Asia Cup 2018: 10 Reasons behind India's emphatic win against Pakistan

#7. Bumrah’s terrific bowling at the death

Bumrah was brilliant at the death

Bumrah was brilliant at the death with his deadly yorkers. He never allowed the Pakistani batsmen to get on top of him. The batsmen were not given the room to cut or pull. Besides, he took the crucial wicket of the well-set Shoaib Malik and saved India 25 runs, if not more, in the process.

Bumrah gave away just 14 runs in his first 6 overs. He ended up conceding the same number of runs in his last 4 overs at the death apart from taking two wickets. Because of Bumrah’s terrific bowling, Pakistan could manage to add a mediocre 44 runs in the last 8 overs. Pakistan hit only one four in the process.

Bumrah played a big role in this emphatic win.

#8. Shikhar Dhawan’s scintillating knock

When India began their reply, Shikhar Dhawan was in tremendous touch from the first ball he faced. He was playing everything from the middle of the bat and was able to pierce the gaps in the field at will.

Dhawan first got into Mohammad Amir. Later he turned his attention to Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali. Amir was taken out of the attack after just 2 overs while Afridi and Hasan Ali went for plenty. Amir came back to bowl the 10th over of the innings and Dhawan hit him for 2 fours.

The spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz were treated with scant respect. Dhawan raced to his 50 off 56 balls. He changed gears after reaching his fifty. Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan were hit out of the attack. Finally, Dhawan reached his 100 off 95 balls by thumping Afridi to the cover boundary. He celebrated his hundred by hoisting Afridi for a huge six over mid-wicket.

Dhawan was more aggressive after completing his century, and at one stage, the chances of Rohit Sharma reaching his century was threatened. However, Dhawan ran himself out just before the target was reached.

Dhawan’s 114 came off 100 balls with the help of 16 fours and 2 sixes. His brilliant innings put to rest any hope of Pakistan coming back into the match.