U19s Asia Cup: Pakistan, India share cup as match ends in draw

Sami Aslam was declared man and batsman of the series. PHOTO: FILE ASIAN CRICKET COUNCIL

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Sunday put up an excellent show in the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup final as the match ended in a draw in Malaysia.

Pakistan piled up a total of 282 runs in its allotted 50 overs for the loss of nine wickets, after India won the toss and put them into bat. Top scorers for the team included opener Sami Aslam, playing a magnificent innings of 134 runs, which included 13 fours and three sixes in 124 balls, while Umar Waheed scored 48 runs followed by Saad Ali’s 23.

India’s Rush Kalaria was the pick of the bowlers, bagging five wickets for 37 runs, while Sandeep Sharma, Baba Aparajith and Vikas Mishra took a wicket apiece for 56, 49 and 42 runs, respectively.

Chasing Pakistan’s sizeable total, India ended one run short of victory, tying the score at the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.

Captain Unmukt Chand played a great knock of 121 runs in 150 balls with the help of 11 fours followed by another brilliant innings of 90 runs by Baba Aparajith.

Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Nawaz were the leading wicket takers for Pakistan, taking three wickets each for 68 and 45 runs, respectively. Zia-ul-Haq took two wickets giving 53 runs.

Pakistan’s Aslam and India’s Unmukt Chand (India) were declared players of the match, while Aslam was declated Player and Batsman of the series.

PM congratulates team

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has congratulated the Pakistan U19 Cricket team, for jointly winning the U19 Asia Cup.

In a message to the team captain and other officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the prime minister said that by winning the title the cricket team had brought happiness to the people of Pakistan, hoping that they would continue their hard work to win more laurels for the country.