Dubai: Pakistan lifted the Under-19 Asia Cup trophy for the second time after registering a commanding 191-run victory over India in the final played at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Sunday.
Batting first after India captain Ayush Mhatre opted to bowl, Pakistan posted a massive total of 347 for eight in the allotted 50 overs. The innings was anchored by a brilliant century from Sameer Minhas, who emerged as the standout performer of the tournament. Minhas struck a composed 172 off 113 balls, while Ahmed Hussain contributed a valuable 56 runs to strengthen Pakistan’s dominance.
In response, India failed to cope with the pressure of the steep chase and were bowled out for 159 runs in just 26.1 overs. Opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi could manage only 26 runs, while Deepesh Devendra was the top scorer for India with 36. The rest of the batting lineup collapsed against disciplined Pakistani bowling.
Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance, led by Dipesh Devendra, who finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. He claimed 14 wickets in five matches, including a best spell of 5 for 22 in the final, maintaining an impressive average of 11.92 and an economy rate of 4.77. Ali Raza picked up four wickets, while Mohammad Saifiyan, Huzaifa Ahsan and Abdul Subhan chipped in with two wickets each.
Sameer Minhas also ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer, amassing 471 runs in five matches at a remarkable average of 157, including two centuries and a half-century. For India, wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu was the highest run-getter, scoring 276 runs in five matches, with a best unbeaten score of 209.
The defeat marked India’s second-biggest loss in the history of the U-19 Asia Cup finals. Previously, Bangladesh had beaten the UAE by 195 runs in the 2023 final, which remains the tournament’s largest margin of victory.
Pakistan’s comprehensive performance in the final underlined their dominance throughout the tournament and reinforced their growing strength at the junior level.
