Dubai, Sep 22 (NationPress) Abhishek Sharma delivered a spectacular performance, scoring 74 runs off 39 balls as India secured a remarkable six-wicket victory against Pakistan during the Super Fours stage of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. This victory represents India's highest successful chase against Pakistan in T20 internationals, allowing the world champions to continue their unbeaten streak in the tournament.

India's chase of 172 began aggressively, with Abhishek hitting the very first delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi for six, setting a commanding tone for the innings. Partnering with Shubman Gill, who contributed a brisk 47 runs off 28 balls, the opening pair forged a pivotal 105-run partnership that left the Pakistani bowlers in search of solutions.

Despite a slight slowdown, Tilak Varma played a crucial role in securing the win with an unbeaten 30 runs off 19 balls, helping India reach their target with seven balls remaining. Both Varma and Hardik Pandya exited without shaking hands with the Pakistani team, heading into the Indian dressing room filled with joy.

On the other hand, Sahibzada Farhan was the standout performer for Pakistan, scoring 58 runs, while Faheem Ashraf provided a late boost with an undefeated 20 runs off 8 balls, as Pakistan managed to post 171/5 in their 20 overs. Farhan's half-century was pivotal for Pakistan, showcasing his skillful footwork and shot selection.

Farhan effectively disrupted India's bowling lengths, especially during the powerplay, where Jasprit Bumrah struggled, conceding 34 runs in his first three overs.

Pakistan appeared poised for a larger total after reaching 91/1 in the first half of the innings, with Farhan and Saim Ayub sharing a substantial 72-run partnership. However, the introduction of seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube changed the game's momentum.

Dube, along with Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, successfully restricted Pakistan's scoring, allowing only 38 runs between the 11th and 17th overs.

While Pakistan regained some momentum in the final three overs, amassing 42 runs, the total still felt inadequate given their early dominance. Dube finished with impressive figures of 2-33, while Kuldeep and Hardik Pandya claimed one wicket each.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 171/5 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 58, Saim Ayub 21; Shivam Dube 2-33, Hardik Pandya 1-29) lost to India 174/4 in 18.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 74, Shubman Gill 47; Haris Rauf 2-26, Faheem Ashraf 1-31) by six wickets.