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NEW DELHI: India struggled against the power hitting of Sameer Minhas and the extra pace of Pakistan’s bowlers, suffering a heavy 191-run defeat in a one-sided Under-19 Asia Cup final on Sunday.
Pakistan lifted their second U19 Asia Cup, and as has become the norm, there were no formal greetings between the two sides.
After posting a massive 347 for eight, powered by Minhas’ 172 off 113 balls, India needed an extraordinary chase to secure a ninth title in the tournament.
Pakistan pacers wreak havoc
The tall Pakistan pace trio of Ali Raza (4 for 42), Mohammad Sayyam (2 for 38) and Abdul Subhan (2 for 29) quickly dismantled India’s top order with consistent lengths and extra bounce. India folded for just 156 in 26.2 overs.
India had started their chase explosively despite losing Ayush Mhatre early. Vaibhav Suryavanshi launched Raza for two sixes and a four in the first over to take 21 runs.
Aaron George also began aggressively, striking three consecutive fours off Sayyam in the fourth over as India raced at a run rate of ten per over.
Key wickets turn the tide
The game changed in the last ball of the fourth over. George was forced onto a pull shot by Sayyam and holed out to Mohammad Shayan in the circle.
The first ball of the fifth over delivered another blow as Suryavanshi was dismissed. Going for a full-blooded shot off Raza, the left-hander edged the rising delivery into the gloves of stumper Zahoor Hamza. Pakistan celebrated loudly and a few words were exchanged before Suryavanshi walked back dejected.
India fell from 49 for 1 to 49 for 3 in just two balls, and the slide continued. Vedant Trivedi and Kanishk Chouhan also fell as Pakistan’s pacers made the flat ICC Academy pitch look treacherous.
Abhigyan Kundu offered a faint glimmer of hope when a catch was dropped off Subhan on 12. But just two balls later, Kundu’s upper cut found Niqab Shafiq at third man, ending India’s faint chance of a comeback.
Minhas leads Pakistan
Earlier, Pakistan opener Minhas stole the show with a brilliant century. The younger brother of Pakistan T20 player Arafat, he attacked every Indian bowler, targeting new-ball bowlers Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran.
Minhas reached his century off 71 balls and had already scored 177 not out against Malaysia earlier in the tournament. He looked set for a double century but was deceived by a slower ball from Devendran and caught at mid-on.
After Hamza Zahoor fell early for 18, Minhas and Usman Khan added 92 runs for the second wicket. Left-hander Ahmed Hussain also contributed 56, and his 137-run partnership with Minhas laid the foundation for Pakistan’s huge total.
Left-arm spinner Khilan Patel later enticed Hussain into a false sweep which led to a catch at mid-wicket, but by then Pakistan’s dominance was unquestionable.
(With PTI Inputs)
