NEW DELHI: India A held their nerve to edge previous Pakistan A by 7 runs in a closely-fought encounter throughout the ACC Males’s T20 Rising Groups Asia Cup 2024 in Al Amerat.
Led by captain Tilak Varma, India A posted a aggressive 183/Eight of their 20 overs, earlier than their bowlers restricted Pakistan A to 176/7 to register a slim victory.
India A’s innings began with a bang as opener Abhishek Sharma smashed 35 off 22 balls, that includes 5 boundaries and two sixes, earlier than he was caught by Qasim Akram off Sufiyan Muqeem’s bowling within the sixth over.
Prabhsimran Singh stored up the momentum, contributing a brisk 36 from 19 balls, however fell shortly after to Arafat Minhas. Prabhsimran’s knock was studded with three fours and as many maximums.
Capitan Tilak anchored the innings with a significant 44 off 35 balls, whereas Nehal Wadhera added 25. Ramandeep Singh’s quickfire 17 from 11 helped India A attain a difficult whole of 183 for 8.
Pakistan A’s bowling was led by Sufiyan Muqeem (2/28) and Qasim Akram (1/20), whereas Mohammad Imran and Zaman Khan additionally chipped in with a wicket every.
In reply, Pakistan A’s chase started disastrously as captain Mohammad Haris was bowled by Anshul Kamboj for six within the very first over.
Yasir Khan appeared in harmful kind, smashing 33 off 22 balls, however his dismissal to a surprising one-handed catch by Ramandeep Singh proved essential.
Pakistan A struggled to construct partnerships as Anshul Kamboj (3/33) and Rasikh Salam (2/30) stored the strain on with key breakthroughs.
Qasim Akram (27) and Arafat Minhas (41) steadied the ship briefly, however their efforts weren’t sufficient as wickets fell at common intervals.
Abdul Samad (25 off 15) supplied a late scare for India with some highly effective hitting, however his dismissal within the penultimate over to Kamboj left Pakistan A with an excessive amount of to do.
Zaman Khan and Abbas Afridi managed 24 runs from the ultimate two overs, however India A held on, limiting Pakistan to 176/7 in 20 overs.
Kamboj was adjudged Man of the Match.
India A will now face United Arab Emirates on Monday on the identical venue.
