Asia Cup, Super Four, India v Pakistan as it happened: Rohit, Dhawan steer India to 9-wicket win

12:30 am: That’s it from us tonight. Join us for India v Afghanistan on Tuesday.

12:21 am: So another one-sided India-Pakistan match, which has become a trend unfortunately.

12:16 am: India pretty much assured of a place in the final now. Pakistan will now have an eye on the other game where Afghanistan need 59 off 42 balls with 6 wickets in hand.

Player of the match: Shikhar Dhawan for his 100-ball 114

‘Entire bowling unit stuck to the task, hats off to them. It’s not easy to repeat such performances’: Rohit Sharma

“If we keep dropping catches, we won’t win games. We’ve done hard work at fielding. So I’m not sure what’s going wrong.” - Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

1st match: India won with 126 balls to spare, the biggest win margin against Pakistan in ODIs in terms of overs remaining.
2nd match: India won by 9 wickets, biggest win margin against Pakistan in ODIs in terms of wickets.

India win by 9 wickets in 39.3 overs! Clinical performance by Rohit and Co. It was the skipper’s opening stand with Dhawan that took the game away from Pakistan completely. Despite the modest total, Pakistan would have hoped to have caused some trouble for their archrivals, but the openers were just in impervious form. Dropped catches did not help Pakistan’s cause either. Earlier, the bowling attack put in a combined effort to restrict Pakistan to 237/7. Shoaib Malik once again contributed to the team total with a fine half-century, but other than him no one else really pushed India out of the comfort zone. Pakistan will rue their decision to bat first. They lost by eight wickets to India in the previous game, India have now gone one better.

After 36 overs, India 221/1 (Rohit 101*, Rayudu 5*)
100 up for Rohit! His 19th hundred in ODI cricket! It has been quite an impressive effort from Rohit. His stand with Dhawan - 210 runs - for the opening wicket, batted Pakistan out of the contest. A thoroughly clinical performance from both batsmen today. India need 9 runs to win from 13 overs.

After 34 overs, India 211/1 (Rohit 96*)
WICKET! Dhawan run-out! May be, the only way he would have gotten out today. Scoots off for a run after Rohit taps it. The skipper isn’t interested in the run at all, but Dhawan has already covered half the length of the pitch and has to turn back. But, the throw’s already in and he is just short of the crease.
Dhawan run out 114 (100b 16x4 2x6)

100 up for Dhawan! Has been a brilliant knock so far. Thoroughly dominated the bowling.
Meanwhile, Rohit has now notched up 7000 runs in ODI cricket. It’s taken him 87 games to achieve the feat.

After 30 overs, India 179/0 (Rohit 84*, Dhawan 94*)
Dhawan moves into the 90s. India doing this on a canter. No real threat from the Pakistan bowlers. The seem to be going through the motions.

After 28 overs, India 164/0 (Rohit 81*, Dhawan 82*)
DROPPED! Rohit gets another life! He pulls it straight to the fielder off Shadab. The ball was pitched short and sat up well for the batsman, he’s just lucky the fielder messed up.

After 26 overs, India 152/0 (Rohit 71*, Dhawan 80*)
150 up for India! Rohit brings it up an exquisite cover drive. He had earlier smashes a fine six over deep mid-wicket. India strolling to victory at the moment. Pakistan seem clueless.

After 24 overs, India 131/0 (Rohit 55*, Dhawan 75*)
Dhawan pulls Amir for a six. The bowler’s struggles in this series seem to have no end. He’s now conceded 41 runs in the five overs he has bowled so far.

After 22 overs, India 119/0 (Rohit 51*, Dhawan 67*)
Fifty up for Rohit! Another fine knock from skipper Rohit Sharma. This consecutive half-century for him. Has looked quite at ease in the middle. His stand with Dhawan has more or less knocked Pakistan out of the game. Pakistan need more than a few breathroughs to wrest back control.

After 20 overs, India 107/0 (Rohit 44*, Dhawan 62*)
100 up for India! Also hundred-run stand between Rohit and Dhawan. It’s been a fine partnership between the two. Have batted Pakistan out of the game.

Fifty for Dhawan! He gets there with a fine pull shot off Shadab. It’s taken him 56 deliveries to get there. The knock has so far included seven boundaries.

After 17 overs, India 85/0 (Rohit 39*, Dhawan 45*)
Rohit with two fine boundaries as Nawaz struggles to find his groove. Pakistan are struggling to find a ploy to get the batsmen in any form of struggle.

After 15 overs, India 72/0 (Rohit 28*, Dhawan 43*)
Dhawan is closing in on another half-century as Pakistan letting the game slip away. They need a breakthrough right about now. They are operating with spin from both ends, but so far the openers are playing them well.

After 13 overs, India 67/0 (Rohit 22*, Dhawan 41*)
Dhawan has been on fire and continues to impress. He might have struggled in the seaming conditions of England, but not many can trouble him when it comes to white-ball cricket.

After 11 overs, India 62/0 (Rohit 21*, Dhawan 40*)
Shadab comes into the attack for a spell of spin. Dhawan, Rohit aren’t fazed much by the change and continue to keep the scoreboard ticking.

After 10 overs, India 53/0 (Rohit 18*, Dhawan 34*)
Fifty up for India! Dhawan smashes two delightful straigthdrives off Amir. He’s in ominous form. India have dominated the opening powerplay.

After 8 overs, India 43/0 (Rohit 18*, Dhawan 25*)
Rohit now with a fine boundary over the cover fielders off Shaheen Afridi’s bowling. The pitch seems far more easier to bat on in the second innings. Has eased up well. India’s openers don’t need a reminder, they are already in the groove.

After 7 overs, India 38/0 (Rohit 14*, Dhawan 24*)
Dhawan gets two boundaries, one of them comes through the edge of his bat. He gets a leading edge off the next delivery as well. But, he’s batting confidently, none the less.

After 6 overs, India 29/0 (Rohit 14*, Dhawan 15*)
DROPPED! Rohit gets a life! Imam floors it at cover. The ball sits up and Rohit has to check his shot and it goes straight to the fielder who can’t hold on.

After 4 overs, India 18/0 (Rohit 3*, Dhawan 15*)
Dhawan gets a few boundaries under his belt as India begin their chase in earnestness. Pakistan’s bowlers are bowling accurately but the India openers are in impervious form.

After 2 overs, India 7/0 (Rohit 3*, Dhawan 3*)
A tight over from Shaheen Afridi. Bowls some accurate yorkers as the India openers start off sedately by their own high standards.

After 1 over, India 6/0 (Rohit 3*, Dhawan 3*)
Rohit, Dhawan take guard as India begin their chase of 238. They start off on a watchful note. Rohit nearly plays it straight to point but it falls short of fielder.

Pakistan 237/7 in 50 overs.
Bumrah with a fantastic last over. Keeps it tight and minimises the damage. Pakistan will rue the slow start. With Shoaib Malik in top gear they could have had a lot more but he lacked batting partners.

WICKET! Shadab bowled! Bumrah gets another! The batsman looks to heave over the fence, but misses the ball completely and is bowled.
Shadab b Bumrah 10 (16b)

After 49 overs, Pakistan 232/6 (Shadab 9*, Nawaz 13*)
Bhuvneshwar returns despite that expensive over while Sarfraz and Shoaib were batting. He keeps it tight this time around doesn’t concede a boundary. Has been a fantastic effort in the death overs by India. Bhuv finishes with figures of 9-0-46-0.

After 48 overs, Pakistan 225/6 (Shadab 6*, Nawaz 10*)
Bumrah with another fine display of death bowling. Have kept the Pakistan tail in check as they look to stretch Pakistan’s total.

After 46 overs, Pakistan 213/6 (Shadab 3*, Nawaz 1*)
The fall of Asif and Shoaib in quick succession has seriously dented hopes of Pakistan reaching the 250-run mark. Thet still have four overs to achieve the milestone, but will have to rely on the tail to come good.

After 45 overs, Pakistan 211/6 (Shadab 2*)
WICKET! Asif bowled! The batsman goes for a big slog but misses the ball completely as it goes onto shatter the stumps. The dismissal ends a fine cameo from the lower-order batsman.
Asif b Chahal 30 (21b 1x4 2x6)

After 44 overs, Pakistan 205/5 (Asif 26*)
WICKET! Shoaib falls! Bumrah strikes! Chases a ball going down leg. Edges it to the keeper. Much-needed breakthrough for India. The batsman was threatening to take Paksitan to a formidable total.
Shoaib c Dhoni b Bumrah 78 (90b 4x4 2x6)

200 up for Pakistan! Shoaib has found able support in Asif. The duo have batted well after Sarfraz’s exit and even raised the run-rate as Pakistan eye a competitive total.

After 42 overs, Pakistan 193/4 (Shoaib 73*, Asif 20*)
Bhuvneshwar concedes 22 runs! 4-1-6-4-6-1. Asif gets going. Adds two sixes and a boundary after Shoaib starts the over off with a four. Pakistan need a few more overs like these.

After 40 overs, Pakistan 169/4 (Shoaib 67*, Asif 2*)
Shoaib could have nearly been run-out. He called for a run but was turned back by new-man Asif. Jadeja had a shy at the stumps but missed with Shoaib a few inches short of the crease.

After 39 overs, Pakistan 165/4 (Shoaib 65*)
WICKET! Sarfraz throws it away! The Pakistan skipper fails to get the elevation as he smashes the ball staright to Rohit in the covers off Kuldeep. A much-needed breakthrough for India. The dismissal ends a 107-run stand between Sarfraz and Shoaib.
Sarfraz c Rohit b Kuldeep 44 (66b 2x4)

After 38 overs, Pakistan 160/3 (Shoaib 62*, Sarfraz 42*)
150 up for PAK! Shoaib Malik brings it up with a huge six off Jadeja. Shoaib and Sarfraz have now added 100 runs for the fourth wicket! Pakistan will want them to get a few more big overs in now. Meanwhile, Jadeja has not had the best of games today. His figures read: 9-0-50-0.

After 36 overs, Pakistan 146/3 (Sarfraz 38*, Shoaib 52*)
Pakistan’s run-rate now over four. With less than 15 overs left now, they will want to get a move on if they hope to get a big total on the board. India’s batting has been impervious in the tournament so far, they will back themselves to chase down any total around 250.

After 35 overs, Pakistan 141/3 (Shoaib 50*, Sarfraz 35*)
Fifty up for Shoaib! His second successive half-century of the tournament. Had scored 43 in the previous game against India. Will want to make it a big one.

After 33 overs, Pakistan 134/3 (Shoaib 47*, Sarfraz 31*)
Buvneshwar is back into the attack. Brings the tempo down a bit as Shoaib closes in on his fifty. Pakistan have done well in the last hour but their run-rate is still well below four. They will want to get a move on from here on.

After 32 overs, Pakistan 132/3 (Shoaib 46*, Sarfraz 30*)
Kedar gets smashed for two boundaries by Shoaib and Sarfraz. The former has now batting in the 40s. The stand has frustrated the bowlers now and taking Pakistan towards a competitive total.

After 30 overs, Pakistan 116/3 (Sarfraz 23*, Shoaib 37*)
Pressure rising for India’s bowlers. The partnership is going strong. The batsmen are playing with soft hands and have done well to fend off the three spinners so far.

After 28 overs, Pakistan 116/3 (Sarfraz 20*, Shoaib 32*)
100 up for Pakistan! Shoaib starts swining his arms, smashes Chahal for a six! His stand with Sarfraz has now swelled to 50*!

After 27 overs, Pakistan 99/3 (Sarfraz 19*, Shoaib 24*)
Rohit introduces Kedar into the attack. He begins well. Mixes it up with line, length, turn and the elevation of his bowling arm. Never a dull moment when Kedar is bowling at one end.

After 26 overs, Pakistan 96/3 (Sarfraz 18*, Shoaib 22*)
Both batsmen seem to have settled down well. India would feel guilty of letting Pakistan slip away after the top-order feel in quick succession.

After 25 overs, Pakistan 92/3 (Sarfraz 15*, Shoaib 21*)
Shoaib and Sarfraz too have added a sturdy stand of 35*. Pakistan will want them to make it a big one.

After 24 overs, Pakistan 90/3 (Sarfraz 14*, Shoaib 20*)
Jadeja strays a bit. His first real loose ball today. Gives Shoaib room outside off. The batsman smashes it through point region.

After 23 overs, Pakistan 83/3 (Sarfraz 13*, Shoaib 14*)
Kuldeep and Jadeja bowling in breathneck speed. No real break between overs or even between deliveries. The boundaries have dried up as the batting pair looks more focused on rotating strike.

After 22 overs, Pakistan 82/3 (Sarfraz 13*, Shoaib 13*)
Jadeja nearly gets an edge off Shoaib’s bat. The batsman is lucky. India will want to snuff out any Pakistan hopes a partnership here. The duo are Pakistan’s more experienced batsmen and therefore, most threatening.

After 21 overs, Pakistan 75/3 (Sarfraz 8*, Shoaib 11*)
Shoaib settling down quickly. Bumrah’s off from the attack. Kuldeep is back in action. He sees him off well, looks to be playing confidently. Pakistan will hope this pair comes good, there’s not much of batting to come after.

After 20 overs, Pakistan 71/3 (Sarfraz 6*, Shoaib 9*)
Shoaib proves why he’s considered a great player of spin. jadeja goes a bit short and is cut well. He seems to have all the time on his hands. Delightful shot!

After 19 overs, Pakistan 65/3 (Sarfraz 5*, Shoaib 4*)
Bumrah frustrates Shoaib further. Has been impeccable with his line and length. A great move by the team think tank to introduce pace after Shoaib came into bat. Has not been able to dominate the bowlers as he had in the previous games.

After 18 overs, Pakistan 64/3 (Sarfraz 5*, Shoaib 3*)
Jadeja continues to bowl with confidence. He has hasn’t created a chance yet, but has looked sharp so far. Pakistan are looking to rebuild are refusing to succumbing to expansive shots.

After 17 overs, Pakistan 60/3 (Sarfraz 3*, Shoaib 1*)
Shoaib Malik comes into bat. He’s Pakistan’s in form batsman. Was one of the standout performers when these two side’s met earlier this week. Bumrah is handed the ball immediately. Shoaib is not known to be a great player of spin. He sees Bumrah off watchfully, though.

After 16 overs, Pakistan 58/3 (Sarfraz 2*)
WICKET! Babar run-out! Pakistan’s innings unravelling. Sarfraz comes in and looks for a quick single. The batsman has to heed to his captain’s call, but Sarfraz backs out of the run. Babar has to run back. Chahal is on the ball and puts in a quick throw.
Babar run out (Chahal) 9 (25b)

After 15 overs, Pakistan 56/2 (Babar 8*, Sarfraz 1*)
WICKET! Kuldeep removes Zaman! The batsman looks for another sweep but slips awkwardly - the studs might have given way. He’s trapped in front, though, while attempting the shot.
Zaman lbw Kuldeep 31 (44b 1x4 1x6)

After 14 overs, Pakistan 50/1 (Zaman 27*, Babar 7*)
50 up for Pak! The batsmen are looking to rotate the strike now. Babar has started off confidently. Has allowed Imam to swing his arms a bit. Still a slow start.

After 13 overs, Pakistan 44/1 (Zaman 23*, Babar 5*)
Zaman looks to break the shackles and smashes Kuldeep for a huge swix with a slog sweep. He nearly falls over as he smashes that over the fence.

After 12 overs, Pakistan 35/1 (Zaman 16*, Babar 4*)
Spin from both ends now. Chahal and Kuldeep bowlign in tandem. They rushing through the overs, not giving the Pakistani batsmen time to stettle. The boundaries have more or less dried up and the batsmen deal in singles.

After 11 overs, Pakistan 31/1 (Zaman 14*, Babar 2*)
Kuldeep is brought into the attack. Gets dip and turn almost immediately. The batsmen, though, are in complete defensive mode and see him off watchfully.

After 10 overs, Pakistan 28/1 (Zaman 12*, Babar 1*)
Chahal retruns for another go at the Pakistani batsmen. The tweaker will be chuffed with to dismiss Imam. It was his first wicket in the opening powerplay in ODIs. Credit to skipper Rohit to introducing the bowler in to the attack at the right time and for Dhoni for calling on DRS.

After 9 overs, Pakistan 25/1 (Zaman 10, Babar 0*)
Zaman is joined by Babar in the middle. The latter had played an impressive knock the last time these two sides met. He starts of watchfully today, but will be expected to replicate his performance from the precious tie.

After 8 overs, Pakistan 24/1 (Zaman 9*)
WICKET! Chahal strikes in his first over! Rohit introduces spin. Chahal come into the attack and hands the breakthrough immediately. Imam puts in a huge stride in but misses to connect with the ball. It raps him on the pads. The umpire turns down the appeal, but Dhoni is quick to signal Rohit to ask for a review. DRS reveals the ball would have gone to hit the stumps. Pakistan one down.
Imam lbw Chahal 10 (20b 2x4)

After 7 overs, Pakistan 21/0 (Imam 10*, Zaman 6*)
India won’t mind this. The run-rate isn’t too high, but they will rue not creating more wicket-taking chance. To be fair the pitch is flat and it’s the Pakistani openers who should be playing more positively. But, that’s what an India-Pakistan game does to you. The pressure means all conventional practices take a back seat.

After 6 overs, Pakistan 20/0 (Imam 10*, Zaman 5*)
Bumrah once again goes a bit wide and Imam finds the gap. A boundaries in now, but the bowlers are keeping the dot-ball rate high. Luckily for Pakistan no clear wicket-taking opportunities yet.

After 5 overs, Pakistan 15/0 (Imam 6*, Zaman 4*)
Pakistan batsmen struggling to get their feet moving. Bhuvneshwar hasn’t been at top of his game with his line and length, but is getting a bit of a relaxed time out due to the jittery batsmen.

After 4 overs, Pakistan 12/0 (Imam 6*, Zaman 1*)
Imam gets the first boundary off the bat. Short and wide from Bumrah and the batsman doen’t let the opportunity slip.

After 3 overs, Pakistan 8/0 (Imam 2*, Zaman 1*)
A better over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The line is better and tighter, but he’s still lacking the bite that he brings to the fore in the opening overs.

After 2 overs, Pakistan 7/0 (Imam 1*, Zaman 1*)
Bumrah is disciplined in his over and keeps Zaman guessing with a few vairations early on. Keept it just short of good length. Maiden to start with.

After 1 over, Pakistan 7/0 (Imam 1*, Zaman 1*)
Bhuvneshwar strays a bit to the leg side and gives away four leg byes. Pakistan’s openers, who struggled when the two sides met the last time won’t mind the early bonus. They started off nervously again, giving India a sniff of a run-out chance. However, the batsmen had made the crease.

We are done with the anthems and the players are heading into the middle. India take on Pakistan for the second time in a week. Who will come up on top?

Pakistan XI: Zaman, Imam ul-Haq, Azam, Malik, Ahmed (C & WK), Ali, Nawaz, Shadab, Ali, Amir, Afridi

India XI: Rohit (C), Dhawan, Rayudu, Karthik, Jadhav, Dhoni (WK), Jadeja, Kumar, Kuldeep, Bumrah, Chahal.

India to play with an unchanged XI. Mohammad Amir returns to the Pakistan first team.

Pakistan have won the toss and will bat first.

In the first match between these two at this Asia Cup, India won with 126 balls to spare, which is the biggest ever ODI win (in terms of overs remaining) for India against Pakistan. Will we see a closer contest tonight?

Pitch report: The wicket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium remains a graveyard for the bowlers, reckons Gavaskar. A batting pitch but the batsmen need to bat well, he adds.

Favourites India have no grounds for complacency as they wait to see ‘which’ Pakistan turns up in the Asia Cup on September 23, well aware of the unpredictable arch-rivals’ penchant for surprising not just opponents but themselves, too.

India are eyeing a place in the final after three wins in as many matches, while Pakistan will look to step up their game in the Super Four match, after a scare against Afghanistan.

India walloped Pakistan by eight wickets in the group game three days ago but if history is any indication, the Men in Blue will take their traditional rivals lightly at their own peril.