NEW DELHI: A belligerent 147-ball 159 from Shahzaib Khan was followed by a fiery all-round pace show as Pakistan thrashed India by 43 runs in their U19 Asia Cup Group A opener in Dubai on Sunday.
The eight-time champions were far from their best as Pakistan pulled off their top game to hand India a bitter defeat at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
With the clinical win, Pakistan opened their account in Group A and secured 2 crucial points.
Shahzaib led the way from the front in the clash of arch-rivals as he broke several records with his daddy ton.
After the opener’s ton propelled Pakistan to 281, pacer Ali Raza led the bowlers’ show as India were stopped at 238 in the 48th over.
As It Happened
While Shahzaib’s 159 is now the highest individual score in youth ODIs against India, he also hit the most number of sixes in an innings — 10 — at the level.
After opting to bat, the openers Shahzaib and Usman Khan gave Pakistan a perfect start, adding 160 runs for the opening wicket. As India bowlers failed to get a breakthrough in the first half, Shahzaib and Usman laid a solid platform for a big total.
In the 31st over Ayush Mhatre eventually broke the stand as Usman fell for a well-made 60. Mhatre then quickly removed Haroon Arshad as India looked to put Pakistan under pressure.
But then Shahzaib and Muhammad Riazullah threatened India with another 71-run stand before Samarth Nagaraj came to the rescue, removing the latter for 27.
Pakistan, who looked set for a 300-plus total, then kept on losing wickets at regular intervals around Shahzaib ton as they were restricted to 281 for 7.
Chasing a steep total, India needed a big run from the top order but Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and C Andre Siddarth turned out to be major disappointments.
Against the moving ball, Suryavanshi fell cheaply for 1 and Ayush and Siddarth departed after getting starts.
After the fall of skipper Mohamed Amaan, India found themselves in a tricky situation at 81 for 4 as Pakistan pacers kept the pressure on with some tight spells.
Nikhil Kumar then pulled off a spectacular knock of 67, forming crucial partnerships with Kiran Chormale (20) and Harvansh Pangalia (26) but Pakistan bowlers kept chipping away with regular wickets.
Towards the end, tail-enders Mohamed Enaan and Yudhajit Guha threatened Pakistan a bit but suffered an unfortunate run out in the 48th over as India were bundled out for 238.
With the win, Pakistan sit at the second spot while India are now at the fourth spot.
In the group stage, India now have their matches remaining against UAE and Japan.
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