DHAKA: Pakistan qualified for the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup final after edging past arch-rivals India by three runs in a thrilling finish to the first semi-final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.

India, chasing a target of 268 from 50 overs, India were cruising towards victory when they needed 57 with seven wickets still intact from 13 overs. But Pakistan clawed back by picking up the wickets of Yash Rathod (13) and Armaan Jaffer (46) with the total211.

All-rounder Amad Butt stood out in the end with a magnificent final over — when India required eight runs — in which he gave away only four runs and claimed one wicket before India’s innings concluded at 264-8.

Sanvir Singh was the top scorer for the Indians with a 90-ball knock of 76, featuring five fours and one six before he was run out by Saif Badar.

Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain and seamer Saif chipped in with two wickets apiece for 61 and 57 runs, respectively.

Earlier after opting to bat first, Pakistan reached 267-7, while building on a brilliant first-wicket partnership of 90 in 21 overs between Omair Bin Yousuf (66 off 97, three fours and two sixes) and Haider Ali (43 off 60, five fours and one six).

Rohail Nazir, coming in No.3, contributed 35 off 41 balls (two fours and a six), while Saif slammed an unbeaten 48-ball 47 (one six and one four) and Imran Rafiq 28 off 30 balls (two fours and one six).

Hrithik Shokeen, Saurabh Dubey and Shivam Mavi each captured two wickets.

Tournament hosts Bangladesh and Afghanistan will clash in Thursday’s second semi-final.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Omair Bin Yousuf c Sanvir b Mavi 66

Haider Ali c Sharath b Shokeen 43

Rohail Nazir c Sutar b Desai 35

Saud Shakeel c Sharma b Shokeen 13

Saif Badar not out 47

Imran Rafiq b Mavi 28

Khushdil Shah c Sharma b Dubey 13

Amad Butt c Rathod b Dubey 8

Umar Khan not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-6, NB-1) 11

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 267

FALL OF WKTS: 1-90, 2-138, 3-152, 4-168, 5-219, 6-235, 7-250.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Hasnain, Akif Javed.

BOWLING: Shivam Mavi 10-1-53-2 (1nb, 4w); Dubey 9-0-60-2 (2w); Desai 8-0-37-1; Sanvir Singh 4-0-12-0; Shubham Sharma 9-0-42-0; Shokeen 10-1-59-2.

INDIA:

B.R. Sharath lbw b Saif 47

A. Juyal c Amad b Hasnain 17

Sanvir Singh run out 76

Armaan Jaffer c Haider b Hasnain 46

Y.U. Rathod c Saud b Saif 13

C. Sutar not out 28

Shubham Sharma run out 12

H. Shokeen c Imran b Umar 4

Shivam Mavi c Imran b Amad 6

S.A. Desai not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-7, NB-2) 13

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 264

FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-96, 3-179, 4-211, 5-211, 6-244, 7-250, 8-261.

DID NOT BAT: S. Dubey.

BOWLING: Mohammad Hasnain 10-0-61-2 (2w); Akif Javed 8-0-43-0 (2w); Amad Butt 10-0-43-1; Saif Badar 10-0-57-2 (2nb, 3w); Khushdil Shah 5-0-23-0; Umar Khan 5-0-25-1; Saud Shakeel 2-0-8-0.

RESULT: Pakistan won by three runs.

UMPIRES: Masudur Rahman (Bangladesh) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afghanistan)

MATCH REFEREE: Neeyamur Rashid.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019