Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have pummeled Pakistan. Dhawan drove imperiously, Rohit pulled stylishly and together, they broke Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali and in the end, they broke Sarfaraz Ahmed and Pakistan. It was an exhibition in ODI batting, after an exhibition in death bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, who led the Indian bowlers to restrict Pakistan to 237.
Pakistan never learn. They do say something about insanity being doing the same thing expecting different results right? Pakistan have been that in these two games, with the number of short balls they've bowled to Rohit. The latest one from Hasan is sent soaring over the square-leg boundary.
HUNDRED FOR ROHIT SHARMA! His first against Pakistan, his first in the UAE. He savours the moment, as he's virtually put India in the Asia Cup final with this knock. Pakistan gave him reprieves thrice, and he's made them pay
On his birthday, Rayudu is just settling in, as he hits a few crisp drives to the fielders in that over, before gliding the last one down to third-man for his first boundary of the day. 7 off the over.
OUT! Dhawan has run himself out, charging down the pitch even as Rohit kept saying no. End of a fabulous knock from India's most consistent ODI player of the last couple of years, not named Virat Kohli.
Dhawan is enjoying himself, gets to a hundred with a cover drive off Shaheen and then tonks him over the square leg boundary and then smashes him past mid-off, to take 15 runs off that over.
Shoaib Malik comes into the attack. Shoaib Malik, like he always does, troubles the Indians. Just three runs off that over from Pakistan's most experienced bowler.
Seven off that one from Nawaz. If this was boxing, the referee would have stopped this contest about half an hour ago. Pakistan are an utterly beaten side. Dhawan and Rohit looking good for three-figures.
The theme of this Indian innings continues. Rohit pulls Shadab for a massive six, and then is dropped by Fakhar Zaman, who drops one that Geoffrey Boycott's nan would've caught with her eyes closed. "Roobish", as Sir Geoffrey would say.
Rohit gets another boundary, with a sweep off Nawaz, who was brought in to the attack for this over. Five runs off that, and India move serenely along.
Our cricket head Bagawati Prasad thinks Pakistan's saviours here could only be Wasim and Waqar. I tend to believe even they would find it difficult to stop Rohit and Dhawan in this kind of form.
Another over ends with a boundary off the last ball. Shikhar Dhawan is in full flow, and it is a feast to the eyes now to watch these two at work. Hasan has joined Amir today in being absolutely toothless.
SIX! Once again, an Amir over that has looked utterly non-threatening. This one is capped off with a firm pull shot from Dhawan that has flown well over the boundary.
Nine runs off that Amir over, and he's now gone for 30 runs in his 4 overs thus far. Not a happy day for the left-armer who has now gone 206 ODI balls without taking a wicket.
The change in bowling brings no change in fortunes for the men in green. Dhawan slaps Hasan off the back-foot to the mid-wicket boundary off the second ball, and these two continue to rotate strike with ease.
It's drinks in Dubai, and Pakistan need this break to regroup and try to find ideas to break this partnership. At the moment, things are too easy for Rohit and Dhawan.
FIFTY for Shikhar Dhawan! Gets there with an authoritative sweep shot off Shadab, to ruin what was a good over till then. Gabbar has been on fire today, timing the ball sweetly since ball one..
The skipper breaks the shackles with two boundaries of that Nawaz over. The frown on Sarfaraz's face is getting bigger with every passing over, and he seems to be lacking inspiration here. India are cruising along.
Another quiet over from Shadab, this time. Rohit and Dhawan still look comfortable at the crease, but Pakistan need wickets here, and Sarfaraz isn't helping his bowlers much in that regard.
That one spun a bit and got the edge off Rohit. A slip in place after a while. Pakistan fielders in the ring have targetted Dhawan twice! Their throws have hit Dhawan instead of the stumps :P
Dhawan runs into Amir. Sensational straight drives. Remember Sachin vs Brett Lee - Straight drives - Four cutters dabbed to covers and then two scorching straight drives. Another 50-run stand for Rohit-Dhawan.
