COLOMBO: Virat Kohli and returning KL Rahul scored unbeaten centuries in the high-octane PAK vs IND clash to set Pakistan a mammoth 356 on the reserve day of the ninth game of the ACC men’s Asia Cup 2023 at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
Virat Kohli scored a brilliant 122 off 94 balls, laced with nine boundaries and three sixes. He scored his 47th ODI century, second most ODI centuries and completed his 13000 ODI runs, becoming only the fifth player to do so.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul made his return to competitive cricket in style after getting injured during the Indian Premier League in April-May. He scored 111 off 106 runs with the help of 12 boundaries and two sixes.
KL Rahul (17*) and Virat Kohli (8*) resumed their innings at 147 and continued their domination against Pakistani bowlers on the reserve day after the highly-anticipated PAK vs IND clash was postponed yesterday to the reserve day after persistent rain denied play on Sunday.
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli knitted a magnificent unbeaten partnership of 233 runs in 194 balls to decimate the Pakistani bowling lineup.
Notably, Pakistan entered the ground without their injured ace fast bowler Haris Rauf and was forced to bowl Iftikhar Ahmed, who gave away 52 runs in 5.2 overs.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam put India into bat after winning the toss yesterday in the high-octane PAK vs IND clash.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a flying start with a magnificent 121-run partnership. The pair dominated Pakistan’s bowling attack including their pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
Both Gill and Sharma, who struggled against the trio in the previous PAK vs IND clash on September 2, made a sensational comeback.
The duo frustrated Pakistan bowlers before Shadab Khan finally struck in his third over, removing Sharma, soon after he amassed his half-century.
Rohit Sharma smashed six boundaries and four sixes on his way to a brisk 49-ball 56.
Gill, on the other hand, soon followed the footsteps of his captain and walked back to the pavilion in the next over after being outdone by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s slower delivery.
He scored a 52-ball 58 which featured 10 boundaries.
Following the back-to-back blows, star batter Virat Kohli and returning KL Rahul batted cautiously amid their unbeaten 24-run partnership for the third wicket before rain interrupted the PAK vs IND clash yesterday.
Pakistani star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi picked one wicket and gave away 79 runs in his ten overs, while Shadab Khan picked 1 wicket for 71 runs.
READ: Asia Cup 2023: Haris Rauf ruled out of PAK vs IND clash
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