Pakistan Shaheens emerged victorious against their arch rival India A in the final of the Emerging Asia Cup, winning by a substantial margin of 128 runs.
The thrilling encounter took place on Sunday in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Pakistan A won the toss and elected to bat first, but it faced a challenging start as they lost five wickets for just 187 runs. However, middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir turned the game around with a stunning century.
His remarkable knock of 108 runs off 71 balls, featuring 12 fours and four sixes, helped Pakistan post a massive total of 353 runs on the board.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan (65 off 62) and Saim Ayub (59 off 51) also made significant contributions, forming a solid partnership of 121 runs for the first wicket.
Despite India’s efforts to gain momentum with quick wickets in the middle overs, Tahir’s explosive innings propelled Pakistan to a commanding position.
Chasing the daunting target of 353 runs, India A faced early setbacks as spinner Sufiyan Muqeem caused havoc in their batting lineup. Muqeem claimed three crucial wickets, dismissing opener Abhishek Sharma (61), captain Yash Dull (39 off 41), and Harshit Rana (13), conceding 66 runs in his 10-over spell.
India’s opener Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer for his side, scoring 61 runs in 51 balls. However, his efforts were not enough to steer India A to victory. The team was ultimately bowled out for 224 runs in 40 overs, falling short by 128 runs.
Apart from Sufiyan Muqeem’s impressive bowling, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Wasim, and Arshad Iqbal also made significant contributions with the ball, each claiming two wickets. Arshad Iqbal showcased his prowess in the tournament, having bagged his maiden List A fifer in the semi-final clash against Sri Lanka A.
Tayyab Tahir’s exceptional century was the standout performance of the match, earning him the well-deserved “Man of the Match” award. His aggressive yet calculated innings not only lifted Pakistan A to a commanding total but also proved to be the defining factor in the ultimate victory over India A.
In the semi-finals, India A defeated Bangladesh A by 51 runs to secure their place in the final, while Pakistan A outclassed Sri Lanka A, triumphing by 60 runs to book their spot in the highly-anticipated summit clash.
