DUBAI: In-form opener Sameer Minhas produced a magnificent century-plus innings, supported by a half-century from Ahmed Hussain, as Pakistan posted an impressive total against arch-rivals India in the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 final at the ICC Academy on Sunday.
India captain Ayush Mhatre’s decision to bowl first proved costly, with Pakistan amassing 347 for 8 from their allotted 50 overs, driven largely by Minhas’s outstanding knock.
Pakistan made a steady start as openers Minhas and Hamza Zahoor (18) added 31 runs before Zahoor was dismissed by Henil Patel in the fourth over.
After the early loss, Usman Khan joined Minhas at the crease, and the pair consolidated Pakistan’s innings with a fluent 92-run stand for the second wicket, coming off just 79 balls.
The platform-setting stand culminated in the 17th over when Khilan Patel got Usman Khan caught at long-on. The left-handed batter made a vital contribution with a 45-ball 35, featuring three fours and a six.
Crucial partnership for Pakistan
Minhas was then involved in another crucial partnership for Pakistan, a blistering 137-run stand for the third wicket with Ahmed Hussain, who made 56 off 73 deliveries, laced with three fours and a six.
The right-handed opener then shared a 42-run partnership with captain Farhan Yousaf until eventually being dismissed by Deepesh Devendran on the penultimate delivery of the 43rd over.
He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with 172 off 113 deliveries, studded with 17 fours and nine sixes.
His dismissal sparked a collapse which saw Pakistan lose four more wickets, including that of captain Yousaf (19) in quick succession, and consequently brought the total down to 327/8 in 46.4 overs.
Following the slump, Mohammad Sayyam and Niqab Shafiq added valuable runs at the backend, playing unbeaten cameos of 13 and 12, respectively.
For India, Deepesh Devendran led the way with three wickets but was expensive as he conceded 83 runs in his 10 overs, followed by Henil Patel and Khilan Patel with two each, while Kanishk Chouhan could bag one.
