Abrar Ahmed does trademark celebration as Sanju Samson fails to capitalise on lifeline in Asia Cup final

Abrar Ahmed does trademark celebration as Sanju Samson fails to capitalise on lifeline in Asia Cup final

Sanju Samson failed to make use of the second chance offered to him at the Asia Cup final in Dubai and departed for 24(21). Samson lost his wicket against spinner Abrar Ahmed in a tense 147-chase. Samson struggled to get going despite spending a significant time in the middle and as the pressure mounted he lost his wicket while attempting a wild swing at the ball.

The ball by Abrar came at 81.6kph and was turning away from the wicket-keeper batter as he tried to slog it away. However, the ball took a leading edge and ballooned up in the air as Sahibzada Farhan settled under it at backward point. The spinner celebrated the wicket with his iconic celebration of nodding his head sideways.

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Samson was dropped in the first over bowled by Abrar with Hussain Talat spilling a routine catch at deep mid-wicket. However, the bowler was rewarded with the wicket in his third over and the fielding error costed Pakistan exactly 12 runs.

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India didn't get off to a best of start with explosive opener Abhishek Sharma getting out for 5(6) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav departing for 1(5). Shubman Gill then got dismissed for 12(10) against Faheem Ashraf, who removed both the Indian openers.

Tilak Varma and Samson then added 57 runs for the fourth wicket before Abrar broke the partnership. Shivam Dube and Varma have held fort and have added a 50-plus stand to keep India in hunt.

Pakistan earlier endured an epic collapse after being put into bat. The Men In Green got off to a great start as Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman stitched a 83-run opening stand and a 180-190 score loomed large for India to chase down. Farhan again unsettled Jasprit Bumrah and smashed a fifty, but was dismissed for 57(38) by Varun Chakaravarthy, who also dismissed Fakhar (46 off 35 balls). And then, Pakistan committed hara-kiri. From 113/2, they were bundled out for 146 in 19.1 overs.