In a thrilling opening match of the Emerging Asia Cup 2024, India A narrowly defeated Pakistan A by 7 runs, kicking off their campaign in style. The match, held in Muscat, Oman, saw both teams fight hard, but it was India A’s bowling unit, led by fast bowler Anshul Kamboj, that made the difference. Kamboj’s impressive 3-wicket haul, including crucial breakthroughs and a stellar last over, sealed the win for the Indian side.
India A’s Strong Start with the Bat
Batting first, India A posted a competitive total of 183 runs, thanks to a solid start from openers Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh. The pair put up an explosive performance, amassing 68 runs in the powerplay alone. Sharma scored 36 runs, while Singh contributed 35, and together they hit 5 sixes and 8 boundaries, giving the team a perfect launchpad.
However, the middle order struggled as Pakistan A’s spinners entered the game. Nehal Wadhera and Ayush Badoni couldn’t add much to the scoreboard, but captain Tilak Verma held the innings together with a crucial 44-run knock. Ramandeep Singh, though, gave the team some much-needed momentum towards the end, scoring 17 runs. A last-ball six from Rasikh Dar brought India A’s total to 183. Pakistan A’s spinner Sufyan Makim bowled well, taking 2 wickets for 28 runs.
Anshul Kamboj’s Early Strikes Shatter Pakistan’s Hopes
Pakistan A’s chase began on a disastrous note, with captain Mohammad Harris falling on the second ball of the innings to Anshul Kamboj. Kamboj struck again in his next over, dismissing another key batsman, putting Pakistan under immense pressure early on.
Despite the early blows, Yasir Khan and Qasim Akram steadied the ship for Pakistan with a vital partnership. But just when they looked set to rebuild, Nishant Sindhu broke the stand in the 9th over, aided by a spectacular one-handed catch from Ramandeep Singh on the boundary, sending Yasir back for 33.
Arafat Minhas’ Fightback Falls Short
The game took an exciting turn when Arafat Minhas came in and launched a counter-attack, scoring 41 and bringing Pakistan A back into the contest. At the other end, Haider Ali struggled to get going, and the pressure mounted on the Pakistani batsmen. Eventually, Rasikh Dar dismissed Haider, breaking a key partnership and giving India a critical breakthrough.
Abdul Samad, who came in next, wasted no time and smashed some quick runs, hitting boundaries to bring the equation down to 17 runs off the last over. But with Anshul Kamboj bowling the final over, the pressure was on Samad. Kamboj delivered a superb over, dismissing Samad on the very first ball and giving away just 9 runs, ensuring a 7-run victory for India A.
Bowling Heroes Shine for India A
Anshul Kamboj’s 3-wicket haul was undoubtedly the highlight of the match, but he was well-supported by the rest of the Indian bowlers. Rasikh Dar, who chipped in with key wickets, and Nishant Sindhu’s breakthrough spell also played vital roles in India A’s thrilling win.
This win marks a strong start for India A in the Emerging Asia Cup, with Kamboj’s deadly bowling proving to be the key factor in defending a modest total.
