Pakistan eased past India in their second game of the Hong Kong International Sixes to earn a place in the quarterfinals of the competition.
Muhammad Akhlaq and Asif Ali were the heroes with the bats for a second consecutive game to help chase down the 120-run target with 6 balls and all the wickets to spare.
Asif smashed 3 fours and 7 sixes on his way to a 14-ball 55 before retiring due to the rules while Akhlaq managed to get 40 off 12 balls courtesy of 3 fours and 4 sixes. Pakistan’s captain Faheem Ashraf stayed until the end with a 5-ball 22 which included 1 four and 3 sixes.
Faheem had earlier chosen to ball after winning the toss with India reaching 119/2 in their allotted overs. Bharat Chipli top-scored for his side with 53 while Robin Uthappa contributed 31.
The win over India means Pakistan has reached the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong International Sixes as Group C toppers after defeating UAE in their opening fixture earlier in the day.
Asif Ali, who is the strike-rate leader of the tournament thus far with an incredulous 376, scored a fifty in the opening contest as well while claiming 2 wickets with the ball to help Pakistan defend 128 runs as UAE fell 13 runs short of the target.
The quarterfinals of the competition will take place tomorrow.