India A Archives

Bangladesh A edge India in Super Over to reach Asia Cup Rising Stars final

DOHA: Bangladesh A held their nerve in the Super Over to knock India out of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 semi-final at West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday, sealing their place in the tournament’s title clash.

With both teams locked at 194-6 after two high-octane innings, the contest headed into a Super Over.

Bangladesh’s Ripon Mondol delivered a sensational burst, removing two Indian batters in consecutive balls without conceding a single run, effectively shutting the door on India’s hopes.

In response, Bangladesh A lost Yasir Ali on the very first ball, but the drama didn’t end there. Suyash Sharma sprayed the next delivery wide, handing Bangladesh a victory and a spot in the final.

They will now await the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan Shaheens and Sri Lanka A.

Earlier, put into bat, Bangladesh A produced a powerful display with the bat to post 194-6.

Opener Habibur Rahman Sohan anchored the innings with a superb 65 off 46 balls, peppered with five sixes and three boundaries.

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The late fireworks came from SM Meherob, who launched a blistering unbeaten 48 off just 18 deliveries, smashing six sixes and a four to propel his side to a formidable total.

In response, India matched Bangladesh blow for blow. Their openers set a scorching pace as Priyansh Arya hammered 44 off 23, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi blasted 38 off 15 to keep the chase on track.

However, India lost wickets at key moments, which left them needing 16 off the final over.

Rakibul Hasan conceded two singles before Ashutosh Sharma swung momentum back with a six and a four.

With four required off two, Ashutosh was bowled for a brisk 13 off 6, leaving India needing four off the last ball.

They managed only three, tying the scores and pushing the clash into a Super Over that ultimately proved decisive.

Nehal Wadhera remained unbeaten on 32 off 29, but his efforts fell short as Bangladesh A marched into the final after a thriller.

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Pakistan Shaheens thump India A to reach Asia Cup Rising Stars semi-final

DOHA: All-round Maaz Sadaqat propelled Pakistan Shaheens to a victory over India A here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan chased down the mere target of 137 with ease, losing just two wickets in the process with 40 balls to spare.

Maaz Sadaqat top-scored with 79* from 47 deliveries, studded with seven fours and four maximums, whereas Mohammad Faiq remained unbeaten on 16 from 14 balls with the help of a boundary and a six.

Saqadat added a 55-run partnership with Mohammad Naeem for the opening wicket in 5.3 overs. Naeem was caught by Naman Dhir after scoring 14 from 10 balls with the help of a six and a four.

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Meanwhile, Sadaqat continued and registered his second half-century in the tournament. He, alongside Yasir Khan, brought the score to 94 in 9.3 overs. Yasir was dismissed after making 11 from 9, hitting two boundaries.

Mohammad Faiq came in to bat alongside Sadaqat as Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark in the 10th over, getting closer to securing their second win of the tournament.

Sadaqat maintained his dominance, hitting a series of boundaries with Faiq, as Pakistan reached 130-2 in 13 overs.

For India, Suyash Sharma and Yash Thakur were solitary wicket takers.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, India’s innings folded for a mere 136 in 19 overs. Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya put on a 30-run partnership for the first wicket in 3.2 overs before the latter was caught by Shahid Aziz’s bowling.

Suryavanshi and Naman Dhir paired up for the second wicket and brought the total to 79 in 8.1 overs before a collapse saw them bundled out before their 20 overs.

Suryavanshi made a brisk 45 from 28, striking five fours and three sixes, while Arya remained the second-highest scorer with 35 from 20 balls. Arya’s knock included half a dozen fours and a six.

For Pakistan, Shahid Aziz picked up a three-wicket haul, whereas Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood scalped two apiece.

Playing XIs

India A: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Jitesh Sharma (capt, wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma

Pakistan Shaheens: Yasir Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Faiq, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghori, Muhammad Khan, Chadhry Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufyan Muqeem, Ubaid Shah, Ahmad Latif

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Struggling Test opener Konstas sent on Australia A tour of India

Struggling Test opener Sam Konstas has been picked in the Australia A squad for the red-ball tour of India next month, with chief selector George Bailey saying the experience will be invaluable.

The 19-year-old, who had a horror time during Australia’s recent senior tour of the West Indies, was the only incumbent Test player selected for two four-day games in Lucknow.

Test-capped players Cooper Connolly, Todd Murphy, and Nathan McSweeney were also in the 14-man squad.

A separate Australia A squad was named for three one-day games.

“The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball,” said Bailey.

“We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future subcontinent tours.

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“For many of these players, we remain interested in the development of their short-form cricket as well, but balancing out priorities meant we wanted them back and available for the start of the Sheffield Shield season.”

Sam Konstas made headlines in the Melbourne Boxing Day Test last year when he took on Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to make a blazing debut 60 with a succession of unorthodox shots.

He lasted one more Test before being jettisoned, only to win back his place for the West Indies Test series in June-July.

However, he failed to pass 25 in six innings with his hold on the position increasingly shaky ahead of Australia’s home Ashes series against England this year.

Australia A four-day squad: Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Liam Scott

Australia A one-day squad: Cooper Connolly, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Mackenzie Harvey, Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachie Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland, Callum Vidler

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Minhas’ blitz in vain as India A edge past Pakistan Shaheens

AL AMARAT: Arafat Minhas’ blistering 41-run knock went in vain as India A beat Pakistan Shaheens by seven runs in the fourth match of the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 here at Amerat Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Set to chase 184, Shaheens managed to accumulate 176/7 in the allotted 20 overs.

Pakistan Shaheens had a shaky start to the pursuit as they lost two wickets inside three overs with just 21 runs on the board.

Following the early stutter, Yasir Khan joined forces with Qasim Akram and launched a brilliant recovery.

The duo added 54 runs at a brisk amid their third-wicket partnership but both perished in the ninth over, reducing Shaheens to 78/4 in 8.5 overs.

Arafat Minhas then took the reigns of Pakistan Shaheen’s run chase and put together a one-sided 48-run partnership with Haider Ali, who scored a scratchy nine off 15 deliveries.

Minhas was then involved in yet another crucial partnership for Shaheens when he, alongside Abdul Samad, scored a quick 26 runs for the sixth wicket.

The young all-rounder eventually perished in the 17th over after a fighting 41-run knock, coming from 29 balls and featuring five fours and a six.

Meanwhile, Samad carried on until the first delivery of the final over and walked back after a gritty 15-ball 25.

Abbas Afridi also offered some resilience with his nine-ball 18 but his efforts were not enough to pull off the victory for the Shaheens.

For India A, Anshul Kamboj took three wickets, while Rasikh Salam and Nishant Sindhu claimed two each.

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Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh gave India A a flamboyant start after Tilak Verma opted to bat first.

The openers decimated Pakistan Shaheens’ bowlers in the batting powerplay, the highlight of which was when they smashed Abbas Afridi for 25 runs in the sixth over.

The solid start had set the tone for India A to amass a massive total but Sufiyan Muqeem, introduced after the batting powerplay, struck on the first delivery of his spell to mark Pakistan Shaheens’ comeback.

The left-arm spinner dismissed Abhishek, supported by a sensational diving catch by Qasim Akram inside the circle. Abhishek scored 35 off 22 deliveries, laced up five fours and two sixes.

Prabhsimran followed suit in the next over, falling victim to Arafat Minhas, after scoring a quickfire 36 off 19 balls, hitting three fours and as many sixes in the process.

The back-to-back dismissals halted the flow of runs for India A as Nehal Wadhera (25) and skipper Tilak Verma batted cautiously amid their 38-run partnership which spanned six overs.

India A then suffered another blow to their batting expedition when Ayush Badoni (2) was outclassed by Qasim Akram in the next over, resulting in them slipping to 120/4.

Verma then put together a one-sided 43-run partnership with Ramandeep Singh (17) before finally perishing in the penultimate over.

The India A captain remained the top-scorer for his side with a 35-ball 44, which included four boundaries including two sixes.

Pakistan Shaheens then struck thrice in quick succession but a last-ball six by Rasikh Salam lifted India A to a commendable total in the end.

Sufiyan Muqeem was the standout bowler for Pakistan Shaheens, picking up two wickets, while Mohammad Imran Jr, Zaman Khan, Arafat Minhas and Qasim Akram made one scalp apiece.

Notably, both Pakistan Shaheens and India A are playing their first match in the ongoing ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024.

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India A win toss, elect to bat first against Pakistan Shaheens

AL AMARAT: India A won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan Shaheens in the blockbuster ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup clash here at Al Amerat Cricket Ground on Saturday.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan Shaheens: Haider Ali, Mohammad Haris, Yasir Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Imran, Zaman Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem.

India A: Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Ayush Badoni, Ramandeep Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Chahar, Anshul Kamboj, Vaibhav Arora, Rasikh Salam.

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