IND-A Vs PAK-A, Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Well-Rounded India Pip Pakistan By 7 Runs In Thriller

An all-round performance by the India A team helped it edge past Pakistan A (also known as Pakistan Shaheens) by seven runs in a thrilling ACC T20 Emerging Asia Cup 2024 clash in Al Amerat on Saturday (October 19). Chasing India A's target of 184 runs, Pakistan A could only muster 176 runs in their allotted 20 overs. (Highlights | More Cricket News)

First, it was explosive knocks by the Indian top three comprising Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh and captain Tilak Verma that guided them to a 183-run total. Then, it was fine bowling performances by Anshul Kamboj and Rasikh Salam, coupled with a superb performance in the field that featured a one-handed stunner from Ramandeep Singh.

Abhishek and Prabhsimran blazed away in the powerplay, clattering 68 runs in the six overs before the former departed for a 22-ball 35. Prabhsimran followed suit soon after, but not before smashing 36 runs off 19 balls. Tilak then played a relatively sedate captain's knock, compiling 44 runs off 35 balls to set the stage for an onslaught in the last few overs.

For Pakistan Shaheens, Sufiyan Muqeem was the pick of the bowlers, snaring two wickets and conceding just 28 runs off his four overs.

Pacers Anshul Kamboj (3/33) and Rasikh Salam (2/30) and spinner Nishant Sindhu (2/15) then shared eight wickets amongst themselves as Pakistan threatened at several points to chase down the target, before fizzling out in the final over of the match.

Not only did India shine with the bat and ball, they also delivered an impressive performance in the field, particularly through Ramandeep, saved vital runs in the closing moments.

Arafat Minhas top-scored for Pakistan with a 29-ball 41 but it was Abdul Samad who blazed away to 25 off 15 balls. Samad walked in when Pakistan needed 58 more to win but the 26-year-old hit a six and two back-to-back boundaries off Vaibhav Arora in the 16th over to bring down the equation to 42 off 24 balls.

Samad continued to chip in with Pakistan needing 17 off the last over but the big-hitter was sent marching off the first ball by Anshul, with India completing a memorable win.

Earlier, Tilak won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan A.

India A Vs Pakistan A Playing XIs

India A Playing XIs:

Tilak Varma (c), Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Ayush Badoni, Ramandeep Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Chahar, Anshul Kamboj, Vaibhav Arora, Rasikh Salam

Pakistan A Playing XIs:

Haider Ali, Muhammad Haris (c & wk), Yasir Khan, Omair Bin Yousaf, Qasim Akram, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Imran, Zaman Khan, Sufyan Moqim

India A Vs Pakistan A Full Squads:

India A:

Tilak Varma (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Ramandeep Singh, Anuj Rawat, Prabh Simran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Anshul Kamboj, Hrithik Shokeen, Aaqib Khan, Vaibhav Arora, Rasikh Salam, Sai Kishore, Rahul Chahar

Pakistan A:

Mohammad Haris (c), Abbas Afridi, Qasim Akram, Ahmed Daniyal, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Imran, Haseebullah Khan, Yasir Khan, Zaman Khan, Arafat Minhas, Sufiyan Moqim, Mehran Mumtaz, Abdul Samad, Omair Yousuf.