Mumbai, June 24: Vijay Zol’s century went in vain as India lost a thriller to Pakistan by one run in the Under-19s Asia Cup match at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Mohammad Nawaz, who had earlier played a quickfire innings for Pakistan, helped his team seal a nerve-wracking win by bowling a dot ball to end the Indian innings.
India lost Akhil Herwadakar with just 36 runs on board as they chased 288 in their second match of the ongoing Asia Cup. The opener edged Azizullah to Salman Afridi to walk back for 22. In the next over, Baba Aparajith fell to Usman Qadir without adding to the Indian total, bringing Vijay Zol to join Unmukt Chand at the crease. Chand, who hit three sixes during his 49-run knock, was the next to depart, claimed by Akhtar Waheed. India were placed at 123 for the loss of three wickets in the 30th over.
Zol and Akshdeep Nath then added 71 runs to revive the Indian innings until the latter was run out for 42. Sanju Samson, came out to bat next, was bowled for three by Nawaz.
With India requiring 79 from 52 balls, wicketkeeper Smit Patel joined Zol in the middle. He was soon back in the hut, caught by Babar Azam, after contributing just 12 runs. However, Zol put up a fight with the lower order for company, mustering up a hundred in the process.
Rush Kalaria, who was dropped twice off Ehsan Adil in the penultimate over, was caught at long-off by Babar off Nawaz. Zol then hit a boundary and took a single to give the strike to the new man Mohsin Sayyed. Although Sayyed hit the ball towards the fence with two runs required off the last delivery, he failed to collect runs of it.
Earlier, having been asked to bat, opener Sami Aslam’s 121 helped Pakistan register 287 for seven. Kalaria trapped Pakistan skipper Babar Azam lbw for four to give India their first breakthrough in the second over, but Imam-ul-Haq (88) ably supported Aslam. The duo raked in 213 runs for the second wicket until Sayyed broke the partnership with the wicket of Aslam. The left-arm paceman followed up that strike with the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq; a few overs later, Vikas Mishra castled Umar Waheed for 11.
Kalaria then claimed Ehsan, followed by Qadir and Nawaz in quick succession, to finish with a four-for. However, Nawaz added 43 during his 28-ball cameo that included two sixes and three boundaries before returning to the dressing room off the last delivery of the innings.
Brief scores: Pakistan U-19s 287/7 in 50 overs (Sami Aslam 121, Imam-ul-Haq 88, Mohammad Nawaz 43, R Kalaria 4/54) beat India U-19s 286/8 in 50 overs (V Zol 109*, U Chand 49, A Waheed 2/54) by 1 run
