BULAWAYO: India defeated Pakistan by 58 runs in the virtual quarter-final of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup to reach the semi-final here at the Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
The Men in Blue bowled out Pakistan U19 on 194 runs in 46.2 overs.
Pakistan are officially out of the tournament after falling behind in the qualification scenario.
While chasing the target, the Green Shirts lost their premium batter, Sameer Minhas (9), on just 23 runs in the fourth over, with Henil Patel striking early for the Men in Blue.
Wicket-keeper batter Hamza Zahoor scored 42 off 49 balls, but he was bowled by Kanishk Chouhan on the sixth delivery of the 17th over when the score was 88.
Captain Farhan Yousaf tried to steady the ship with Usman Khan managing a partnership of 63 runs on 76 deliveries, but he was dismissed by RS Ambrish on 38 runs, leaving Pakistan struggling at 3-151 in 29.4 overs.
Pakistan suffered another setback when Ahmed Hussain (2) was removed by Ayush Mhatre, leaving the team at 159-4 in 31.1 overs.
Usman Khan, who top-scored for the Green Shirts with 66 runs of 92 balls, was unlucky as he was given lbw out on the third ball of the Mhatre, trying a sweep when the score was 168-5 in 35.3 overs; the replay showed he hit the ball with the bat.
Pakistan’s wickets continued to fall one after another as Ali Hassan Baloch (3) was removed by Vihaan Malhotra, and Abdul Subhan (7) and Momin Qamar (0) were dismissed by Khilan Patel and Mhatre, respectively.
The last two wickets were bagged by Khilan Patel, who also sent back Mohammad Sayyam (3) and Huzaifa, sealing India’s victory.
Mhatre and Khilan each enjoyed three wickets while Ambrish, Henil, Chouhan, and Malhotra contributed with one wicket apiece.
Earlier, India set a fighting target of 253 runs against Pakistan, thanks to Vedant Trivedi’s fighting half-century.
Pakistan U19 was required to chase the total within 33.3 overs to qualify for the semi-finals, although the chase could have stretched to 34.3 overs if they finished with a six to reach 258.
India U19 Innings
After being sent in to bat by Green Shirts, India got off to a strong start, with openers stitching together a 47-run partnership, but Pakistan staged a stunning comeback, taking three back-to-back wickets without conceding a run.
Mohammad Sayyam removed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on 30 before removing captain Ayush Mhatre on duck one delivery later in the eighth over.
In the following over, Abdul Subhan struck on his very first ball, getting rid of Aaron George for 16 with the score still on 47.
India’s fourth wicket was gone on 109 runs in the 24th over, and fight in the 33rd over on 147.
Vedant Trivedi made a major contribution of 68 on 98 balls before Momin Qamar sent him back on a full toss on a total of 182 in the 41st over.
RS Ambrish (29) also departed on 200, as Ali Raza picked up his first of the match on the last ball of the 44th.
Kanishk Chouhan (35) and Khilan Patel (21) put up a crucial 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket, but Subhan struck twice in the 50th over, and Deepesh Devendran was run out to end India’s innings.
Abdul Subhan was the pick of the bowlers, registering figures of 3/33 in 9.5 overs, getting the support from Sayyam as well, who contributed with two wickets, while Ali Raza, Momin Qamar, Ahmed Hussain, and Ali Hassan Baloch chipped in with one wicket apiece.
India, second in Super Sixes Group 2, are not yet confirmed as semi-finalists and have to win the match against Pakistan to seal the deal.
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Meanwhile, Pakistan, third in Group 2, need a strong win in terms of margin to qualify for the semi-finals.
Overall, the arch rivals have played 29 times, with India ahead with 16 wins, the Green Shirts with 12 victories, and one match ending in a draw.
The last time both teams were up against each other was in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 final, where the Green Shirts lifted the trophy.
Pakistan vs India playing XIs:
India: Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre (c), Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), RS Ambrish, Khilan Patel, Kanishk Chouhan, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran.
Pakistan: Hamza Zahoor (wk), Sameer Minhas, Usman Khan, Farhan Yousaf (c), Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hassan Baloch, Huzaifa Ahsan, Abdul Subhan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam and Ali Raza.
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