Mammoth Sameer Minhas ton helps Pakistan win U19 Asia Cup

A mammoth century from opener Sameer Minhas set up Pakistan's stunning win over India in the Under-19 Asia Cup final at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Sunday (December 21). Minhas smashed a whirlwind 172 off just 113 balls that propelled Pakistan to a massive 347/8 in the final. In reply, India's batters crumbled to get bowled out for just 156.

Batting first, despite an early wicket, Pakistan raced to 79/1 following Minhas' rapid start. He brought up his half-century off just 29 balls and then forged a huge 137-run partnership with Ahmed Hussain to rattle India. Minhas was the aggressor between the two as Hussain took time to settle down. Eventually, he made amends to help himself to a fifty. Minhas on the other hand reached three figures in style off just 71 balls. He continued to put India under pressure with boundaries regularly as Pakistan set themselves up for a huge finish by the end of the 40th over at 276/3.

Minhas cleared the ropes nine times in his stunning assault and looked on course to help himself to a double century before finally miscuing one to fall for 172. India pulled things back to an extent at the death with regular wickets as Pakistan eventually managed only 71 runs at the death. Despite that, India were looking at a target of 348 in front of them for the silverware. On expected lines, Vaibhav Suryavanshi gave Pakistan a mini scare when he launched the very first ball of the chase for a massive six. He followed it up with a four and another six as India managed 21 runs in just the first over.

The opener then hammered one more six in the following over and was even handed a reprieve by Pakistan before India's hopes were quickly squashed over the next three overs. Ayush Mhatre was sent packing by Ali Raza and the pacer also got the big fish Suryavanshi in his following over to reduce India to 49/3 in just the fifth over. Pakistan just didn't allow India any scope for a comeback as wickets kept tumbling. After the end of the powerplay, India were already five down for just 68 and pretty much threw in the towel. Deepesh Devendran delayed the inevitable with a small cameo before Ali Raza completed a four-wicket haul to hand Pakistan the title.

Brief scores: Pakistan U19 347/8 in 50 overs (Sameer Minhas 172, Ahmed Hussain 56; Deepesh Devendran 3/83) beat India U19 156 in 26.2 overs (Deepesh Devendran 36; Ail Raza 4/42) by 191 runs