NEW DELHI: Chasing a mammoth target of 348 against Pakistan in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday, India looked like they were not at all stumped as the Boys-in-Blue were bundled out for just 156 in just 26.2 overs to give Pakistan a comfortable 191-run victory.The stunning win gave Pakistan their first outright victory in the Under-19 Men’s Asia Cup and their first since joint winners with India in 2013.
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With a mountain of 348 runs to climb, India needed a strong start to the opening innings. India got off to a promising start, amassing 32 runs in the first two overs. But the innings quickly unraveled as they were reduced to 49-3 in 4.1 overs with both openers Ayush Mhatre (2 off 7 balls), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (26 off 10 balls) and number three Aaron George (16 off 9 balls) cheaply back in the hut.India needed a miracle from there but it was not to be today as wickets fell at regular intervals and no partnership was stitched. The highest partnership of India’s innings came for the last wicket, 36 off 18 balls between Deepesh Devendran and Kishan Singh.Pakistan bowlers did not give away easy runs and bowled tight lines from the start. Fast bowler Ali Raza took 4 wickets including the wickets of Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. While Mohammad Sayyam, Abdul Subhan, Huzaifa Ahsan took 2 wickets each. Earlier, Pakistan opener Sameer Minhas regained glimpses of his precocious talent and scored a brilliant century – his second of the tournament – as Pakistan posted a blistering 347 for 8 in a thrilling final of the Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup on Sunday. One of the standout performers for his side in the event, Minhas hit 172 off 113 deliveries as he fulfilled the aspirations of his side, who lost the group match to arch-enemies by 90 runs at the same venue. Pakistan, who reached the final after a clinical eight-wicket semi-final win against last year’s champions Bangladesh, did not let India, who opted to bowl, settle. Minhas, whose innings was littered with 17 boundaries and nine sixes, improved his century off 71 balls with a four in the 29th over off Devendran. This was Minhas’ second hundred in the competition, having smashed an unbeaten 177 in the opening group match against Malaysia.Pakistan’s Sameer Minhas won the Player of the Match award as well as the Player of the Series.
