Pakistan on Saturday pipped India by two wickets in a thrilling encounter at Dubai in the ongoing Under-19 Asia Cup. The match was decided on the last ball with Pakistan needing two to get off one ball. Ahmed Khan struck a four under-pressure to see Pakistan through.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Pakistan invited India to bat first. Fast-bowling spearhead Zeeshan Zameer made sure Pakistan gets off to a brilliant start as they dismissed as many as four Indian batters on the score of 41. Harnoor Singh, however, stood tall from one end.
He scored fine-looking 46 runs before falling to Awais Ali. With half the side gone on 96, Aaradhya Yadav led the fight-back. The wicket-keeper batter scored fifty, taking India to a fighting total of 237 runs. Tail-enders
Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Kaushal Tambe also scored handy cameos of 33 and 32, respectively.
For Pakistan, seamer Zeeshan Zameer was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped a five-wicket-haul.
In reply, Rajvardhan Hangargekar gave India a good start. He dismissed opener Abdul Bangalzai in the very first over. But Muhammad Shehzad played a crucial knock to keep Pakistan in the game.
The youngster piled up a terrific knock of 82 runs. Cameos from lower-order including Irfan Khan (33) and Rizwan Mehmood (29) took Men-in-Green close to the total.
Lastly, Pakistan needed 14 runs off 7 balls. It was Ahmed Khan who struck a crucial six to shift the momentum. Khan kept nudging the ball in the last-over before it reached to 2 needed off 1 ball. He then scored a boundary to earn Pakistan a 2-wicket win. He himself remained unbeaten on 29 off 19 balls.
For India, Raj Bawa scalped four wickets. It was the robin-round match of Group A.