DUBAI: India registered a commanding victory over Pakistan in the group match of the Asia Cup on Sunday. India cruised towards victory without toiling hard against a Pakistan side, now reduced to yesterday’s news. India achieved the target of 128 runs in 15.5 overs for the loss of just 3 wickets. A fiery start by Abhishek Sharma and batting performances by Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Verma made the victory easy.

Chasing a small target, India got off to a flying start with young opener Abhishek Sharma. He was dismissed for 31 runs off just 13 balls, which included four fours and two sixes. Shubman Gill returned with 10(7) runs while Tilak Verma scored 31(31). Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dubey remained unbeaten. Saim Ayub took all three wickets for Pakistan.

Earlier, Pakistan, who batted first, scored only 127 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan's 40 (44) and Shaheen Shah Afridi's unbeaten 33 in the last overs, with four sixes, helped Pakistan cross the 100-run mark.