India edge Pakistan by one wicket to win U19 Asia Cup title
India defeated Pakistan by one wicket in a thrilling final to win the Under-19 Asia Cup title, chasing down a target of 338 in the final over in Oman.
Pakistan, batting first after winning the toss, posted 337 for nine in their allotted 50 overs. India, however, completed the chase at 338 for nine to clinch the title after a dramatic contest.
Mehtab Alvi was the hero for India, scoring an unbeaten 49 off 26 balls, while Manal Chauhan contributed 47 off 32 deliveries to turn the match around after Pakistan had taken control.
Pakistan’s batting
Pakistan’s openers Usman Khan and Hiyam Khan provided a confident start, putting on 62 runs for the first wicket. Hiyam was dismissed for 21 off 23 balls in the ninth over, caught by wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid off Kavya Prashant Patel.
Abdul Qadir then joined Usman, and the pair launched an aggressive assault on the Indian bowling attack. Their 135-run partnership for the second wicket laid the foundation for a big total.
Qadir scored 80 off just 54 balls, hitting eight sixes and three fours, before falling to Arjun Rajpoot in the 27th over with Pakistan’s total at 197.
Usman continued his impressive batting, scoring a brilliant 107 off 111 deliveries, including 11 fours and three sixes. He was caught by Rajpoot off Patel in the 37th over, with Pakistan at 240.
Captain Farhan Yousaf then contributed 63 off 60 balls, striking four fours and three sixes. He shared a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Ahmed Hussain, who scored 17.
Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals towards the end of the innings. Hasnain Abbas Dar scored two, Hamza Zahoor 10, Mohammad Siam seven and Naqab Shafiq 11 as the team finished at 337 for nine.
For India, Kavya Prashant Patel took four wickets for 68 runs, while Venkata claimed three and Arjun Rajpoot picked up one.
India’s dramatic run chase
Chasing 338, India’s openers provided a solid foundation. Aryaveer Sehwag scored 58 off 61 balls, including nine fours, while captain Lakshya Raichandani made 80 off 101 deliveries, hitting five fours.
The pair added 95 runs for the opening wicket before Sehwag was dismissed in the 18th over.
India then faced a series of setbacks. VK Vineeth scored 24 off 21 balls, Arjun Rajpoot made 16 off 18 deliveries and Yashvardhan Chauhan contributed nine off five balls.
Raichandani was dismissed for 80 in the 37th over, with India’s total at 217. Wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid was run out in the following over after scoring 19 off 12 balls, including three fours.
Aryan Susani scored nine off 14 deliveries before Kavya Prashant Patel was dismissed for a duck.
With India struggling at 309 for nine, Pakistan appeared to have the match under control. However, Mehtab Alvi and Manal Chauhan produced a remarkable counterattack, adding 57 runs for the ninth wicket to bring India within reach of victory.
Chauhan smashed three sixes and three fours in his 32-ball 47, bringing India closer to the target before his dismissal.
Alvi then took responsibility for the final push, remaining unbeaten on 49 off just 26 deliveries. His innings included five fours and three sixes as he guided India to victory in the final over.
For Pakistan, Rizwanullah claimed three wickets, while Naqab Shafiq took two. Ali Raza, Mohammad Siam and Hasnain Abbas Dar picked up one wicket each. Ahmed Hussain conceded 29 runs in four overs without taking a wicket.
Pakistan had beaten India in group stage
Pakistan had entered the final unbeaten in the tournament after defeating Bangladesh by nine wickets in the semi-final. Rizwanullah took five wickets in that match, while Hiyam Khan scored 69 and Usman remained unbeaten on 64.
India had qualified for the final after defeating Afghanistan by eight wickets in the other semi-final.
Earlier in the group stage, Pakistan had also beaten India by three wickets.
Pakistan had defeated India in the previous edition’s final to win their maiden Under-19 Asia Cup title. However, India avenged that defeat by clinching the trophy this time.