Arjun Rajput scored 107 off 85 balls for India Under-19 against Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup in Muscat on Sunday, 8 November. But his century was not enough. Pakistan chased down India’s 208 and won by 3 wickets, with 11 balls to spare. Hamza Zahoor hit an unbeaten 100 off 108 balls to take Pakistan home.

01. Key takeaways

  • Pakistan beat India U19 by 3 wickets in the U19 Asia Cup in Muscat. Pakistan made 209 for 7 in 48.1 overs, chasing India’s 208.
  • Arjun Rajput: 107 off 85 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes. His maiden Youth ODI century.
  • Hamza Zahoor: 100 not out off 108 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes. He was named Player of the Match.
  • India were 22 for 3 early on. Captain Lakshya Raichandani went for a duck on the second ball.
  • Next best scorer for India: Aaryavir Sehwag with 22. Kavya Patel made 23.
  • Pakistan bowlers: Rizwanullah took 3 for 24 and got Rajput out. Ali Raza took three wickets too.
  • Pakistan top Group A with two wins. India are second, with one win and one loss.

Arjun Rajput saved India Under-19 from a bad day. But even his century could not give India a win.

India were bowled out for 208 against Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup in Muscat on Sunday, 8 November. Pakistan chased the target down and won by 3 wickets.

It started badly for India. India won the toss and chose to bat first. Then it went wrong fast.

Captain Lakshya Raichandani went for a duck on the second ball of the match. Ali Raza got him out. Then Yashbardhan Chauhan went for 1. India were 22 for 3 in 11.4 overs. Later they were 42 for 4.

02. Then came Rajput

Arjun Rajput walked in and changed the game. The 19-year-old from Jalandhar, Punjab, played with no fear. He attacked the Pakistan bowlers.

He reached his hundred off 80 balls. It was his first century in Youth ODIs. He hit 11 fours and five sixes. By the time he got out, India had 170 on the board. He had made 107 of them.

Rizwanullah got him out in the 36th over. Rajput pulled a ball in the air, and the fielder at mid-on took the catch.

No other Indian batter got going. Aaryavir Sehwag made 22. That was the next best score. Kavya Patel made 23. Anvay Dravid made 10.

03. Pakistan’s bowlers

Rizwanullah was the best of them. He took 3 wickets for 24 runs. Ali Raza took three wickets too. Mohammad Sayyam finished the innings by getting Kavya Patel out LBW.

India were all out for 208 in 46.3 overs.

04. Pakistan’s chase

Pakistan’s chase started badly too. They lost five wickets early and were in deep trouble. Then Hamza Zahoor took charge.

Zahoor and Hasnain Abbas Dar, who made 38, put on 107 runs for the sixth wicket and turned the game around. Zahoor stayed till the end, finishing on 100 not out off 108 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes. He was named Player of the Match.

Pakistan reached 209 for 7 in 48.1 overs and won by 3 wickets, with 11 balls to spare. Niqab Shafiq was 2 not out at the other end.

This was India’s second Group A match in the tournament. India are in Group A with Pakistan, and the game was at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, Oman. Pakistan now top the group with two wins. India are second, with one win and one loss.

05. Who is Arjun Rajput?

Rajput is a 19-year-old all-rounder from Jalandhar. He started playing cricket at the age of seven, as per The Indian Express. This was his first century at international level. It came against Pakistan, in a big match, when his team was in trouble. That is the kind of innings people remember.

Read also: India Beat New Zealand by 4 Runs in Rain-Hit 2nd ODI and Rajat Patidar Pulls Out of Rising Stars Asia Cup.

06. FAQs

How many runs did Arjun Rajput score against Pakistan?

107 off 85 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes. It was his maiden Youth ODI century.

What was India’s total?

208 all out in 46.3 overs. Pakistan chased it down and won by 3 wickets.

Who won the match?

Pakistan won by 3 wickets. They made 209 for 7 in 48.1 overs. Hamza Zahoor scored an unbeaten 100 and was named Player of the Match.