ISLAMABAD: Sameer Minhas smashed a clinical 172-run knock to lead Pakistan to a commanding total of 347-8 from 50 overs in the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup tournament in Dubai on Sunday.
India, who are undefeated in the tournament so far, won the toss and put Pakistan to bat first. The decision did not pan out well for the Blue Shirts as Pakistan were off to a flying start, powered on by opener Minhas and middle-order batter Usman Khan.
The two built a 92-run partnership before Khan returned to the pavilion. Minhas, however, kept on piling the runs and went after the Indian bowlers with Ahmed Hussain, who scored 56 runs off 72 balls.
“Sameer Minhas’ monumental knock powers Pakistan to 347-8,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote on social media platform X. “Over to the bowlers after the break.”
None of the Pakistani batters impressed after Minhas departed on 172 from 113 balls, with Farhan Yousaf managing a score of 19 and Huzaifa Ahsan going for a duck and Mohammad Shayan scoring only seven runs.
Deepesh Devendran was the pick of the Indian bowlers, returning figures of 3-83 while Khilan Patel finished with 2-44. Henil Patel also chipped in with figures of 2-62 from his 10 overs.
India will look toward explosive left-handed batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to start off aggressively and help his team chase the mammoth title in the final against Pakistan.
