KUALA LUMPUR: Afghanistan Under-19 team thrashed Pakistan U-19 team by 185 runs to lift the U-19 Asia Cup title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.
Pakistan had won the toss and chose to field. The boys in green managed to restrict Afghanistan to 248 for 7 off 50 overs. However, Pakistan could only reach 63 off 22.1 overs, with Afghanistan’s M Rahman taking 5-13 and Q Kamawal 3-18.
The young @ACBofficials men celebrating their victory over the @TheRealPCB to become the Youth Asia Cup Champions #ACC #YAC pic.twitter.com/x7oEi0YcQB
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) November 19, 2017
Fast bowler Mujeeb Zadran recorded figures of 5/13 as Pakistan were dismissed for paltry 63, while chasing 249 to win.
Zadran dismissed both the openers – Mohammad Arif (4) and Omair Yousuf (0) – inside the first five overs to leave Pakistan struggling 11 for 2. The team green could not recover after early blows despite a brave innings from Mohammad Taha.
They might be deprived of state of the art cricketing infrastructure and facilities but they know no excuses to win the Championship. Well done colts ! #ACCYouthAsianCup pic.twitter.com/Y4jq0DKykC
— Mohammad Nabi (@MohammadNabi007) November 19, 2017
Taha hung around for 38 deliveries, scoring 19, but failed to find any support. Qais Ahmad ended Taha’s resistance.
It all went downhill soon for them and Pakistan could only manage to play out just 22.1 overs. Afghanistan had dismissed Pakistan for 57 in the league match earlier.
WE ARE CHAMPIONS 🏏🇦🇫💪✌️
I feel proud to congratulate our nation on this very unique, rare and prideful occasion of our country’s cricket as Afghanistan’s U19 clinches historic win over Pakistan at the ACC U-19 Asia Cup and lifts the trophy for the first time in the history. pic.twitter.com/tOSU8lzjfE— Dr. Abdullah (@afgexecutive) November 19, 2017
Earlier, the platform was set by the century from Ikram Ali Khil. Rahmanullah Gurbaz made 40 while his partner Ibrahim Zadran made 36. It was crucial for Khil to carry on as Afghanistan suffered a late collapse.
Khil added 69 for the third wicket along with Darwish Rasool, who contributed just 18. It was Khil’s innings that lifted the side to a fighting total before the bowlers delivered for Afghanistan.
