India's U-19 Squad Secures Asia Cup in Dramatic Final Ball Victory Against Pakistan

India's Under-19 cricket team delivered a spectacular performance on Saturday, November 14, clinching the Asia Cup title with a thrilling one-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in Al Amerat, Oman. A last-ball boundary from Mohit Ulva capped an extraordinary comeback, sealing India's pursuit of a formidable 338 runs.

Chasing Pakistan's challenging total, India found themselves in deep trouble at 252 for eight in the 42nd over. However, the late-order pair of Mohit Ulva (49 not out off 26 balls) and Manal Chauhan (47 off 32 balls) displayed remarkable composure, forging a crucial 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket that dramatically shifted momentum.

Despite Manal's departure with the team score at 302, leaving India needing 36 runs with just one wicket remaining, Ulva found a resolute ally in C Venkata (11 not out off 8 balls). The duo navigated the intense pressure, bringing the equation down to eight runs off the final over. With three runs required off the last delivery, Ulva confidently smashed leg-spinner Ahmed Hussain's ball wide of long-off for a boundary, propelling India to 339 for nine and securing the championship.

Earlier in the chase, captain Lakshya Raichandani (80) and Aaryavir Sehwag (58) had laid a strong foundation with a 95-run opening stand. Their dismissals, alongside Anvay Dravid's, had initially pushed India into a precarious position before the incredible late-order heroics.

Pakistan had set a daunting target of 337 for nine, built around opener Usman Khan's composed century (107 runs off 106 balls). Usman first stitched a rapid 62-run alliance with Hayam Khan in just 8.1 overs, then combined with Abdul Qadir (80 off 54 balls) for a dominant 135-run stand in 18 overs. Qadir, who reached his maiden Youth ODI fifty in 39 balls, aggressively hit two sixes off left-arm spinner Manal and off-spinner Yashbardhdan Chauhan before an uppish drive off Arjun Rajput found VK Vineeth at cover. Usman's innings ended with a wild slash off pacer Kavya Patel (4/68), caught by Rajput at mid-off. Captain Farhan Yousaf added a crucial 60 runs off 63 balls to push Pakistan past the 300-run mark. Indian pacers Kavya Patel (4/68) and C Venkata (3/40) managed to pick up vital wickets towards the end of Pakistan's innings.

Image: siasat.com

📰 Source: Siasat Gulf