Akmal hits form for Pakistan

India fail to defend big total in Colombo

Last updated: 17th September 2012  

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Kamran Akmal dispatched the first ball of the final over for six to seal a five-wicket victory for Pakistan over India in the World Twenty20 warm-up fixture in Colombo.

Akmal finished on 92 not out from 50 balls, including five fours and six sixes, to oversee a successful chase to a target of 186 at the R.Premadasa Stadium.

Pakistan slipped to 91-5 in the 12th over as India spinner Ravi Ashwin claimed figures of 4-23 from his four overs.

But Akmal and Shoaib Malik (37no) put together an unbroken stand of 95 in 46 balls to turn the match around.

With six needed from the final over, Irfan Pathan (0-40) served up a full toss and Akmal lifted it over the cover boundary for the winning runs.

Earlier, Virat Kohli (75no) and Rohit Sharma (56) shared a 127-run partnership from 77 balls for the third wicket to help India to a total of 185-3.

Spinner Saeed Ajmal was Pakistan's leading bowler with 2-22, including the wicket of Sharma, bowled after coming down the pitch and missing in the 19th over.

India start their Group A campaign against Afghanistan at the same venue on September 19, while Pakistan must wait until September 23 before their Group D opener against New Zealand in Pallekele.