U19 Asia Cup: Aaron George, Kanishk Chouhan and Deepesh Devendran dazzle as India decimate Pakistan to book semifinal berth

A sublime 85-run knock by Aaron George, a stellar all-round display from Kanishk Chouhan (46 and 3/33), and a three-wicket haul by right-arm seamer Deepesh Devendran helped India pummel arch-rivals Pakistan by 90 runs in the fifth match of the ongoing ACC U19 Asia Cup on Sunday, December 14, at the ICC Academy in Dubai. The win helped the Boys in Blue to cement their place in the semis.

Rain delays toss

The toss was delayed by almost an hour due to a steady drizzle. As the rain gods relented, the crowd came to life, and the two captains made their way into the middle for the toss for a 49-over game.

Pakistan skipper Farhan Yousaf had the rub of the green with the flip of the coin as he asked India to set a target on the board. In what has become a recurring theme since the kinetic conflict involving the two nations in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, no handshakes were exchanged yet again between the two captains.

India's flying start

Ali Raza began proceedings with the ball in hand for Pakistan and displayed how much he has matured as a fast bowler since the previous edition of the ICC U19 World Cup, thanks in part to his experience playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for Peshawar Zalmi. 

He kept Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi on their toes as the first over turned out to be low-key, with just the India captain getting off the mark on the fourth delivery.

Mhatre broke the shackles in the second over as he launched an incursion on left-arm speedster Mohammad Sayyam and hit him for two fours and a maximum. 

Suryavanshi got his innings underway with a boundary on the first ball of the third over, and India continued their onslaught, scoring 13 off Raza's bowling.

But just when the Indian openers were about to consolidate on their high-flying start, Sayyam accepted an easy caught-and-bowled to send Suryavanshi back to the sheds. The delivery stopped on the surface, and the southpaw was unable to check his shot at the last moment.

Unfazed by the loss of his partner, Mhatre continued his merry ways and pounced whenever the Pakistan pacers erred in length. His free-wheeling knock (38 off 25 balls) came to a screeching halt as a bouncer from Sayyam got too big on him, and he top-edged it to the wicketkeeper Hamza Zahoor.

Tug of war

From a position of strength at 78/2 after 9.5 overs, India lost two of their premier middle-order batters in Vihaan Malhotra (12 off 16 balls) and Vedant Trivedi (7 off 22 balls) to left-arm off-spinner Niqab Shafiq. 

Though there was a lack of turn, Shafiq varied his pace, enticing Malhotra to drive, and the left-hander got deceived as the ball got held in the surface, and he lobbed an easy catch. On the other hand, Trivedi was unable to rotate strike, and he was put out of his misery by a breathtaking catch at point by Ahmed Hussain as Shafiq got his second pole of the game.

Trivedi's wicket brought wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu to the crease, and he, alongside George, began rebuilding the innings. George picked up from where he had left off against the UAE and looked his fluent best. He played a few sumptuous strokes and allowed Kundu to get his eye in.

George brought up his fifty on the penultimate delivery of the 22nd over and injected adrenaline into the Indian supporters. George and Kundu added 60 runs for the fifth wicket, but a double whammy in the 32nd over changed the complexion of the game.

Kanishk Chouhan's rescue act

Right-arm pacer Abdul Subhan dismissed both Kundu and George in the space of three balls to knock the wind out of India's sails. At 174/6 after 31.3 overs, India were staring down the barrel, and a solid rescue act from Kanishk helped them avoid a free fall.

Kanishk looked poised at the crease and lashed onto anything loose from the Pakistan pace battery. Cognizant of the situation, he weathered the storm and didn't let the dot ball pressure get to his nerves. He struck two boundaries and three sixes for a run-a-ball 46 before a mistimed lofted shot off Ahmed Hussain ended his vigil on the first ball of the 45th over. 

India's tail couldn't wag much as they eventually got bowled out for 240 in 46.1 overs. Subhan and Sayyam claimed three wickets apiece, and the former was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, ending with figures of 3/42 in 9.1 overs.

Pakistan's feeble response 

In reply, Pakistani openers Usman Khan and the centurion from the last game, Sameer Minhas, began tentatively as the fast bowling pair of Kishan Singh and Henil Patel bowled with discipline.

India drew first blood in the ninth over as Devendran struck on the first ball of his spell. Devendran bowled a short ball that caught Minhas napping, and he hit a pull straight down fine leg's throat.

Devendran looked a yard quicker than the other India bowlers and provided two more wickets (Ali Hassan Baloch and Ahmed Hussain) in quick succession to rattle Pakistan.

Kanishk also struck with the first ball of his over, dismissing Usman Khan, leaving Pakistan reeling at 30/4 in 13.1 overs. 

Huzaifa delays the inevitable 

Usman's wicket brought Yousaf and Huzaifa Ahsan together, and they added 47 for the fifth wicket to put the brakes on India's assault. Mhatre introduced Suryavanshi into the attack, and the move paid dividends as he got rid of the Pakistan captain.

Huzaifa held one end together and showcased immense grit, scoring 70 off 83 balls, including nine fours and two sixes. He holed out at long on while trying to hit Player of the Match Chouhan out of the ground in the 39th over as Pakistan slumped to 138 for the loss of eight wickets.

Huzaifa's wicket ended Pakistan's hopes, and they eventually folded for 150 runs in 41.2 overs.