ACC Emerging Cup - Ind vs Pak | India face narrow defeat to Pakistan
India faced a heartbreaking defeat by 3 runs in the 1st semifinal of the Asian Cricket Council's Emerging Cup against Pakistan. Pakistan's top-order fired them to a score of 267 and India were on course for the chase but pacer Amad Butt gave away just four runs in the final over to win the game.
Pakistan batted first with a view to putting runs on the board and let the scoreboard pressure mount on India. The openers Omair Yousuf (66 off 97 balls) and Haider Ali (43 off 60) provided a strong start adding 90 runs for the first wicket. Said Badar (47 not out off 48), skipper Rohail Nazir (35), and Imran Rafiq's cameo (28) was instrumental in taking Pakistan's total in excess of 250. Shivam Mavi was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 2 for 53 off his 10 overs. Pakistan put up a score of 267 and backed themselves to defend the target.
Chasing 268 to win, skipper Belur Ravi Sharath (47 off 43 balls) and Aryan Juyal (17 off 17) got off to a rollicking start adding 43 off just 38 balls for the first wicket. After Juyal lost his wicket, the skipper was joined by Sanvir Singh and India looked to be coasting to victory as the duo put up a fifty-plus stand for the second wicket. Sanvir top-scored for India with 76 and steadied the Indian chase.
But things took a turn for the worse once both of them were dismissed. Armaan Jaffer played a useful hand of 46 to keep India in the game, but they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 261 for 8, requiring seven runs off the last over. Chinmay Sutar was not out at the crease and with help from Shivam Mavi, the total looked achievable. But Amad Butt dismissed Shivam Mavi and gave away just four runs and India lost the game by three runs, with Sutar left stranded at the other end. Pakistan have progressed to the final while India are left to ponder on what could have been.
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