DUBAI, (TDI): Pakistan triumphed over Japan by 180 runs in the U19 Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, marking their third consecutive win in the tournament.
Set a target of 244, Japan’s batting collapsed under pressure, and they were all out for just 63 runs.
Mohammad Huzaifa was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets, while Ahmed Hussain and Mohammad Ahmed each took two wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan posted a total of 243/6 in their first innings. Opting to bat first, Pakistan’s openers struggled, with captain Saad Baig dismissed for just 3 runs, leaving the team at 7/1 in the third over. Haroon Rasheed and Farhan Yousuf also fell cheaply, reducing Pakistan to 57/3 in the 14th over.
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However, opener Faham ul Haq steadied the innings with a fighting 34 runs off 49 balls. Tayyab Arif and Shahzaib Khan then built a crucial partnership, but Arif was dismissed for 20, leaving Pakistan at 97/4.
The turning point came when Shahzaib Khan (45 runs off 69 balls) and Riazullah added 82 runs for the sixth wicket.
Khan was dismissed by Timothy Moore, but Riazullah continued to impress, finishing unbeaten on 66 runs off 78 balls, with four boundaries and a six.
Ahmed Hussain contributed a quick 30 runs off 23 balls to take Pakistan to 243/6 by the end of the innings.
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Japan’s bowlers Nihar Parmar, Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake, Kai Wall, Charles Hinze, and Timothy Moore each claimed one wicket.
Pakistan remains unbeaten in the tournament, having previously defeated arch-rivals India by 43 runs and UAE by 69 runs.
Pakistan U19 Asia Cup Squads
Pakistan Squad
Farhan Yousaf, Hassan Khan, Mohammad Huzaifa, Riaz Ullah, Rizwanullah, Shahzaib Khan, Yahya Rehman, Faham-ul-Haq, Haroon Arshad, Mohammad Ahmed, Tayyab Arif, Usman Khan, Saad Baig, Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Raza, Naveed Khan, Umar Zaib
Japan Under-19 Squad
Aditya Phadke, Hugo Kelly, Koji Abe, Nihar Parmar, Skyler Cook, Kazuma Stafford, Max Lynn, Timothy Moore, Daniel Panckhurst, Aarav Tiwari, Charles Hinze, Kai Wall, Kiefer Lake, Yuto Yageta
