Watch: Mohammad Amir’s spell that sparked life into the India v Pakistan Asia Cup match

India’s chase of 84 was expected to start and get over in a jiffy. It was not just because of the sub-100 total but a look at the Indian batting lineup and it wouldn’t have been a surprise had they closed the game inside 10 overs. Like what can happen while defending such a small total, team Pakistan walked out with intent, they had already lost one-half of the game and had no other option but to put all they had in to spark life into the match. Skipper Shahid Afridi gave the ball of trust in hands of young Mohammad Amir and boy the way he responded left the Indian team staggered.

Aamir started off with a full, swinging Yorker that crashed into Rohit Sharma’s toe, they went out for a huge appeal but the umpire believed the impact was outside the line of the off-stump and thus didn’t take interest. The next ball the Pakistan team went up again and this time, even the finger went up. It was an inswinger, Rohit Sharma missed it and it jabbed back to catch him plumb in front. On the 4th ball of the same over, Amir swung it into Ajinkya Rahane who was yet to open his account and the late movement did him and the left-arm pacer had two wickets in his very first over.

India were 2 down with just two runs on the board and it suddenly looked game on. Mohammad Amir returned in his next over to test Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli. Raina who was beaten by an away going delivery on the penultimate ball of his previous over came forward to hit this one and rather lobbed it in the air to mid-on for a regulation catch. Amir in his 1.4 overs now had 3 wickets. In walked Yuvraj Singh and decided to leave the first ball, it was sheer luck that it passed over his stumps and didn’t kiss them on the way.

The Indian fans were now feeling the heat and were counting the number of balls they had to negotiate of Amir. Skipper decided to bowl him out in a spell and though he didn’t get another success bowled really well to return with figures of 4-0-18-3. He made a remarkable comeback in the game and was well appreciated by India’s Virat Kohli in the end, who played him out and ensured it was his team that crossed the line.

Watch: Mohammad Amir’s spell that sparked life into the India v Pakistan Asia Cup match: