Muscat, November 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India Under-19 captain Lakshya Raichandani admitted his team fell 20-30 runs short of a competitive total after Pakistan recovered from a precarious position to secure a three-wicket victory in their Group A clash of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup on Sunday.
Batting first after winning the toss, India were bowled out for 208, with Arjun Rajput producing a fighting 107 after the team had slipped to 42/4. Kavya Patel made a useful contribution of 20, but India struggled to build the partnerships needed to post a bigger total.
Pakistan also faced a difficult start, losing five wickets for 61 runs. However, Hamza Zahoor turned the match around with an unbeaten 100 off 108 deliveries, guiding his side to victory with 11 balls remaining.
Speaking after the match, Raichandani said India needed another batter to stay alongside Rajput and help push the total higher. He also acknowledged that the bowling effort could have been sharper, particularly when Pakistan were struggling at 61/5.
The Indian captain said there were positives to take from the contest and that the team would work on correcting its shortcomings ahead of the next match.
Named Player of the Match, Zahoor said he had focused on remaining at the crease until the end and completing the chase. He added that he did not feel significant pressure as wickets fell, choosing instead to enjoy his innings and play according to the situation.
Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf praised Zahoor’s composure and ability to assess the conditions. He also acknowledged Hasnain Dar’s contribution, saying he was proud of the team’s second victory in the tournament.
Yousaf said Pakistan had made effective use of the moisture on the pitch early in the match, which helped their bowlers put India under pressure.
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