DUBAI: Pakistan Under-19 cricket team registered a commanding 69-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to advance to the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
The match saw stellar performances from Shahzaib Khan and Riazullah Khan, who powered Pakistan to a formidable total before Abdul Subhan’s six-wicket haul sealed the game.
Batting first, Pakistan posted a daunting 314 for 3 in their 50 overs. Openers Usman Khan and Shahzaib Khan gave the team a flying start, with Usman scoring a brisk 41 before being dismissed.
Shahzaib, however, continued his onslaught, smashing a scintillating 132 off 136 balls, including 14 boundaries.
He was ably supported by Riazullah, who struck an explosive 106 off 91 balls, featuring nine fours and four sixes. Their 210-run partnership laid the foundation for Pakistan’s commanding total.
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For the UAE, Noor Ayobi claimed two wickets for 68 runs, while Uddish Suri managed one wicket, conceding 52 runs in his 10-over spell.
In response, the UAE’s chase faltered despite a valiant effort from Ethan D’Souza and Rayan Khan. After a shaky start that saw the top order collapse, D’Souza (84 off 102) and Khan (50 off 66) put up a solid partnership to revive their innings.
However, once the pair was dismissed, the rest of the batting lineup failed to deliver under pressure.
Pakistan’s Abdul Subhan was the star with the ball, ripping through the UAE batting order with figures of 6 for 57 in his 10 overs. Mohammad Ahmed provided able support, taking 2 wickets for 45 runs.
The UAE managed 245 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs, falling short of the target by 69 runs.
With this victory, Pakistan has emerged as a dominant force in Group A, securing their place in the semi-finals alongside Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The result also sets up a virtual quarterfinal between India U19 and UAE U19 for the remaining semi-final spot.
