Sports Desk
Pakistan were crowned the champions of the Men’s U19 Asia Cup after a dominant 191-run victory over arch-rivals India in the final at the ICC Academy, Dubai, on Sunday.
Set to chase a daunting 348-run target, India’s batting unit could yield 156 runs before getting bowled out in 26.2 overs, courtesy of Pakistan’s stellar bowling attack.
The Men in Blue got off to a contrasting start to the pursuit as their batting sensation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, knitted a quickfire 32-run opening partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, who could score two before falling victim to Ali Raza in the fourth over.
Mohammad Sayyam gave Pakistan another success an over later by dismissing top-order batter Aaron George (16), who had scored a match-winning half-century against the Green Shirts in the group-stage clash last Sunday.
Raza put Pakistan in complete control on the first delivery of the next over as he got Suryavanshi caught behind, reducing India to 49-3.
The left-handed opener remained a notable run-getter for India with a 10-ball 26, featuring one four and three sixes.
His dismissal proved decisive as Pakistan bowlers struck at regular intervals until eventually booking India for a meagre total despite Deepesh Devendran’s blitz at the backend.
The No 10 batter remained the top-scorer for India with 36 off 16 deliveries, featuring six fours and two sixes.
Raza was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking four wickets for 42 runs in his 6.2 overs, while Abdul Subhan, Mohammad Sayyam, and Huzaifa Ahsan chipped in with two each.
India captain Ayush Mhatre’s decision to field first backfired as Pakistan piled up 347-8 in their 50 overs, courtesy of Sameer Minhas’s monumental 172-run knock.
The Green Shirts got off to a decent start to their innings as their opening pair of Minhas and Hamza Zahoor (18) put together 31 runs before the latter fell victim to Henil Patel in the fourth over.
Following the early setback, Usman Khan joined Minhas in the middle, and the duo led Pakistan into a commanding position by knitting a brisk 92-run partnership for the second wicket off just 79 deliveries.
The platform-setting stand culminated in the 17th over when Khilan Patel got Usman Khan caught at long-on. The left-handed batter made a vital contribution with a 45-ball 35, featuring three fours and a six.
Minhas was then involved in another crucial partnership for Pakistan, a blistering 137-run stand for the third wicket with Ahmed Hussain, who made 56 off 73 deliveries, laced with three fours and a six.
The right-handed opener then shared a 42-run partnership with captain Farhan Yousaf until eventually being dismissed by Deepesh Devendran on the penultimate delivery of the 43rd over.
He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with 172 off 113 deliveries, studded with 17 fours and nine sixes.
His dismissal sparked a collapse which saw Pakistan lose four more wickets, including that of captain Yousaf (19) in quick succession, and consequently brought the total down to 327-8 in 46.4 overs.
Following the slump, Mohammad Sayyam and Niqab Shafiq added valuable runs at the backend, playing unbeaten cameos of 13 and 12, respectively.
For India, Deepesh Devendran led the way with three wickets but was expensive as he conceded 83 runs in his 10 overs, followed by Henil Patel and Khilan Patel with two each, while Kanishk Chouhan could bag one.
