Pakistan fielders’ catching efficiency may have improved since the 2019 ODI World Cup but their ability to create epic fails to make a mess of an easy catch has not taken a hit either. In the Asia Cup Super Fours clash against India on September 10, Shubman Gill got a reprieve as the slip fielders were caught napping which led to the ball passing between them and racing towards the boundary.
The incident took place in the eighth over. Naseem Shah was moving the ball away from Indian openers. Gill was in good touch and batting on 30 runs from 19 deliveries. Naseem managed to induce an outside edge as Gill slashed his bat at a delivery away from the body.
Initially, it was Mohammad Rizwan who moved to his right to confuse the slip fielders. As the ball moved away and Rizwan gave up the chase, the ball went between Iftikhar Ahmed and Agha Salman. Ahmed stared at the ball and then at Salman as he made a mess of an opportunity to dismiss Gill early and get Pakistan back in the game.
Another 100-plus partnership
After the first powerplay overs, India had 61 runs on the board. Gill reached his first half-century against Pakistan from 37 balls. He shared a 121-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma. Rohit and Gill became the second Indian pair to share a 100-plus partnership for India in the Asia Cup. The only pair to do it before was Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
The Indian skipper scored 56 runs from 49 balls including six fours and four sixes. Shadab Khan dismissed the 36-year-old in the 17th over as Faheem Ashraf took a brilliant catch running towards his left from long-on.
The Gill versus Afridi battle
Earlier in the innings, Gill hit six fours off Shaheen Afridi. He became the first batter to hit six fours in an ODI innings against the left-arm pacer. The 24-year-old could not post a big score on the board. He got out for a 52-ball 58 including 10 fours. In the end, Afridi had the last laugh as he lured Gill into a drive and Salman caught the ball at short cover in the 18th over.
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