In a stunning display of dominance, Pakistan's Under-19 cricket team clinched the Asia Cup title with a resounding 191-run victory over arch-rivals India in the final at Dubai's ICC Academy Ground on Sunday. Led by captain Farhan Yousaf, the Pakistani side delivered a near-perfect performance, leaving the Indian team with serious questions just weeks before the Under-19 World Cup.
Minhas' Magnificent Record-Breaking Innings
The cornerstone of Pakistan's commanding win was a spectacular batting masterclass from opener Sameer Minhas. The right-handed batter unleashed a brutal assault on the Indian bowling attack, scoring a magnificent 172 runs off just 113 balls. His innings, studded with 17 fours and 9 sixes, is now the highest individual score in the history of an Under-19 Asia Cup final.
Indian captain Ayush Mhatre's decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly as his bowlers struggled for consistency on a placid surface. Minhas took full advantage of the loose deliveries, fearlessly taking the aerial route from the outset. He reached his half-century in a blistering 29 balls and needed only 42 more deliveries to bring up his century.
Minhas forged two crucial partnerships – a 92-run stand with Usman Khan for the second wicket and a match-defining 137-run partnership from 125 balls with Ahmed Hussain, who contributed a valuable 56. Their efforts propelled Pakistan to a daunting total of 347 for 8 in their 50 overs.
Indian Chase Fizzles Out After Early Spark
Chasing a mammoth 348 for victory, India needed a strong start. Opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi provided a brief flicker of hope, smashing 21 runs in the very first over. However, the chase derailed quickly as the top order collapsed under disciplined Pakistani bowling.
Captain Ayush Mhatre fell cheaply for 2, and the in-form Aaron George, after hitting four boundaries, was dismissed for 18. Suryavanshi's promising start ended at 26, leaving India reeling at 49 for 3. The Pakistani pace trio of Ali Raza, Mohammad Sayyam, and Abdul Subhan bowled with impressive control, mixing their lengths effectively to keep the Indian batters in check.
The middle order had no answers to the mounting required rate and sustained pressure. Ali Raza was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 wickets for 42 runs in his 6.2 overs. Abdul Subhan was equally impressive, returning figures of 2 for 29. A late cameo of 36 from Deepesh Devendran only served to reduce the margin of defeat as India were bundled out for 156 in just 26.2 overs.
A Reality Check for India Ahead of World Cup
This comprehensive defeat serves as a significant reality check for the Indian Under-19 team as they fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming World Cup. The batting collapse and the inability of the bowlers to contain a rampant Minhas exposed areas needing urgent attention.
For Pakistan, this victory is a massive confidence booster. The team, often thriving as underdogs in high-pressure games against India, lived up to that reputation with a flawless all-round performance. The record-breaking innings by Sameer Minhas and a clinical bowling display have handed them the Under-19 Asia Cup trophy in emphatic fashion.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 347/8 in 50 overs (Sameer Minhas 172, Ahmed Hussain 56; Deepesh Devendran 3/83) beat India 156 all out in 26.2 overs (Deepesh Devendran 36; Ali Raza 4/42, Abdul Subhan 2/29) by 191 runs.
