Pakistan A stunned India A with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 at Doha, driven by opener Maaz Sadaqat’s explosive, unbeaten 79 and his crucial two wickets.
He smashed an unbeaten 47-ball 79 and also picked up two wickets with his left-arm spin.
India A looked strong early, racing to 91 for two in the 10th over. Vaibhav Suryavanshi blazed 45 off 28 balls, while Naman Dhir added 35 off 20. However, a dramatic collapse followed. Medium pacer Shahid Aziz struck crucial blows, finishing with three for 24. Leg-spinner Saad Masood and Sadaqat chipped in with two wickets each, as India A folded for 136 in 19 overs.
Pakistan A’s chase was clinical. Sadaqat dominated the innings, striking seven fours and four sixes. He survived a dropped catch by Suryavanshi at point and capitalised on the reprieve. With support from the other end, Pakistan A reached 137 for two in just 13.2 overs, sealing its second consecutive win in the tournament.
India A, who had started their campaign with a big win against the UAE, suffered their first defeat. The turning point came when Suryavanshi, fresh from a record hundred in the previous match, holed out in the deep. Mohammad Faiq held his nerve at long-on to complete a fine catch off Sufiyan Muqeem. That dismissal shifted momentum decisively toward Pakistan.
Pakistan’s disciplined bowling and Sadaqat’s brilliance ensured India A never recovered. The victory highlighted Pakistan A’s growing confidence in the tournament, while India A must regroup quickly to stay in contention.
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