Dubai, Sep 221 (NationPress) Abhishek Sharma delivered an explosive performance, scoring a remarkable 74 runs off 39 balls, as India achieved a six-wicket victory over Pakistan during a Super Fours showdown at the 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

This win also signifies India's highest successful chase against Pakistan in T20 internationals, with the reigning world champions continuing their unbeaten streak in the tournament. Sahibzada Farhan was the standout player for Pakistan, scoring 58 runs, while Faheem Ashraf provided a late boost, finishing with an impressive 20 runs off just eight balls, helping Pakistan set a target of 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Initially, Pakistan seemed poised for a larger total, racing to 91/1 within the first ten overs, as Farhan and Saim Ayub forged a solid 72-run partnership for the second wicket. However, the introduction of Shivam Dube changed the game's dynamics.

Dube, along with Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, effectively stifled Pakistan’s scoring, allowing only 38 runs between the 11th and 17th overs. While Pakistan found some momentum in the final three overs, ending with 42 runs, their total still felt below par.

India's chase began decisively as Abhishek launched the very first delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi for a six, establishing a strong foundation for the chase. Partnered with Shubman Gill, who contributed a brisk 47 runs off 28 balls, the pair constructed a pivotal 105-run opening partnership that left Pakistan scrambling.

Despite a brief period of slowed scoring, Tilak Varma ensured a smooth conclusion to the chase with an unbeaten 30 runs off 19 balls, leading India to victory with seven balls to spare. Varma and Hardik Pandya exited the field without acknowledging the Pakistani side, heading to the Indian dressing room amid jubilation.

India's chase commenced aggressively, with Abhishek hooking Afridi's bouncer over fine leg for six. Gill quickly followed, hitting consecutive boundaries off Saim Ayub before connecting with Afridi for more fours.

Tension brewed when Gill gestured towards Afridi at the end of the third over, reflecting on his earlier strikes. Abhishek then dominated Abrar Ahmed, pulling and swinging for both four and six, while both openers added boundaries off Haris Rauf.

After Abhishek swept Ayub for four, Gill executed a late cut through the gap between point and short third man, before effortlessly pulling a shot through mid-wicket, as India concluded the powerplay at 69/0, their highest total in this phase of the ongoing tournament.

Abhishek hit two sixes off Abrar, one of which was dropped by Farhan at long-off, and reached his fifty in just 24 balls, beautifully timing a cover drive for four off Ayub. However, following a drinks break taken for Gill’s cramps, Pakistan struck twice in rapid succession.

Faheem Ashraf sharply bowled one back to clean bowl Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav’s leading edge was caught at deep third man off Rauf’s bowling.

Abhishek rebounded from a brief lull post-fifty, collecting two boundaries off Ashraf and lofting Abrar over wide long-on for six. Unfortunately, he later mistimed a pull off the wrist spinner’s wide googly and was caught at long-on.

With India requiring just 49 runs off 46 balls, Varma and Sanju Samson worked diligently to keep the scoreboard moving. Although a struggling Samson was bowled by Rauf, Tilak and Pandya calmly nudged the ball around for vital boundaries, leading India to victory.

Previously, Farhan’s 58 was crucial for Pakistan’s innings, showcasing clever footwork and shot selection. The opener consistently disturbed India’s lengths, particularly during the powerplay, taking the attack to an off-color Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded 34 runs in his initial three overs.

Farhan survived an early chance when Abhishek dropped his catch in the first over off Pandya. The decision to promote Fakhar Zaman initially paid off, with him flicking Bumrah for four and driving for another boundary.

However, Zaman’s promising innings ended prematurely as he edged a slower delivery from Pandya, confirmed by the third umpire.

Saim Ayub, batting at three, scored his first runs of the tournament with a boundary off Pandya and was later reprieved when Kuldeep dropped him at short fine leg off Chakaravarthy.

Farhan remained solid, hitting Bumrah for four boundaries and slog-sweeping Chakaravarthy for another, as Pakistan ended the powerplay at 55/1. After Abhishek dropped a challenging chance over long-on for six, Farhan and Ayub put Kuldeep under pressure with maximums each.

Farhan reached his fifty in 34 balls with a powerful pull off Axar Patel. However, as boundaries became scarce, India began making inroads. Ayub top-edged a pull to Abhishek at fine leg off Dube, Hussain Talat mistimed a reverse sweep to short third man off Kuldeep, and Farhan lost grip while attempting to heave Dube, resulting in a catch at extra cover.

Pakistan’s late revival featured Salman Agha lofting a googly from Kuldeep for six, followed by Mohammad Nawaz swatting Dube for a six and four. Yet, India countered with Kuldeep's direct hit, running Nawaz out for 21.

After Ashraf hit a Bumrah full toss for six, India nearly caught him, but Gill dropped his catch at deep mid-wicket. That miss proved costly as Ashraf edged and carved Pandya for four and six, bringing Pakistan past 170, which was insufficient to prevent India from securing a commanding win.

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