs. Pakistan's collapse came from a very strong position of 113 for 1 in 12.4 overs, on the strength of a good start from their openers. Pakistan could only add 33 runs after losing nine wickets.

Openers Sahibzada Farhan 57(38) and Fakhar Zaman 46(35) gave Pakistan a brilliant start of 84 runs in 9.4 overs. Varun Chakravarthy, who dismissed Farhan, broke the partnership. Pakistan's collapse began when Saim Ayub, who came in third, was dismissed for 14(11) at 113. Not a single batsman who came in later could cross double figures.

The batsmen who were dismissed were Mohammad Haris 0(2), Salman Ali Agha 8(7), Hussain Talat 1(2), Mohammad Nawaz 6(9), Shaheen Shah Afridi 0(3), Faheem Ashraf 0(2), Haris Rauf 6(4). The last batsman Abrar Ahmed remained unbeaten 1*(). Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets for India while Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Varun Chakraborty took two wickets each.