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In a highly entertaining clash at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, India A secured a thrilling 7-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan A in Match 4 of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024. Batting first after winning the toss, India A posted a competitive total of 183/8 in their 20 overs, and then successfully defended their score by restricting Pakistan A to 176/7.
India A Innings
India A got off to a solid start, with opener Prabhsimran Singh leading the charge early on. He smashed 36 runs off 19 balls, which included 3 fours and 3 sixes. His partner, Abhishek Sharma, also contributed a valuable 35 off 22, with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Together, they built a strong foundation for India A, giving them momentum.
As the innings progressed, captain Tilak Varma anchored the middle order with a composed 44 off 35 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking despite wickets falling at the other end. Contributions from Nehal Wadhera (25 off 22) and Ramandeep Singh (17 off 11) further bolstered the total, allowing India A to reach 183 despite losing wickets in the latter stages.
For Pakistan A, Sufiyan Muqeem was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 28 runs in his 4 overs, while others also chipped in with crucial wickets to limit India A’s charge.
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Pakistan A Innings
Chasing a target of 184, Pakistan A lost opener Mohammad Haris early but found stability through Yasir Khan and Arafat Minhas. Yasir’s 33 off 22 and Minhas’ 41 off 29 kept the chase alive, with both batters playing attacking strokes to keep the required run rate within reach.
However, tight bowling from India A’s bowlers created pressure. Anshul Kamboj delivered a match-winning performance, taking 3 wickets for 33 runs in his 4 overs. Rasikh Salam also bowled brilliantly, picking up 2 wickets and conceding only 30 runs. Nishant Sindhu further contributed by taking 2 crucial wickets in the middle overs to halt Pakistan’s momentum.
Despite a valiant effort by Abdul Samad, who struck 25 off 15 balls, Pakistan A fell short of the target.
