India U23 thrash Pakistan to win the ACC Emerging Teams Cup

KL Rahul

Opener KL Rahul hit 93 off 107 balls as he guided India U23 to a resounding victory over Pakistan U23 in the final of the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Cup in Singapore on Sunday.

Earlier, Pakistan had laboured to 159 all out in 47 overs before India chased the target comfortbale in 33.4 overs. Manprit Juneja scored 51 not out as he and Rahul put on an unbroken 132 run partnership for the second wicket.

Pakistan began steadily as the openers put on 31 in the first 8 overs but then Indian fast bowlers Sandeep Sharma and Sandeep Warriers struck in consecutive overs to leave Pakistan reeling at 34-2. Sharma got Mohammad Rizwan out for 21 and Warrier captured the wicket of Babar Azam for 7.

Pakistan’s Umar Waheed and Usman Salahuddin then took 17 overs to put on 54 runs. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav then triggered a collapse when he dismissed Salahuddin as Pakistan slid from 88-2 to 107-9. Offspinner Baba Aparajith led the attack as he took 3-28.

Pakistan’s last wicket pair, Usman Qadir (33) and Ehsan Adil (22), put on a quickfire 52 in just 9.1 overs to give Pakistan a more defendable total. Yadav and Sharma both ended with figures of 2-20, although Sharma bowled 8 overs and Yadav 10.

Openers Unmukt Chand and Rahul took India to 25 in five overs before Chand was dismissed for 15, caught behind off Raza Hasan. There were no further setbacks for India as they coasted to a victory with Rahul scoring his 3rd half-century of the tournament – including 11 fours and a six.

Brief scores: Pakistan U-23 159 all out in 47 overs (Umar Waheed 41, Usman Qadir 33; Sandeep Sharma 2-20, Suryakumar Yadav 2-20, Baba Aparajith 3-28) lost to India U-23 160/1 in 33.4 overs (KL Rahul 93*, Manprit Juneja 51*; Raza Hasan 1-41) by nine wickets.