AL AMERAT (OMAN) / NEW DELHI — In one of the most dramatic finishes in youth international cricket history, India Under-19 pulled off a miraculous one-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan Under-19 off the final delivery of the 50th over on Saturday to capture a record-extending ninth ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup title at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground.
Set a daunting target of 338 in a high-pressure championship clash, India appeared all but defeated after a middle-order wobble left them stranded at 252 for 8. What followed was an extraordinary exhibition of fearless lower-order power-hitting from Manal Chauhan (47 off 32 balls) and unbeaten finisher Mohit Ulva (49* off 26 balls), capped by Ulva drilling the 300th and final ball of the innings to the boundary rope to spark jubilant scenes in the Indian dugout.
ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 Final: Full Match Scorecard Summary
| Innings & Team Total | Top Batting Performers | Key Bowling Figures | Turning Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan U19: 337/9 (50.0 Overs) | Usman Khan 107 (111), Abdul Qadir 80 (54), Farhan Yousaf 63 (60) | Kavya Patel 4/68 (10 ov), Chigurupati Venkata 3/65 (10 ov) | Pakistan surged to 299/4 before Indian death bowling restricted the final five overs to 38 runs for 5 wickets |
| India U19: 339/9 (50.0 Overs) | Lakshya Raichandani 80 (101), Aaryavir Sehwag 58 (61), Mohit Ulva 49* (26), Manal Chauhan 47 (32) | Pakistan seamers triggered middle-order slide to 252/8 | 87 runs plundered across the final two wickets; Mohit Ulva struck a last-ball boundary to win with 0 balls to spare |
How Pakistan Built a Towering 337/9
Winning the toss and opting to bat on a true Al Amerat surface, Pakistan U19 rode a commanding 135-run second-wicket stand between centurion Usman Khan (107 off 111 balls, featuring 11 fours and three sixes) and counter-attacking stroke-maker Abdul Qadir, who hammered eight sixes in a 54-ball 80. Captain Farhan Yousaf maintained the tempo with a run-a-ball 63, threatening to push the total past 360.
Crucially, Indian bowlers Kavya Patel (4 for 68) and Chigurupati Venkata (3 for 65) dragged India back at the death, picking up five wickets for 37 runs across the closing phase to keep the equation at 338—a vital containment spell that proved decisive hours later.
From 252/8 Despair to Last-Ball Glory
India’s reply began brightly through opener Aaryavir Sehwag (58 off 61) and skipper Lakshya Raichandani, whose composed 80 off 101 deliveries anchored the chase past the halfway mark. However, relentless wicket-taking bursts from Pakistan’s attack ripped through India’s middle order, plunging the Boys in Blue to 252 for 8 with 86 runs still required.
Refusing to fold, Manal Chauhan launched an audacious counter-offensive, striking at 146.87 during a rapid 47 off 32 balls to haul the required rate back under control. Even after Chauhan fell as the ninth wicket, Mohit Ulva (49* off 26, strike rate 188.46) and No. 11 Chigurupati Venkata (11* off 8) held their nerve under immense pressure, rotating the strike intelligently before Ulva pierced the infield on the final ball to seal a famous triumph that avenged India’s earlier group-stage defeat.
The youth triumph offers a welcome boost for Indian cricket fans following the senior side’s tough outing in New Zealand ahead of Sunday’s ODI series decider and the Wellington Test opener. Track every ball and squad update on our Sports Desk.
