Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Pakistan clinch final berth after beating India in a thriller

It was heart-break for the Indian supporters cheering their emerging superstars at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka. India U23 team was beaten in an absolute last over thriller where Pakistan bowler, Amad Butt held his nerve in the nerve-wracking situation. India required 8 runs off the final over and all they managed was to score mere 4 runs, hence losing to book final’s berth by 3 runs.

Winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Rohail Nazir elected to bat first on a conventional dry slow Dhaka pitch. Pakistan went off really good with their openers, Omair Yusuf and Haider Ali stitching a partnership of 90 before the latter edged one of off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen to safe pair of gloves of Indian skipper, Sarath BR. Nazir then kept on the good work with Yusuf for the next 10 overs.

Pakistani youngsters followed the exact batting footprint of their senior team as they consistently lost wickets in the middle overs which kept both their runs and run-rate at check. All thanks to Saif Badar as his almost run-a-ball 47 took Pakistan to a respectable score of 267 at the end of 50 overs.

India’s response?

India came out in attacking mood as they scored more than 40 runs in 6 overs. In the second ball of the sixth over India lost their first wicket. Indian skipper Sharath continued brilliantly as he scored 47 off just 43 balls. Sarath got out when India were 96 for 2. Then it was all Sanvir Singh show as he scored an excellent 76 which was well supported by Armaan Jaffer’s 46.

When Armaan got out, India were reduced to 211 for 5 and the equation was slightly tilted towards India as they required 54 runs from 71 balls with 5 wickets in hand. India were going smooth by the virtue of Chinmay Sutar’s calm innings but he kept losing partners from the other end. With Shivam Mavi and settled batter in Chinmay at the crease, it seemed a cakewalk for India to score 8 runs of the last over.

But Alas, it wasn’t the case as right-arm fast bowler Amad Butt held his nerve till the very end and let India just score 4 runs of the final over. Amad took the wicket of Mavi on the second ball of the over and kept Chinmay out of strike to secure a thrilling victory against India. Pakistan will be facing the winner of the second semi-final to be played between Afghanistan and Bangladesh for the all-important final at the same venue.

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