ISLAMABAD: Pakistan juniors’ promising bowling effort was undone by a fragile batting display as India defended a modest total of 240 to register a comfortable victory in their Asia Cup encounter at the ICC Academy Ground on Sunday.
After put into bat first, India were bowled out for 240 in 46.1 overs, a total that looked well within Pakistan’s reach. Aaron George anchored the Indian innings with a solid 85 off 88 balls, while skipper Ayush Mhatre provided early impetus with a brisk 38 off 25 deliveries, striking four boundaries and three towering sixes to set the tone.
Pakistan bowlers staged an impressive fight-back to ensure India did not bat through their allotted overs. Left-arm pacer Mohammad Sayyam and right-arm quick Abdul Subhan shared three wickets apiece, applying consistent pressure in the middle overs. Niqab Shafiq claimed two wickets, while Ali Raza and Ahmed Hussain chipped in with one each, reflecting a disciplined and collective bowling performance.
However, Pakistan’s reply never found momentum. The innings was jolted early as the top-order crumbled under pressure, leaving the side reeling at 30 for 4 inside the first 14 overs. From there, recovery proved elusive, and Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 150 in 41.2 overs, rendering their bowlers’ hard work futile.
Right-hander Huzaifa Ahsan stood tall amid the collapse, compiling a fighting 70 off 83 balls, decorated with nine fours and two sixes. Captain Farhan Yousaf (23) and opener Usman Khan (16) were the only other batters to reach double figures of note, but the lack of partnerships proved costly.
India’s bowlers made full use of the early breakthroughs. Player of the Match Kanishk Chouhan delivered a decisive all-round performance, scoring a handy 46 and returning impressive figures of 3 for 33 in his 10 overs. Deepesh Devendran also claimed three wickets to keep Pakistan under constant pressure.
Pakistan Under-19s, who had begun their campaign in emphatic fashion with a 297-run victory over Malaysia on Friday, will now look to regroup quickly ahead of their final group match against UAE at the same venue on Tuesday, December 16. The match will be a sort of quarter-finals for them. The match is scheduled to start at 10am PST. In another Group A match, UAE beat Malaysia by 78 runs.
Score: India 240 all out, 46.1 overs (Aaron George 85, Kanishk Chouhan 46, Ayush Mhatre 38; Abdul Subhan 3-42, Mohammad Sayyam 3-67, Niqab Shafiq 2-38) Pakistan 150 all out, 41.2 overs (Huzaifa Ahsan 70, Farhan Yousaf 23; Deepesh Devendran 3-16, Kanishk Chouhan 3-33, Kishan Singh 2-33) Player of the match - Kanishk Chouhan (India U19).
