BULAWAYO:Team India secured a convincing win over Pakistan by 58 runs in their Super Six match at the ongoing ICC U19 World Cup at the Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
With this victory, the Ayush Mhatre-led India qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing ICC tournament, whereas Pakistan are eliminated. Chasing a 253-run target, Pakistan were bundled out for just 194 runs in 48.2 overs. Wicketkeeper-butter Hamza Zahoor (42 off 49 balls, with eight fours) and Usman Khan (66 off 92 balls, with seven fours and once six) went in vain as Pakistan suffered a comprehensive defeat.
For India, captain Ayush Mhatre (3/21) and Khilan Patel (3/35) took three-wicket hauls, respectively. RS Ambrish (1/26), Hardil Patel (1/30), Kanishk Chouhan (1/30), and Vihaan Malhotra (1/13) picked up one wicket apiece. Kanishk Chouhan was named Player of the Match.
Earlier, Vedant Trivedi’s fighting half-century and a crucial partnership between Kanishk Chouhan and Khilan Patel helped India post 252 on the board. After being asked to bat first, openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Aaron George provided India a decent start. They scored 24/0 in three overs.
However, Mohammad Sayyam provided the first breakthrough for Pakistan as he removed Suryavanshi for 10 off 22 balls, with five fours and one six during the eighth over. Sayyam got his second wicket in the over after he removed captain Ayush Mhatre for a two-ball duck as India slumped to 47/2. In the very next over, pacer Abdul Subhan cleaned up George (16 off 25 balls). After the end of 10 overs, India scored 49/3.
Vedant Trivedi and Vihaan Malhotra stabilized India’s innings as they reached 85/3 at the end of the 17th over. India made 94/3 in 20 overs.
