Pakistan beat India by 3 wickets in Under-19 Asia Cup despite Arjun Rajput's century

Pakistan beat India by 3 wickets in a closely fought ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup match. The Indian bowlers kept at it until the end, but the match slipped away from them. India are second in the points table.

India won the toss and chose to bat first. The top order fell early, and the pressure carried over to the batters who followed. Arjun Rajput then took on the Pakistani bowlers, scoring a century-laden knock of 107 off 85 balls with 11 fours and 5 sixes. Kavya Patel's 23 runs at the end also counted, taking India past 200 before the whole side was bowled out for 209.

All eyes in the match were on the batting of Aaryavir Sehwag, son of Virender Sehwag, but he made only 22. The early setbacks showed in his batting. Wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid, was out for just 10.

Defending 209, the Indian bowlers started well. At one stage Pakistan were 61 for 5 in the 15th over. From there Hamza Zahoor and Hasnain Abbas Dhar added 107 for the sixth wicket and put India under pressure. The Indian bowlers could not break the pair quickly.

Hamza made an unbeaten 100 with 10 fours and 3 sixes. Hasnain, batting with him, scored 38. Pakistan reached 209 in the 48th over and celebrated the win.

Had India added a few more runs with the bat, they might have had a good chance of beating Pakistan. That did not happen in this match.