Asia Cup: India thrash Pakistan by record margin

India recorded their fourth biggest win in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and the biggest against Pakistan as they trounced the world No. 1 side by a mammoth 228 runs in an Asia Cup Super Fours match in Colombo on Monday.

India, who resumed the reserve day at 147/2 reached 356/2 in their allotted 50 overs with both the overnight batsmen Virat Kohli and KL Rahul hammering centuries. Kohli remained unbeaten on 122 (94 balls, 9x4s, 3x6s) while Rahul was not out on 111 (106 balls, 12x4s, 2x6s).

In response, Pakistan folded for just 128 in 32 overs with left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav picking 5/25 in eight overs.

India had got off to a flying start on Sunday with openers Rohit Sharma (56) and Shubman Gill (58) adding 121 for the first wicket. After the duo was dismissed and while Kohli and Rahul were rebuilding the innings, rains lashed heavily washing out the day’s play.

On the reserve day, the two resumed and milked runs against hapless Pakistan bowlers, adding unbeaten 233 for the third wicket. Pakistan’s pace bowler Haris Rauf did not take the field on the reserve day due to injury while another pacer Naseem Shah suffered injury towards the end of the innings and could not complete his spell.

The target was too much. They tried to play themselves in but lost in-form Imam-ul-Haq early to Jasprit Bumrah.

Babar Azam followed and when the third wicket of Muhammad Rizwan fell immediately after the rain break, the writing was on the wall.

Yadav then got into the act and ran through the Pakistan middle and lower-orders.

Brief scores: India 356/2 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 122 not out, KL Rahul 111 not out, Rohit Sharma 56, Shubman Gill 58) beat Pakistan 128 all out (Fakhar Zaman 27, Kuldeep Yadav 5/25).