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So that is that from this contest. Alas, we couldn't get a result but it certainly was engrossing throughout whatever period of play we witnessed. It's been a pleasure bringing the coverage of this game to you and we cannot thank you enough for being a patient audience during the rain interruption. Let's hope the weather's much better in Lahore tomorrow where Bangladesh face a must-win situation against Afghanistan, who will open their Asia Cup campaign. Do join us for our coverage of that game right here on Sportskeeda while keeping yourselves updated with all the other cricketing news and action from around the world on this very platform. For the moment, this is the duo of Pradeep Somashekar and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. See you again tomorrow - good night and take care!
Pakistan will certainly want to work on their fielding after the sloppy show they put in today. Here's a look into how fans reacted to the same though!👇
Match called off due to rain. India and Pakistan split points and Pakistan qualify for the Super Fours!
The handshakes continue even as more rain begins to fall. There was no way this was going to happen despite the outstanding drainage system in place in Pallekele. Virat Kohli, Babar Azam and a few other players exchange a laugh. A game played in really good spirits but alas, one that couldn't produce a result despite how things were placed at the halfway point.
The day belonged to Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya of course. They had a monumental task on hand after Shaheen Afridi weaved his magic again to break India's top-order open, nabbing both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the bud in quick succession. The stop-start situation didn't help the Men in Blue either with a couple of passing showers indicating what was to come. But the manner in which Kishan and Pandya rotated strike and maneuvered the ball around to negate the spinners, who were quite lackadaisical for Pakistan.
Shaheen and Co. stormed back to trigger another collapse of course but India got to a competitive total with Jasprit Bumrah also chipping in with a vital cameo. The stage was set for an engrossing second half with even a shortened game certain to produce something special. But as fate would have it, it has quite literally ended as a damp squib. Not the end that this contest deserved but should India make it to the Super Fours, the two teams will lock horns again in Colombo in eight days' time.
Mind you, there are plenty of takeaways though for India and really good ones at that. None more so than Kishan standing tall when the chips were down after he was slotted into a role he hasn't really been accustomed to. And Pandya finding form at the right time is something they will take with both hands too. Their woes against left-arm seam continue, but it is something they will look to correct in due course of time as they build towards the World Cup.
9:51 PM local time: Wait there are handshakes...yup - it's official. The match has been called off! Javagal Srinath, the match referee, shakes hands with Babar Azam and the message has been passed on - the players from both sides shake hands as well. A real bummer if there ever was one but Mayanti Langer on air confirms that it would have taken 45 minutes to get the ground ready after the rain would stop. No way we would have made it on time for a 20-over game and hence, the inevitable has transpired!
9:49 PM IST: The umpires are back in the middle and are conversing with the ground staff. What's not a good sight though is that they're out there with the umbrellas out. A chill atmosphere in the Indian camp though - some of them are in the dressing room while Shardul Thakur and Ishan Kishan are enjoying in a fun conversation with Shubman Gill also listening keenly.
It wasn't to be today for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with Shaheen Afridi getting the better of the duo. Not often do you see them both fail to get going but it has happened on a few occasions in a big game. Here's a read into five such instances!👇
9:28 PM local time: The wait continues. But we can confirm that 10:27 PM local time is the latest until which we can wait to get a 20-over chase underway. Under an hour - tick-tock, tick-tock...
We're yet to see Jasprit Bumrah take the new ball in hand but he certainly entertained us with the bat, didn't he? An invaluable cameo batting at number 10 had fans going gaga over the same. Read into some of the reactions!👇
9:07 local time: Jasprit Bumrah is marching out to the field. Meanwhile, Babar Azam is having a candid conversation with Suryakumar Yadav in the dressing room. And Bumrah's going back inside now - could be because the covers are coming back in place with another spell of rain. Boo!
9:02 PM local time: The umpires are in the middle carrying out their inspection while the Indian team is marching out to the middle for their warmups with their full kit on. The umpires now return to the dressing room to have a word with the two skippers. Meanwhile, the hit chartbuster Pasoori is being played out by the DJ.
Hardik Pandya came ever so close to registering his maiden ODI ton but the wait continues for the all-rounder. Here's a watch on his dismissal as Shaheen Afridi foxed him with a slower one!👇
8:56 PM local time: Not far away from the scheduled inspection but we are well into the territory where we've lost overs. What we're hearing is that Pakistan might have to chase 239 if it's a 40-over chase, 222 in 35 overs, 203 in 30 overs and 155 if it's a 20-over chase. The groundsmen are at work with the covers removed in entirety off the pitch. The covers are still in place on one side of the outfield though.
It was nothing short of a masterful innings today from Ishan Kishan. Silencing his critics in style and taking to the middle-order like a duck to water, he was in sublime nick today. Fans naturally lavished praised on his innings - here's a read!👇
We will have an inspection at 9 PM local time. 20 minutes from now - we wait in hope of a positive update.
8:35 PM local time: The umpires are out in the middle and are in conversation with the ground staff. Mind you, the covers haven't moved from position even though the rain has stopped. Should still be a while away from a resumption, you'd think...but just as we say that, the covers are starting to be peeled off. Let's hope the next update is a positive one then folks!
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Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
![[Watch] Hardik Pandya deceived by Shaheen Afridi's slower ball to end on 87 in IND-PAK Asia Cup clash](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/09/53b79-16936631154409-1920.jpg)
