Shoaib Malik continued his great form against India as he scored a 78 top help the men in green post a fighting total of 237-7 in the Asia Cup Super Four clash.
Malik came in with the team struggling at 58-3 and teamed up with captain Sarfraz Ahmed to add 107 runs for the fourth wicket in Dubai on Sunday.
It was Malik’s third successive substantial knock in the Asia Cup and proved his worth in Pakistan’s line-up.
Here we analyse the batting effort of the veteran Pakistan batsman.
ANALYSIS
RUNS: 78
BALLS FACED: 90
FOURS: 4
SIXES: 2
STRIKE RATE: 86.6
30-SECOND REPORT
Malik has become the rescue man for Pakistan. For the second straight match, the 36-year-old showed that a calm head and good game awareness can get the job done no matter what the match situation. Malik averages more than 48 against India in ODIs as opposed to a career average of 35. And he continued his love affair with India on Sunday.
GOT RIGHT
Malik’s running between the wickets was excellent. He hit just four fours and two sixes, taking 50 through singles and twos. He handled India’s spinners very well and ensured part-time spinner Kedar Jadhav didn’t get a wicket after the Indian broke Pakistan’s back in the middle overs in their first encounter of the Asia Cup.
Shoaib Malik's favourite opposition in ODIs is definitely India:
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) September 23, 2018
Runs 1782
Average 48.16
Hundreds 4
Fifties 11
His 3 highest ODI scores are also against India #AsiaCup2018 #INDvPAK
GOT WRONG
Malik did all the hard work and as he approached a century in the death overs, he got out in the worst possible way. Trying to work seamer Jasprit Bumrah around, Malik only managed a fine tickle down the leg side with wicketkeeper Dhoni completing the catch.
Pakistan had six overs to go after that with the total at 204. Has Shoaib been around, Pakistan could have targeted 260. But they fell well short of it.
VERDICT: 8/10
You can’t fault a batsman for making three substantial innings which formed the backbone of his team’s total. Malik is among the fittest players in world cricket and is enjoying his role as the middle order mainstay who bats until the end of the innings and allows other to play freely around him.
