In the thrilling final of the Emerging Asia Cup held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday, Pakistan A emerged victorious, defeating India A by a significant margin of 128 runs.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan A put up an imposing total of 353 runs on the board, thanks to an outstanding century scored by middle-order batsman Tayyab Tahir.
Facing the gigantic target of 353 runs, the Indian squad struggled against the Pakistani bowlers and collapsed at 224 runs in 40 overs. Spinner Sufiyan Muqeem played a crucial role, claiming three important wickets. He dismissed Indian opener Abhishek Sharma at 61, captain Yash Dull at 39, and Harshit Rana at 13, while conceding 66 runs in his 10 overs. Additionally, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Wasim, and Arshad Iqbal also contributed with two wickets each.
In response, the Indian team’s top run-scorer was opener Abhishek Sharma, who managed to score 61 runs in 51 balls. However, it was not enough to chase down the massive target set by Pakistan.
Prior to the final match, India A won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to restrict Pakistan’s scoring opportunities. However, Pakistan A’s strong batting performance ensured a formidable total.
It was an intense and highly-anticipated final, with India A remaining unchanged from the semifinals while Pakistan A made one change, bringing in Mehran Mumtaz in place of Amad Butt.
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Overall, Pakistan A’s impressive batting display and disciplined bowling effort proved to be the key factors in securing their victory over India A in the Emerging Asia Cup final.
