India outplay Pakistan in U19 World Cup

Set a target of 263 runs for a win, the Pakistani batsmen caved in after a solid start. Openers Sami Aslam and Imamul Haq started steadily but were sent back at a crucial juncture of the innings.

Their stand for the first wicket was worth 109 runs, yet the rest of the batting order caved in with the former champions folding for 222 runs in the penultimate over of the match.

Left-handed Aslam, who has scored the most runs in U19 international cricket, top scored for Pakistan with a patient 64 off 85 balls before running himself out. His innings was studded with six fours.

After his departure, the rest of the batsmen failed to capitalise on the start and were rolled over by Indian spinners. For the defending champions, Deepak Honda was the star performer with the ball, claiming five wickets for 41 runs with his sharp spinning off-breaks.

Indian batsmen make most of the conditions


Earlier in the day, the Indian batsmen made the most of some loose bowling by Pakistan new ball bowlers at the start of the innings.

The opening pair of Ankush Bains and Akhel Herwadkar added 65 runs in a mere 8.1 overs. However, the boys in green roared back taking four wickets for the addition of 29 runs.

Sanju Samson and Sarfaraz Khan ensured that India posts a challenging score through a fifth wicket alliance worth 119 runs.

Samson was dismissed for 68; Sarfaraz played an enterprising innings of 74 off 78 balls to take his team past the 250- run mark.

Irfanullah Shah who bowled with venom on a largely docile track returned impressive figures of two for 32 in his ten overs quota; he was ably assisted by right-arm leg spinner Karamat Ali who claimed two wickets for 37 runs in his stipulated 10 overs.

The Indian total of 262 was the highest achieved against Pakistan in U19 World Cups and turned out to be a total beyond the reach of Aslam’s team.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2014.