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An India ‘A’ cricketer congratulates Pakistan ‘A’ players at the end of the final
Tayyab Tahir of Pakistan ‘A’ celebrates his hundred against India ‘A’ in the final
Pakistan ‘A’ came up with a powerful batting performance to defeat arch rivals India ‘A’ by 128 runs in the final played at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights yesterday and retain the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
Pakistan were the defending champions having won the title when the tournament was last played in Bangladesh in 2019. Invited to bat first Pakistan ‘A’ driven by a superb century from Tayyab Tahir posted an imposing score of 352-8 and dismissed India ‘A’ for 224 with left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem picking up three crucial wickets for 66.
Muqeem accounted for the key wickets of opener Abishek Sharma (61), captain Yash Dhull (39) and Harshit Rana (13) as the task to match Pakistan ‘A’ ’s run rate proved too much for India ‘A’. Openers Saim Ayub (59 off 51 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Sahibzada Farhan (65 off 62 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes) laid the foundation for Pakistan ‘A’ ’s huge total with a stand of 121. Pakistan ‘A’ lost three cheap wickets for four runs in the middle overs slumping from 183-2 to 187-5 before Mubasir Khan (35) joined forces with Tahir to produce a match-winning partnership of 126 for the sixth wicket that saw Pakistan ‘A’ reach a daunting total. Tahir was outstanding in his stroke play racing to 108 off 71 balls hitting 12 fours, and four sixes to take the Player of the Match award. India ‘A’ left-arm spinner Nishant Sindhu with 11 wickets in the tournament won the Player of the Series award. – (ST)
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