The Pakistan Under-19 team beat India Under-19 in the World Cup quarter-final by two wickets. The thrilling encounter saw the Pakistanis triumph with only three balls to spare.
Pakistan won the toss and expectedly chose to field first given the amount of moisture in the rain-shortened game. India were in trouble very early as Rahul Kannaur was bowled off the very first ball of the game, while Mayank Agrawal scored only two.
Mandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh added a valuable 40, but the middle order wilted under some sustained pressure off the bowling of Fayaz Butt and Raza Hasan. The Indians could manage only 114 in their 23 overs for the loss of nine wickets.
In reply, the swing and the seam was present for the Indian bowlers as well and they reduced the opposition to 16/3 in the seventh over.
It was after that the Pakistanis began to get a partnership going. Ahsan Ali and Rameez Azis added a good 45, which was huge in the context of the game, while Mohammad Waqas took the total to 91.
In the end, there were a couple of dropped chances and misfields that ensured that Pakistan needed only four off the last over and despite the fall of a wicket, they won it with three balls to spare.
They now enter the semi-finals of the tournament.