Pakistan Shaheens have won the 2023 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, thrashing India A by 128 runs in the final.
Pakistan’s second-string had been beaten comprehensively by India in the group stages of the competition, but overturned the form book in style to claim a memorable triumph.
After a sterling opening partnership, Tayyab Tahir’s century drove Pakistan past 350. Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan each made a half-century at better than a run a ball to take Pakistan to 121-0. India later claimed three quick wickets, reducing Pakistan from 183-2 to 187-5. The first wicket of the mini-slide had an air of contention about it, with Riyan Parag initially suggesting he had grassed a return catch offered by Omair Yousuf, only for an umpire review to give the No.3 out. India couldn’t continue their resurgence in any case.
Tahir, who played three T20Is against Afghanistan earlier this year, was the key. He put on 126 with Mubasir Khan (35) for the sixth wicket, notching 12 fours and four sixes in a 71-ball 108. While India bounced back at the death, Pakistan sliding from 313-5 to 332-8, Mohammad Wasim smashed 17 off 10 to take his side past 350.
India began strongly in response, putting on a half-century stand for the first wicket. But while all of their top five and seven of their top eight made it to double figures, no one could carry on to a match-defining score.
Sai Sudharsan was the first to go, top-edging to the keeper. A front-foot no ball check followed, but Arshad Iqbal had kept his foot just behind the line.
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The next dismissal was more controversial, with Nikin Jose clearly unhappy with the onfield decision. He looked to have missed a pull shot, with the ball going through to the keeper off the thigh pad, but was given out. Scorecards disagreed over whether he was out caught or lbw, and he shook his head as he left the field.
Abhishek Sharma (61) and captain Yash Dhull (39) top-scored to keep India in the hunt, but the former fell to a sharp, low catch by Tahir, and from 132-2, India lost regularly wickets, eventually finishing on 224 all out. The wickets were shared around, with four bowlers claiming at least two scalps.
Pakistan fans drew comparisons to the 2017 Champions Trophy, which their side won by beating India comprehensively in the final, having been dominated by them in the group stages.
Tahir was named Player of the Match.
