Pakistan Under19 secured a commanding 43-run victory over India Under19 in a Group A encounter of the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The match was marked by a stunning display of batting by Shahzaib Khan, whose remarkable knock of 159 runs off 147 balls proved to be the cornerstone of Pakistan’s innings.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan built their innings around Shahzaib’s heroics. The opener unleashed a barrage of boundaries, smashing 10 sixes and five fours, while demonstrating incredible composure to anchor the innings.
Shahzaib found valuable support in Usman Khan, who contributed a steady 60 off 94 balls. Together, the duo forged a vital 160-run partnership for the first wicket, setting a solid platform for the middle order.
However, following Shahzaib’s dismissal, Pakistan’s momentum slowed as the Indian bowlers tightened their grip. Despite this, late contributions from Muhammad Riazullah (27) and Haroon Arshad (3) helped Pakistan reach a competitive total of 281/7 in their allotted 50 overs.
India’s bowlers struggled to contain Shahzaib early on but managed to restrict the opposition towards the end.
Samarth Nagaraj emerged as the standout performer with figures of 3 for 45, while Ayush Mhatre chipped in with 2 for 30.
In response, India’s chase began on a shaky note, with the team losing two quick wickets for just 28 runs in the first five overs. Opener Ayush Mhatre (20) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (1) were sent back to the pavilion by Ali Raza and Abdul Subhan, respectively.
The early setbacks placed immense pressure on the Indian middle order, and despite a fighting 67 off 77 balls from Nikhil Kumar, the team struggled to build substantial partnerships.
Skipper Mohamed Amaan and Kiran Chormale attempted to revive the innings with scores of 22 and 24, but their efforts fell short against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack. A late cameo from Mohamed Enaan, who scored 30 off 20 balls, added some excitement, but India’s innings folded for 238 in 47.1 overs.
Pakistan’s bowlers played a crucial role in defending the target. Ali Raza was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 36, while Faham-ul-Haq delivered an economical spell, claiming 2 for 41. Their consistent breakthroughs ensured that India never gained the upper hand in the chase.
Shahzaib's extraordinary innings earned him the Player of the Match award, as his contribution with the bat was pivotal in setting up Pakistan’s victory. With this win, Pakistan strengthened their position in Group A and significantly boosted their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
Meanwhile, India face an uphill task to recover from this defeat and keep their tournament hopes alive.
The match highlighted Pakistan’s dominance, both with the bat and ball, and underscored their potential as strong contenders in the competition. For India, the loss served as a reminder of the need for more cohesive performances, especially under pressure.
Meanwhile, United Arab Emirates U19 team delivered a commanding performance to crush Japan Under-19 by a staggering 273 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Opting to bat first, the UAE piled up a formidable 325/7 in their 50 overs, thanks to a scintillating knock from opener Aryan Saxena.
Saxena was unbeaten on 150 off just 120 deliveries, hammering 16 fours and 7 sixes in a masterclass of power and precision. He was well supported by Akshat Rai, who contributed a steady 53, while Aayan Afzal Khan (45) and Yayin Rai (34) chipped in with valuable runs.
Despite Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake’s impressive 4/42, Japan’s bowlers struggled to stem the run flow.
Faced with an uphill task, Japan’s batting faltered under relentless pressure from UAE’s bowlers. The top order crumbled quickly, with only Nihar Parmar (23) and Koji Abe (17) managing double-digit scores.
The rest of the batting lineup capitulated, and Japan were skittled out for a paltry 52 in 24.1 overs. Uddish Suri was the standout performer with the ball, claiming a sensational 4 wickets for just 2 runs to seal a comprehensive victory for the UAE.(UNI)
