Pakistan U19 beat India U19 by three wickets in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup in Muscat on Sunday, chasing down 209 with 11 balls to spare. Hamza Zahoor hit an unbeaten 100 to rescue a chase that had slipped badly early on.
Pakistan lost five wickets with the score still in the low 60s before Zahoor and Hasnain Abbas Dar added 107 for the sixth wicket. Zahoor finished on 100 not out off 108 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes, and he sealed the win with a boundary.
The win puts Pakistan on top of Group A with four points from two matches. Pakistan beat the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in their opening game, while India had beaten Nepal by 10 wickets in their first match.
How Pakistan U19 beat India
Pakistan made a poor start to the chase. Jahangir Bilal fell for five in the third over, and Usman Khan, who had scored a century against the UAE, made only 16. Abdul Qadir scored 20 before captain Farhan Yousaf went for two and Ahmed Hussain for eight, and the side were five down inside the first 15 overs.
Zahoor and Dar then batted for more than 20 overs without losing a wicket. Their stand passed 100 and took Pakistan past 150 before Dar fell for 38 off 67 balls, with 41 runs still needed. Mohammad Sayyam went for four, but Zahoor stayed to the end with Niqab Shafiq, who finished on two not out.
Zahoor reached his fifty during the stand and then pushed on to three figures. After the match, he held up a note to the camera on which he had predicted a half-century for himself. He scored twice as many.
Manal Chauhan took three wickets for 32 runs for India, while Mohit Ulva took two for 45.
Rajput’s century in vain
India had won the toss and chosen to bat, but Ali Raza struck with the second ball of the match to remove captain Lakshya Raichandani for a duck. India lost two more wickets in quick succession and were 22 for three.
Arjun Rajput then led the recovery with a maiden Youth ODI century. He reached 100 off 80 balls and finished with 107 off 85, with 11 fours and five sixes. He shared a 64-run stand with Manal Chauhan before Rizwanullah removed Chauhan for 11.
Rajput fell with the score on 170 for seven, and India lost their last three wickets for 38 runs. They were bowled out for 208 in 46.3 overs. The full scorecard lists Ali Raza, Rizwanullah and Niqab Shafiq with three wickets each.
Ali Raza took three wickets for 37 runs, Rizwanullah three for 24 and Niqab Shafiq three for 42, while Mohammad Sayyam took one for 27. Niqab dismissed two of India’s most famous names: Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, and wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid.
What the win means for Group A
Pakistan now lead Group A with four points from two matches, ahead of India on two. Pakistan have won both their matches so far, and the win keeps them on course for the semi-finals.
Pakistan play Nepal next on Tuesday, November 10, and a win there will seal top spot in the group. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 12, with the final on November 14.
The result also capped a good day for Pakistan sport. The senior football team beat Maldives 3-0 in the SAFF Championship in Dhaka on the same day.
Pakistan’s senior cricket team are also preparing for a home Test series against Sri Lanka. Babar Azam is eyeing a fresh start in that series, and Aamer Jamal is back in the Test squad for the matches.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Pakistan U19 vs India U19 match?
Pakistan won by three wickets at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, reaching 209 for seven in 48.1 overs after India made 208.
Who scored a century for Pakistan?
Hamza Zahoor, who finished on 100 not out off 108 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes.
Who scored a century for India?
Arjun Rajput, who made 107 off 85 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes, before Rizwanullah dismissed him.
Where does the win leave Pakistan in Group A?
Pakistan top the group with four points from two matches. They play Nepal on Tuesday, November 10, and the semi-finals are scheduled for November 12.
Did Pakistan win their first match of the tournament?
Yes. Pakistan beat the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in their opening game, when Usman Khan made an unbeaten 139 off 120 balls.
