BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe: Pakistan produced a disciplined bowling display to dismiss India for 252 in their Super Sixes match of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 at Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
Pacer Abdul Subhan led the attack with three wickets as Pakistan kept their semi-final hopes alive in a high-stakes Group 2 contest.
Asked to bat first, India made a brisk start through openers Aaron George and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The pair raced to 47 in eight overs, with left-hander Sooryavanshi scoring 30 off 22 balls, including five fours and a six.
Pakistan struck back sharply. Mohammad Sayyam broke the opening stand by dismissing Sooryavanshi and then removed captain Ayush Mhatre for a duck in the same over.
Abdul Subhan compounded India’s troubles by dismissing George for 16 in the next over, leaving the five-time champions reeling at 47-3.
Middle-order recovery
Vedant Trivedi and Vihaan Malhotra stabilised the innings with a cautious partnership, adding 62 runs for the fourth wicket.
Malhotra was dismissed for 21 by Ahmed Hussain in the 24th over, with India at 109-4.
Wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Abhishek Kundu joined Trivedi but failed to convert his start.
He was dismissed for 16 by Ali Hassan Baloch, leaving India 149-5 after 33 overs.
Trivedi anchored the innings with a patient knock of 68 off 98 balls, striking two fours and a six.
He was eventually removed by spinner Momin Qamar in the 41st over, pushing India to 182-6.
Late resistance lifts India
RS Ambrish and Kanishk Chouhan added useful runs as India crossed the 200 mark.
Ali Raza dismissed Ambrish for 29 in the 44th over, but Chouhan and Khilan Patel provided late momentum.
The pair added 50 runs in the closing stages. Subhan returned to remove Patel for 21 and then Chouhan for 35 in the same over, before Deepesh Devendran was run out for one as India were bowled out for 252.
Semi-final equation
Pakistan now face a stiff task with the bat. They must chase 253 runs within 33.3 overs to secure a place in the semi-finals on net run rate.
England, Australia and Afghanistan have already qualified for the last four.
Pakistan sit third in Group 2 with four points, while India are second with six. England top the group with eight points.
For Pakistan, victory alone may not be enough. They need a big-margin win to overtake India and keep their tournament alive.
