All round Pakistan Shaheens defeated India A by 128 runs in the final played in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday to lift the Emerging Asia Cup.
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Pakistan Shaheens defend their #ACCMensEmergingTeamsAsiaCup title π€©πͺ#BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/ReP9mJnEra
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 23, 2023
Chasing a target of 353 runs, India were dismissed for 224 runs in 40 overs.
In the highly-anticipated final of the Emerging Asia Cup, spinner Sufiyan Muqeem proved to be a formidable force, causing significant troubles for India A. He claimed three crucial wickets, including those of opener Abhishek Sharma (61), captain Yash Dhull (39 off 41), and Harshit Rana (13), while conceding 66 runs in 10 overs. Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Wasim, and Arshad Iqbal also contributed with two wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan A set a challenging target of 353 runs on the board, thanks to an outstanding century by middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir. Despite a precarious start, openers Sahibzada Farhan (65 off 62) and Saim Ayub (59 off 51) provided a solid foundation with a 121-run opening stand. Tahir’s blistering knock of 108 runs in just 71 balls, featuring 12 fours and four sixes, propelled Pakistan to an imposing total.
India A, in response, faced a daunting task to chase down the target. Their bowlers Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Riyan Parag took two wickets each, attempting to contain the opposition’s scoring.
As the final match unfolds, Pakistan’s young guns showcased their potential against a formidable Indian team.