In a thrilling encounter at the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, India A emerged victorious over Pakistan A by a narrow margin of 7 runs. Led by captain Tilak Varma, India A posted a competitive 183/8 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to contributions from Abhishek Sharma (35), Prabhsimran Singh (36), and Varma himself (44).
Pakistan A’s chase got off to a shaky start as they lost their captain Mohammad Haris early on. Yasir Khan provided some resistance with a quickfire 33, but his dismissal proved to be a turning point. Anshul Kamboj and Rasikh Salam kept the pressure on with crucial wickets, while Qasim Akram (27) and Arafat Minhas (41) tried to steady the ship.
However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and Abdul Samad’s late surge (25 off 15) was not enough to prevent Pakistan A from falling short. Kamboj’s impressive bowling performance (3/33) earned him the Man of the Match award.
India A’s victory was a testament to their collective effort, with contributions from various players. Their bowlers, led by Kamboj and Salam, kept the Pakistan A batsmen in check, while their batsmen provided a solid foundation.
Pakistan A, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance, particularly their inability to build substantial partnerships. They will need to regroup and improve their execution in their upcoming matches.
India A will now face United Arab Emirates on Monday in their next match, while Pakistan A will look to bounce back against Afghanistan.
