Pakistan pip India in thriller at Emerging Teams Asia Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan edged out India by three runs in a thrilling semi-final of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019 in Mirpur, Bangladesh, on Wednesday.

India managed 264-8 in 50 overs after Pakistan scored 267-7. After electing to bat, openers Haider Ali (43 off 60 balls) and Omair Bin Yousuf (66 off 97 balls) provided a solid start to Pakistan and added 90 for the first-wicket.

Haider’s innings included five fours and a six, while Omair hit three fours and two sixes. After the departure of the openers, Rohail Nazir got off to a good start, but fell after scoring 35 off 41 balls, hitting two fours and a six. Saif Badar scored an unbeaten 48-ball 47 which included one four and a six.

For India, Hrithik Shokeen, Saurabh Dubey and Shivam Mavi took two wickets apiece. India at one point were cruising towards victory requiring 57 runs with seven wickets in hand in 13 overs, but back-to-back wickets of Yash Rathod (13) and Armaan Jaffer (46) on the score of 211 put breaks on their progress.

Sanvir Singh top-scored with a 90-ball 76 which included five fours and a six. Right-arm pacer Amad Butt bowled superbly in the death overs, he gave away only four runs in the 50th over of India’s innings and ended-up with match figures of 1-43 in 10 overs.

Mohammad Hasnain and Saif Badar chipped in with two wickets apiece for 61 and 57 runs, respectively. In the final to be played on November 23, Pakistan will face the winner of the second semi-final between Afghanistan and Bangladesh.