MUSCAT (The Thursday Times) — Hamza Zahoor hit an unbeaten century to lead Pakistan to a three-wicket win over India in their Under-19 Asia Cup group match at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Sunday, rescuing a chase that had slumped to 61 for five.
Set 209 to win, Pakistan reached 209 for seven in 48.1 overs. Zahoor walked in with 148 still needed and finished on 100 not out, sealing the win with a boundary. He and Hasnain Abbas Dar put on 107 for the sixth wicket to turn the match, and Dar made 38 off 67 balls before he fell with 41 still needed.
India’s innings: India won the toss, chose to bat and were bowled out for 208 in 46.3 overs. Ali Raza bowled their captain, Lakshya Raichandani, for a duck with the second ball of the match, and India were 22 for three and then 86 for five. Arjun Rajput rescued them with 107 off 85 balls, reaching his century off 80, and made 107 of the 148 runs India added while he was at the crease. Rizwanullah took three for 24, Ali Raza three for 37 and the spinner Niqab Shafiq three wickets.
Niqab dismissed both of India’s famous sons: Aaryavir Sehwag, son of the former India opener Virender Sehwag, and the wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid, who was caught by the Pakistan captain, Farhan Yousaf, in a fielding position Yousaf had set for him.
The chase: Pakistan lost their way after the opener Usman Khan, dropped twice, fell for 16. Abdul Qadir made 20, but Yousaf went for two and Ahmed Hussain for eight, leaving them 61 for five in the 15th over. Zahoor and Dar then batted through more than 20 overs without losing a wicket. Mohit Ulva removed Seyam with 26 still needed, and Pakistan needed four off the last two overs before Zahoor finished it.
After the match, Zahoor held up a note to the camera on which he had predicted a half-century for himself. He scored twice as many.
The table: the win takes Pakistan to the top of Group A with four points from two matches, ahead of India on two. Pakistan beat the UAE by nine wickets in their opening game, when Usman Khan made an unbeaten 139 off 120 balls, while India beat Nepal by 10 wickets.
