India vs Pakistan U19 Asia Cup final: Ulva's last-ball four snatches title
Usman Khan's 107 took Pakistan to 337, and India were 252-8. Then No 10 Mohit Ulva hit 49 not out. How the final turned, ball by ball at the end.
Pakistan’s Under-19s were one wicket away from keeping the Asia Cup. Instead, India’s No 10 Mohit Ulva drove the last ball of the final over long-off for four, and India won by one wicket in Muscat on Saturday, 14 November. India finished on 339 for 9, chasing Pakistan’s 337 for 9 at the Al Amerat ground.
After Rizwanullah’s five wickets sank Bangladesh in Thursday’s semi-final, this was the game Pakistan’s defending champions wanted. For about 45 overs they had it.
How did Pakistan get to 337?
On the back of Usman Khan. The opener made 107 off 111 balls, with 11 fours and 3 sixes, his second hundred of the tournament, Dawn reported. Abdul Qadir was the fireworks: 80 off 54 balls with eight sixes. Captain Farhan Yousaf added 63 off 60.
Pakistan went past 200 with only two wickets down before the 30th over, and 360 looked possible. India’s bowlers pulled it back at the death. Kavya Patel took 4 for 68, and Chigurupati Venkata, who only came in for the injured Ishan Sood, took 3 for 40 in five overs.
Where did the chase turn?
India’s openers put on 95. Aaryavir Sehwag made 58 off 61 before Niqab Shafiq had him caught by Usman Khan in the 18th over. Captain Lakshya Raichandani kept the chase alive with 80 off 101 balls.
Then Pakistan struck twice in two balls in the 37th over: Raichandani out at 217, Anvay Dravid run out next ball. By the 42nd over India were 252 for 8, needing 86 off 51 balls, Wisden reported. Rizwanullah finished with 3 for 53 and Niqab with 2 for 57.
How did Ulva and India’s tail win it?
Ulva and Manal Chauhan added 57 for the ninth wicket. Chauhan smashed 47 off 32 before falling at 309 in the 48th over, leaving 29 to get off 16 balls with one wicket left.
Ulva hit a four and a six off the first two balls of the 49th over, and an edged four from Venkata brought it down to eight off the last over, bowled by Ahmed Hussain. Pakistan kept the boundaries out for five balls. With three needed off the last ball, Ulva came down the pitch and lifted Hussain over long-off. He finished 49 not out off 26 balls; Venkata was 11 not out.
“I knew it was my day and I’ll finish the game,” Ulva told ESPNcricinfo. He was in the side mainly as a bowler and said his tournament had not gone well until then.
What does the result mean?
It was the highest successful chase in Youth ODI history, according to ESPNcricinfo and Wisden, and India’s ninth Under-19 Asia Cup title. Ulva was player of the match; Sehwag, who scored 303 runs in four innings, was player of the tournament.
For Pakistan the lesson is the last ten overs. Presenter Zainab Abbas pointed out on X that Pakistan gave away 90 runs in India’s last ten overs, while India conceded 63 in Pakistan’s and took six wickets.
This squad still beat India in the group stage, won every group game and crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets. Usman, Qadir, Farhan, Rizwanullah and Hamza Zahoor, whose century beat India last week, are names to follow towards the next Under-19 World Cup in 2028.
