Maaz Sadaqat finished 79 not out off just 47 balls. PIC: ACC
Doha, Qatar: Pakistan Shaheens sealed their place in the semi-finals with a dominant eight-wicket victory over India A, chasing 137 inside 14 overs in their second Asia Cup Rising Stars Group B match yesterday.
Pakistan’s 20-year-old Maaz Sadaqat was the star at the West End Park Stadium in Asian Town, Doha, with an unbeaten 79-run knock made in 47 deliveries. The left-arm spinner also took the wickets of captain Jitesh Sharma and Nehal Wadhera.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, India A got off to a bright start with 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is in prime form following a record-breaking knock of 144 against the UAE two nights ago.
Suryavanshi set up a 49-run stand with Naman Dhir after opening partner Priyansh Arya was dismissed by Shahid Aziz for 10.
Dhir departed for 35, caught by Irfan Khan at extra cover off a Saad Masood delivery.
Suryavanshi hit a 28-ball 45, hitting three sixes and five boundaries before he was caught at deep mid-wicket by Mohammad Faiq while trying to clear the rope off a delivery by Sufiyan Muqeem.
The teenager’s wicket triggered a collapse that saw India A lose eight for 45 and fold for 136 with one over remaining. Seamer Aziz ended with 3 for 24, while Masood (2 for 31) and Sadaqat (2 for 12) made sure India A never recovered.
Sadaqat then returned as the opener to finish the job. He reached the half-century in 31 balls, hitting four sixes and seven hits to the rope while sharing steady stands with Mohammad Naeem (14) and Yasir Khan (11).
Yash Thakur dismissed Naeem, while Suyash Sharma sent Khan to the pavilion, but Mohammad Faiq and Sadaqat were barely troubled as the latter finished off with a six over the midwicket boundary in Dhir’s second over to send his team to the semi-finals, with 40 balls remaining.
“I am very happy that we have won this match. This success is the result of a lot of hard work,” Sadaqat said.
“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,” the Man of the Match added.
Earlier, Oman edged the UAE in a dramatic last-ball finish, chasing 155 after a tense over.
Sent in to bat, UAE recovered from early blows to post 154 for 6, with captain Alishan Sharafu making 33 off 28, Syed Haider 45 off 30 and Yayin Rai 34 off 26.
Oman also stuttered in front of UAE bowlers, but stayed on course through captain Hammad Mirza’s 28 off 15 and knocks from Wasim Ali (30), N Saishiv (31) and Aryan Raju Bisht (30). UAE hit back through Muhammad Rohid who took 3 for 31.
Oman needed four runs to win in Muhammed Arfan’s last over. After singles from Sufyan Mehmood and Aryan Bisht, Oman required just one from three deliveries before disaster struck again. Aryan Bisht was dropped by Muhammad Farooq, but the latter made amends by throwing the ball to Arfan, who ran out Mehmood as he tried to turn back midway. In the next ball, Bisht attempted to clear the boundary but was caught at forward short leg by Sohaib Khan before the next batsman Samay Shrivastava kept his cool to close out the win with a single.
