Turning points in India-Pakistan match: Karthik's miss, Afridi's blast

India went down to Pakistan by a narrow one-wicket margin in the sixth match of the Asia Cup match in Mirpur, Bangladesh, on Sunday.

- Scorecard

- Photos from the match

Chasing a modest 246 for victory, Pakistan, rode on lapses in India's fielding and a late flourish from Shahid Afridi to finish with 249 for nine and two deliveries to spare.

The defeat, India's second in the tournament, virtually put them out of the reckoning for a place in the final.

We look at the key moments in the match:

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Asked to bat first, India were off to a poor start. Mohammad Hafeez struck in the third over, trapping Shikhar Dhawan for 10.

Umar Gul added to India's misery by dismissing the in-form Virat Kohli for just five runs.

Debutant Mohammad Talha then struck telling blows, scalping a well-set Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, and India were reduced to 103-4 in the 24th over.

The Indians struggled to get any sizeable partnership going, and it was only because of Ravindra Jadeja's late flourish that they could put up a decent total of 245 for eight in their 50 overs.

Indian batsmen bogged down by Pak spinners

The spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez stifled the Indian batsmen in the middle overs, not allowing them to score freely.

Boundaries were rare and singles at a premium.

In 27 overs bowled by the spin trio of Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi, only 96 runs were conceded and five wickets claimed.

Ajmal was at his very best, foxing the batsmen with his doosaras and flippers, while Hafeez and Afridi were hard to play.

Openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad got Pakistan off to a flying start. Shehzad was the aggressor of the two and took the attack to pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was guilty of bowling length balls and was punished for it.

Sharjeel started off slowly but suddenly exploded by smoking a six and boundary off Mohammad Shami.

The duo brought up their 50-run stand in the eighth over. They went on to add 71 runs for the first wicket in 11 overs.

Indian spinners stage fightback

Amit Mishra, who was confined to the bench in recent matches, led India's fight back with tight bowling.

However, it was Ravichandran Ashwin who provided the breakthrough with a carrom ball delivery, dismissing Sharjeel.

The batsman went for a drive, leaving a big gap between bat and pad, and was clean bowled.

Mishra then dismissed the other opener, Shehzad, who pulled one straight to Ashwin at short mid-wicket.

Misbah-ul-Haq's run out meant Pakistan were reeling after a bright start.

Mishra further added to Pakistan woes when he dismissed the in-form Umar Akmal (4), to leave Pakistan reeling at 113 for four.

Hafeez-Maqsood partnership revives Pakistan

Mohammad Hafeez, who came in at No. 3, took his time in the middle to stitch a partnership with Shoaib Maqsood.

The latter, who hadn't done anything great in the series thus far, also took to settle down and dealt mainly in singles.

Hafeez soon brought up his half-century with a couple off Mohammad Shami to keep Pakistan in the hunt.

Karthik's miss proves costly

Ashwin provided India an opportunity to break the Hafeez-Maqsood partnership that was looking threatening, but wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik once again fluffed a simple stumping chance, like he had in the match against Sri Lanka when Kumar Sangakkara, on 30, was way out of his crease. The batsman went on to score 103 and win the match for the Lankans.

On Sunday, in the 38th over, Ashwin set up Maqsood nicely and slipped one down the leg side, only for the ball to brush Karthik's gloves, with the batsmen a good one foot outside the crease.

That was, perhaps, the best and last chance India had of checking Pakistan's charge to the finish.

Afridi's late blast lifts Pak to victory

Shahid Afridi then left nothing to chance as he went for some big shots, hitting successive sixes in Ravichandran Ashwin's last over.

He first hit a six over deep extra cover and then over long on. He was unbeaten on 34, including two fours and three sixes, off only 18 balls, as Pakistan overhauled India's modest total in a thrilling finish.