India Edge Pakistan in Last-Ball Thriller to Lift U19 Asia Cup Title

India clinched the Under-19 Asia Cup in thrilling fashion as they beat Pakistan in Al Amerat in the final. India's hopes were quickly fading in the 338-run chase when they lost their final wicket with 29 runs remaining in less than three overs. However, the final-wicket pair dragged the contest right until the end before Mohit Ulva hit a boundary when India needed 3 off the last ball.

Before taking off, India's openers began with caution. Aaryavir Sehwag, who went on to win the tournament for his strong run, was the aggressor at first. The opener put on a show, scoring his fourth fifty-plus score in the competition, but he was unable to go on to make a big one. Lakshaya Raichandani then scored his own fifty, but it took him 72 balls to reach it because India needed to increase its scoring rate.

Pakistan though continued to make regular breakthroughs, putting India on the backfoot before Anvay Dravid and Raichandani broke free with a flurry of boundaries. But when both batters were dismissed off successive deliveries, the doors appeared to be shut for India. But Manal Chauhan turned up the heat with some counterattacking cricket and kept India in the hunt despite losing partners at the other end.

Chauhan and Ulva joined forces to turn the tide as they went on a boundary-hitting spree at the death overs. But when the 9th wicket fell in the 48th over, Pakistan would have still backed themselves to get the job done only for Ulva to kickstart the penultimate over with a four and a six. Ahmed Hussain tried his hardest to keep India in the game until the end, but Ulva hit the final ball for a boundary, prompting wild scenes and the entire team running onto the field. India needed 8 runs off 6 runs at the end.

Usman Khan scored a well-crafted century in the final earlier in the day, delivering yet again for Pakistan. Abdul Qadir, who put on a show by clearing the ropes eight times in his whirlwind 54-ball 80, provided him with solid support. After his dismissal, skipper Farhan Yousuf took over and smashed a half-century to put Pakistan firmly on top. But from 299/3 after 44 overs, Pakistan collapsed in dramatic fashion, adding only 38 more runs in the final six overs for the loss of six wickets. That collapse eventually had a bearing on the final result.