Pakistan Shaheens Dominate India A to Advance in Asia Cup

In a commanding performance, the Pakistan Shaheens secured their place in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup Rising Stars with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over India A. The match, held at the West End Park Stadium in Doha, Qatar, saw Pakistan chase down a target of 137 runs in just 14 overs.

Sadaqat’s Stellar Performance

Leading the charge for Pakistan was 20-year-old Maaz Sadaqat, who showcased his talent with an unbeaten 79 runs off 47 balls. His performance was pivotal, not only with the bat but also with the ball, as he claimed two crucial wickets, including that of India A’s captain Jitesh Sharma.

After losing the toss, India A was put in to bat first. They started positively with Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a promising 14-year-old opener, who had recently made headlines with a record-setting score of 144 against the UAE. Suryavanshi and his partner Naman Dhir formed a solid 49-run partnership, but the momentum shifted dramatically when Suryavanshi was dismissed after scoring 45 runs from 28 balls, which included three sixes and five boundaries.

India A’s innings quickly faltered after Suryavanshi’s departure, losing eight wickets for just 45 runs. They ultimately folded for 136 runs with one over left. Seamer Shahid Aziz led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 24, supported by Saad Masood (2 for 31) and Sadaqat (2 for 12).

Chasing Down the Target

In response, Sadaqat opened the batting for Pakistan and reached his half-century in just 31 balls, hitting four sixes and seven fours. He built crucial partnerships with Mohammad Naeem (14) and Yasir Khan (11) before finishing the match decisively. Sadaqat hit a six over midwicket to seal the victory with 40 balls to spare.

“I am very happy that we have won this match. This success is the result of a lot of hard work,” Sadaqat said after the game.

He acknowledged the challenging conditions, stating, “The pitch wasn’t easy to bat on as it was low and slow, but I batted cautiously and I am happy to have done well. We have to try and win every match in this tournament, and now we look ahead to our future games.”

In another match, Oman edged past the UAE in a thrilling finish, chasing down a target of 155 runs on the last ball. The UAE managed to score 154 for 6, with contributions from captain Alishan Sharafu (33), Syed Haider (45), and Yayin Rai (34).

Oman’s response was shaky but steady, with captain Hammad Mirza scoring 28 off 15 balls, alongside notable performances from Wasim Ali (30), N Saishiv (31), and Aryan Raju Bisht (30). The UAE’s Muhammad Rohid took 3 for 31, creating tension in the final overs.

With four runs needed from the last over, Oman faced a dramatic turn of events. After a dropped catch, Aryan Bisht was run out, but Samay Shrivastava kept his cool to secure the win with a single on the last ball, ensuring a thrilling conclusion to the match.

The results from these matches highlight the dynamic nature of the tournament and set the stage for exciting semi-final clashes ahead.