India Beat Pakistan in Last-Ball U19 Asia Cup Final
India beat Pakistan by one wicket off the last ball to win the U19 Asia Cup final at Al Amerat on Saturday. The defending champions had set a target of 338, but India reached 339 for nine to claim their ninth title in the tournament.
Pakistan won the toss and batted first at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground Oman Cricket (Ministry Turf 2). Usman Khan struck 107 off 111 balls, and the defending champions posted 337 for nine in 50 overs. India then chased the target down on the final delivery, with last man Chigurupati Venkata at the other end.
Usman Khan’s century sets up 337
Usman Khan anchored the Pakistan innings with 107 off 111 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes. He shared a 135-run second-wicket stand with Abdul Qadir, who smashed 80 off 54 balls with three fours and eight sixes. Captain Farhan Yousaf added 63 off 60 balls.
Pakistan looked set for a bigger total at 204 for two after 30 overs. India’s bowlers then pulled things back, and Pakistan added only 63 runs for six wickets in the last ten overs. Kavya Paresh Patel took four wickets for 68 runs, and Chigurupati Venkata took three for 40.
How India won the U19 Asia Cup final
India started well, with openers Lakshya Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag putting on 95 runs. Niqab Shafiq broke the stand in the 18th over, having Sehwag caught at long-off for 58 off 61 balls.
Raichandani held the chase together with 80 off 101 balls, the top score of the innings. He shared brief stands with VK Vineeth, who made 24, Arjun Rajput, who made 16, Yashbardhan Chauhan, who made nine, and Anvay Dravid, who made 19. Ali Raza dismissed Raichandani in the 37th over, and Pakistan had India at 217 for six.
Manal Chauhan then took charge with 47 off 32 balls, hitting three sixes and three fours. Pakistan reduced India to 252 for eight, but Chauhan found support from Mohit Ulva. Shafiq removed Chauhan in the 48th over, yet Ulva stood firm. He finished unbeaten on 49 off 26 balls, with eight boundaries including three sixes, and struck a boundary off the final ball with three runs needed. Venkata finished unbeaten on 11.
Rizwanullah was Pakistan’s best bowler with three wickets for 53 runs in ten overs. Shafiq took two wickets, while Hasnain Abbas Dar, Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam took one each.
A title defence ends at the last hurdle
Pakistan reached the final unbeaten, with a win over India in the group stage and a semi-final win over Bangladesh. Farhan Yousaf led the title defence after Pakistan beat India in the group stage, when Hamza Zahoor struck a century. India had lost only to Pakistan before the final, and reached it after Raichandani made 93 in the semi-final.
Pakistan had won the previous final by 191 runs in Dubai, so the result also gave India a measure of revenge. The win extended India’s record in the tournament to nine titles, the most by any side.
The result underlines the strength of both youth systems. Pakistan’s young cricketers will next host England Under-19s in December, a series that will test the same group against another leading side. India, meanwhile, take home the trophy after one of the closest finals the tournament has seen.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the U19 Asia Cup final?
India beat Pakistan by one wicket off the last ball. India scored 339 for nine in 50 overs in reply to Pakistan’s 337 for nine.
Who scored a century in the final?
Pakistan opener Usman Khan scored 107 off 111 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes. Abdul Qadir added 80 off 54 balls for Pakistan.
Who was India’s top scorer?
Captain Lakshya Raichandani top-scored for India with 80 off 101 balls. Mohit Ulva finished unbeaten on 49 off 26 balls and hit the winning boundary.
Who took the most wickets in the final?
India’s Kavya Paresh Patel took four wickets for 68 runs. For Pakistan, Rizwanullah took three wickets for 53 runs in ten overs.
How many U19 Asia Cup titles has India won?
Nine. The win at Al Amerat extended India’s record as the most successful side in the tournament’s history.
