India clinched the Under-19 Asia Cup title on Saturday after a dramatic one-wicket victory over Pakistan in a final that concluded on the last delivery of the match.
Chasing a challenging target of 338, India completed a 339-run pursuit in 50 overs, according to “reporting by Yahoo Sports.”
Number 10 batter Mohit Ulva emerged as the unlikely hero for the Indian side, finishing with an unbeaten 49 off just 26 deliveries.
Ulva secured the win by striking a boundary on the final ball of the contest, as detailed by “the tournament coverage.”
Aaryavir Sehwag, the son of former star Virender Sehwag, was named Player of the Tournament after an exceptional campaign.
Sehwag finished as the leading run-scorer with 361 runs across five innings at an average of 90.25, per “Yahoo Sports.”
In the final, Sehwag contributed a valuable 58 off 61 balls, providing a solid foundation for the Indian chase alongside captain Lakshya Raichandani.
Reflecting on the team’s mindset during the high-stakes run chase, Sehwag noted that the squad maintained confidence in the batting-friendly conditions.
“The discussion is that the wicket is good to bat on,” Sehwag explained.
“There was always a belief that we will chase it down,” he added.
Pakistan had earlier posted a formidable total of 337/9, driven by Usman Khan’s brilliant 107.
Despite Pakistan’s strong total and regular breakthroughs that left India struggling at 251/7, the defending champions fought back through a crucial rescue act from Manal Chauhan and Ulva.
The duo combined for a 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket, keeping India in contention until the final over.
Ulva then smashed 17 runs in the penultimate over to set up the dramatic conclusion, per “the provided match report.”
The victory marks a significant achievement for the Indian youth squad in the regional tournament.