Wicketkeeper-batter Hamza Zahoor scored a magnificent unbeaten century to rescue Pakistan Under-19 from 61 for 5 and steer the defending champions to a thrilling three-wicket victory over India in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup on Sunday.
Chasing 209 in the Group A match at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, Pakistan had slipped to 61 for five in the 15th over, and defeat looked likely. But Zahoor held his nerve, faced 108 balls and finished on 100 not out, hitting the winning boundary to bring up his century and carry his side home with 11 balls and three wickets to spare.
His innings included 10 fours and three sixes. He reached his half-century from 54 balls and added 107 runs for the sixth wicket with Hasnain Abbas Dar, who scored a gritty 38 from 67 balls, before an unbroken 26-run stand for the eighth wicket with Niqab Shafiq completed the recovery.
Earlier, Pakistan’s young pace trio had rattled India’s top order after India were sent in to bat. Ali Raza took three wickets for 37 runs, Rizwanullah three for 24 and Mohammad Seyam one for 27, while left-arm spinner Niqab Shafiq claimed three for 42 as India were dismissed for 208 in 46.3 overs.
India’s innings was rescued by Arjun Rajput, who scored 107 from 85 balls with 11 fours and five sixes. He walked in with India reeling at 22 for three and was the seventh batter dismissed, at 170 in the 35.2 overs mark.
Pakistan finished on 209 for seven in 48.1 overs, with Zahoor unbeaten on 100, Hasnain on 38 and Abdul Qadir on 20. Manal Chauhan took three wickets for 32 for India. Zahoor was named player of the match.
The victory was Pakistan’s second successive win in the tournament, following a nine-wicket win over the UAE in which Usman Khan scored an unbeaten 139. It also secured Pakistan a place in the semi-finals from Group A, with a match against Nepal still in hand.
The result was Pakistan’s fifth victory over India at under-19 level since 2021, with India winning two matches in the same period. Pakistan had beaten India by 191 runs in the final of the last edition of the tournament in Dubai to lift the trophy, and they now top Group A with four points from two matches.
