DUBAI: Highflying Pakistan were stunned by hosts United Arab Emirates to get knocked out of the U-19 Asia Cup as they lost the low-scoring semi-final by 11 runs at the ICC Academy Ground on Friday.

The Saad Baig-led unit had come into the fixture at the back of three consecutive wins in the group stage, including one against India — who too missed out on Sunday’s final after going down to Bangladesh by four wickets.

After having restricted the UAE to 193, Pakistan were well in the game at 113-4 at the halfway stage before they went on to lose three wickets in the space of just 20 balls and failed to recover as the hosts bundled them out for 182 with three balls to spare.

The two of the trio of dismissals were the run outs of Arafat Minhas and Najab Khan, after Hardik Pai had cleaned up Riazullah.

Ali Asfand attempted to rescue Pakistan out of danger but the right-hander’s unbeaten effort was a painstakingly slow 16 off 61 balls as tailenders Amir Hassan (27 off 47) and Mohammad Zeeshan (10 off 14) tried to cover up the scoring rate.

But a brilliant death bowling show by Ayman Ahamed (2-18) ensured UAE kept Pakistan in check.Pakistan didn’t make the best of the starts to the chase, losing openers Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan to Omid Rehman and Pai (2-35) respectively.

Saad and Azan Awais then combined for 83 off 104 balls as the Pakistan skipper hit a 50 off 52 balls before getting trapped lbw by Ammar Badami.

Azan, after adding 41 off 71, was run out an over later before Riazullah’s wicket saw the collapse continue.

The result meant a four-wicket haul by Pakistan pacer Ubaid Shah went in vain as UAE posted what turned out to be a competitive target thanks to a crucial knock of 55 off 57 balls by their captain Aayan Afzal Khan.

Aayan, who hit seven fours, helped UAE recover from 89-5 by the end of the 23rd over as he knitted a 54-run partnership with Ethan D’Souza (37 off 63) before becoming Ubaid’s third victim.

The right-hander, however, had done a job good enough to secure a safe total.

Scores in brief:UAE 193 in 47.5 overs (Aayan Afzal Khan 55, Aryansh Sharma 46, Ethan D’Souza 37; Ubaid Shah 4-44, Arafat Minhas 2-28, Ali Asfand 2-29); PAKISTAN 182 in 49.3 overs (Saad Baig 50, Azan Awais 41; Ayman Ahamed 2-18, Hardik Pai 2-35, Ammar Badami 1-15, Dhruv Parashar 1-29, Omid Rehman 1-48).

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2023