In a thrilling and high-stakes showdown, Pakistan A emerged victorious against India A in the final of the Emerging Asia Cup 2023 held in Colombo. Yash Dhull, the captain of India A, won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to capitalize on the early conditions. However, Pakistan A’s openers, Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, had other plans as they set the tone with impressive half-centuries, putting the Indian bowlers on the back foot right from the start. The duo displayed a mix of skill and aggression, building a solid foundation for their team. It was Manav Suthar who provided India A with a much-needed breakthrough, removing the well-set Saim Ayub for a well-played 59. Sahibzada Farhan continued to press on, confidently taking on the Indian bowlers. Unfortunately, a mix-up in communication led to his downfall, with Dhruv Jurel executing a sharp piece of fielding to run him out for 65. Riyan Parag, the young all-rounder for India A, proved to be the game-changer with a brilliant over, dismissing both Omair Yousuf and Qasim Akram in quick succession. Nishant Sindhu further bolstered India A’s position by claiming the wicket of Mohammad Haris through an LBW decision. Despite the flurry of wickets, Tayyab Tahir showcased remarkable resilience and skill, turning the tide in Pakistan A’s favor. Tahir’s explosive innings of 108 off just 66 balls was nothing short of breathtaking. He unleashed an array of powerful shots, leaving the Indian bowlers in dismay. His century, along with valuable contributions from other batsmen like Mubasir Khan (35 runs), propelled Pakistan A to an imposing total of 352/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Facing a daunting target, India A’s batting lineup had their task cut out for them. Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Riyan Parag struck early for India A, taking two wickets each, while Nishant Sindhu, Manav Suthar, and Harshit Rana chipped in with one wicket each, attempting to halt Pakistan A’s progress. In the chase of 353, India A’s openers, Sai Sudharsan and Abhishek Sharma, provided a steady start. However, Pakistan A’s bowlers struck back with quick breakthroughs. Arshad Iqbal dismissed Sai Sudharsan for 29, and Mohammad Wasim Jr sent Nikin Jose packing for 11. Unfazed by the loss of wickets, Abhishek Sharma and skipper Yash Dhull formed a formidable partnership, taking India A past the 100-run mark. Abhishek Sharma displayed exceptional batting skills, reaching a well-deserved half-century. However, Sufiyan Muqeem’s brilliant bowling shattered India A’s hopes, as he dismissed Sharma for 61. The wickets kept falling at regular intervals, with Arshad Iqbal also claiming the crucial wicket of Rajvardhan Hangargekar. In the end, India A fell short of the target, managing only 224 runs.
