Tag: ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup

COLOMBO: Arshad Iqbal’s five-wicket haul and half-centuries by Omair Bin Yousuf and Mohammad Haris led Pakistan Shaheens to a 60-run win over Sri Lanka A in the first semi-final of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup.

Defending champions Shaheens will now play against the winners of the second semi-final of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup which is taking place between Bangladesh A and India A today at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Chasing 323 to win, Sri Lanka A lost three wickets in quick succession with 33 runs on the board. Opening batter Avishka Fernando and Sahan Arachchige got together and added 128 runs for the fourth wicket.

After the departure of Fernando (97, 85b, 12x4s, 2x6s), Sri Lanka A lost wickets at regular intervals which included the prized scalp of Arachchige (97, 109b, 12x4s, 1×6) and were bundled out for 262 in 45.4 overs.

Arshad ended up with match figures of 7.4-0-37-5 – his maiden List A five-wicket haul. Mubasir Khan and Sufiyan Muqeem grabbed two wickets each.

Earlier after opting to bat first, Shaheens lost opening batter Sahibzada Farhan (12, 22b, 1×4) in the sixth over to Lahiru Samarakoon.

Saim Ayub was joined by Omair Bin Yousuf and the pair added 37 runs for the second wicket before Saim was caught behind for 22 off 41 balls, which included three fours as Shaheens’ scorecard read 61 for two in 13 overs.

Omair – the top run-getter for Pakistan Shaheens in today’s match – partnered with Tayyab Tahir (26, 26b, 4x4s) and stitched a 61-run partnership for the third wicket.

After Tayyab and Qasim’s departure with the score at 145 for four in 26 overs, captain Mohammad Haris and Omair knitted a 48-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Omair scored 88 off 79 balls, smashing 10 fours and a six. Haris and Mubasir (42, 45b, 2x4s, 2x6s) added another 73 valuable runs for the sixth wicket.

Haris made a quick-fire 43-ball 52, hitting five boundaries. Shaheens were dismissed for 322 on the final ball of the innings.

For Sri Lanka A, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Samarakoon and Pramod Madushan bagged two wickets each.

It is important to note that the final of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup will take place on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium, where the first ball will be bowled at 1400 local time.

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COLOMBO: Sai Sudharsan scored a magnificent century and led India A to a thumping eight-wicket victory over Pakistan Shaheens in the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup on Wednesday.

Set to chase a modest 206-run total, India comfortably accumulated 210/2 in 36.4 overs at the back of a dominating century knock by Sai Sudharan.

India A openers Sudharan and Abhishek Sharma scripted a solid start to the pursuit with a 58-run partnership.

The pair tested Pakistan Shaheens’ bowlers before Mubasir Khan found a much-needed breakthrough by castling Sharma, who scored 20 off 28.

Sudharsan and Nikin Jose then put India A in complete control with a terrific 99-run partnership with both scoring half-centuries.

Jose, however, fell briefly after amassing the milestone as Mehran Mumtaz got him stumped. He scored 53 from 64 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries.

Skipper Yash Dhull (21 off 19) then joined India A mainstay Sudharsan in the middle and stitched a match-winning partnership.

Sudharsan remained unbeaten with a brilliant century. His 110-ball 104 featured 10 boundaries and three sixes.

For Pakistan, only Mubasir Khan and Mehran Mumtaz could pick up a wicket.

Opting to bat first in the high-octane clash against arch-rivals India A, Pakistan Shaheens’ batting lineup failed and could only accumulate 205 before being bundled out in the 48th over.

Pakistan Shaheens had a dismal start to their innings as the green shirts lost Saim Ayub (0) and Omair Bin Yousuf (0) in the fourth with just nine runs on the scoreboard.

Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan looked to anchor the innings with Kamran Ghulam after back-to-back dismissals.

The pair could add 36 runs to the total before Riyan Parag got rid of Farhan, who could score 35 off 36 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries.

Following Farhan’s dismissal, Kamran put on a brief partnership with Haseebullah before both perished in the 23rd over to leave Pakistan in trouble at 78/5.

Pakistan Shaheens’ captain Mohammad Haris could not stop the flow of wickets as he also fell after managing to score a mere 14.

Following the slump, Qasim Akram joined forces with Mubasir Khan and put on a crucial 53-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

The pair batted with great domination and looked in control before Nishant Sindhu trapped Khan plump in front to end the budding partnership.

Khan scored a cautious 38-ball 28 which featured four boundaries.

Akram then put on another important partnership for Pakistan Shaheens when he paired up with Mehran Mumtaz for the 43-run partnership before eventually perishing in the 46th over.

He top-scored for Pakistan Shaheens with an anchoring 48 from 63 deliveries, hitting five boundaries.

Mumtaz, on the other hand, carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 25 off 26 but ran out of partners when Hangarekar removed Shahnawaz Dahani in the 48th over to wrap up the innings.

Hangarekar led the bowling attack for India A with 5/42 followed by Manav Suthar’s 3/36 while Parag and Sindhu made one scalp each.

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