Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup: India A lose to Pakistan A in final

The India A men’s cricket team finished as the runners-up at the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Colombo on Sunday, after defending champions Pakistan A beat them by 128 runs to retain the title.

Led by the U19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull, India A elected to field after winning the toss. The bowlers had to work hard as Pakistan A openers Saim Ayub (59) and Sahibzada Farhan (65) put up a 121-run partnership up front.

While Ayub, the more dominant of the two, was the first to fall caught behind off Manav Suthar, Farhan had four sixes against his name before he was run out by Dhull following a slip in the middle looking for a quick single.

The wickets of the openers saw the Indian bowlers tighten the screws a bit, as Pakistan went from 146/2 to 187/5 with Riyan Parag picking two wickets in consecutive deliveries in the 28th over.

Just when India A seemed to be gaining control of the match, Tayyab Tahir derailed their plans, with the 29-year-old going on a power hitting spree, bringing up his century in just 66 deliveries with 11 boundaries and four sixes. He was ably supported by Mubasir Khan (35), with whom he added...

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