India seize ACC U19 Asia Cup with thrilling win against Pakistan
Cricket witnessed one of the finest thrillers being played in Oman as the mother of all rivalries produced a nail-biting finish, allowing India to to claim the bragging rights of the ACC U19 Asia Cup. The Indian U-19 team pulled off a win practically from an inescapable situation, defying the highest of cricket odds.
Winning the toss, Pakistan U19 decided to bat first. They got off to a great start, courtesy of Usman Khan and Hayam Khan (21). The two added 62 runs for the opening partnership before Kavya Patel could get the better of the latter. Pakistan doubled down on their charge as an incoming Abdul Qadir looked in complete control, knitting together another strong stand of 135 runs.
Arjun Rajput finally got the breakthrough that India desperately searched for, removing the latter. India just couldn’t get the momentum they were looking forward to as Pakistan kept throwing one solid partnership after another.
Usman Khan looked in complete control, smashing 107 to regulate the innings. Kavya Patel struck to dismiss Khan, giving India a momentary reprieve. The Pakistan skipper, Farhan Yousaf (63), stayed in the center to command another half-century stand for Pakistan with Ahmed Hussain (17). The way Pakistan batted, 350 looked fairly possible.
It was a late surge from the Indian bowlers that took away the sting from Pakistan’s aggression. Pakistan lost six wickets in a span of 38 runs towards the end, eventually concluding the innings at 337/9. The fall of Ahmed Hussain triggered the collapse for Pakistan. Kavya Patel was the pick of the Indian bowling lot with figures of 4/68 while Chigurupati Venkata claimed three wickets to support him well.
Chasing a mammoth 338, India flew off the shelves, riding high on the shoulders of Lakshya Raichandani (80) and Aaryavir Sehwag (58). The duo added 95 runs for the opening stand as the Boys in Blue motored along to perfection.
Sehwag succumbed to Niqab Shafiq before Vineeth VK (24) came together with Raichandani to stitch together another decent partnership. Vineeth and Raichandani added 51 runs for the second wicket before the former got dismissed. Things were still going well for India before the departure of Arjun Rajput (16) suddenly threw the Indian chase into utter disarray.
India lost six wickets in a span of 79 runs, sending them into an unthinkable spiral. From 172/2, India went sprawling to 252/8. Raichandani was India’s aggressor-in-chief before the sudden collapse forced the young boys in blue into a very uncomfortable corner.
Just when it felt like all hopes were lost, India found new hope in Manal Chauhan and Mohit Ulva. Chauhan (47) and Ulva (49*) stitched a crucial 57 runs for the ninth wicket, still keeping the hopes alive for India. It was Niqab Shafiq again to break this stand, dismissing Chauhan and once again pushing back the Indian hopes.
However, Ulva stayed strong till the end, eventually smashing a boundary on the last ball of the innings when India needed three off one as India powered to a staggering championship finish against all odds. Ulva bagged the Player of the Match award while Aaryavir Sehwag clinched the Player of the Tournament award for his sensational tally of 361 runs.
