Hamza Zahoor's unbeaten 100 sinks India despite Arjun Rajput's 107 in Under-19 Asia Cup

Pakistan defeated India by three wickets in an ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup one-day match, and a hundred from Arjun Rajput was not enough to save the holders of the toss. India now sit second in the points table.

India won the toss and chose to bat, but the move backfired on the first day of Diwali. Captain Lakshya Raichandani fell for a duck, bowled by Ali Raza. V. K. Vineet, at number three, scored 8 and Yashvardhan Chauhan only 1. Aaryavir Sehwag, son of Virender Sehwag and the player many in the crowd had come to watch, made 22 with a four and a six, and steadied things briefly before he was out. Wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid, went for 10.

Rajput, who walked in at number five, then carried the innings. He struck 107 off 85 balls, with 11 fours and 5 sixes, while wickets kept falling at the other end. He put on 64 with Manal Chauhan, of which 50 came off Rajput's bat and 11 off Manal's. Kavya Patel chipped in with 23 near the end and lifted the total beyond 200, but India were all out for 209.

Raza finished with 3 wickets for 37 in 10 overs. Naqib Saqif and Rizwanullah took 3 wickets each, and the trio kept the run rate in check once Rajput was left without partners.

The Indian bowlers began well in defence. Pakistan were reduced to 61 for 5 in the 15th over. Hamza Zahoor and Hasnain Abbas Dhar then added 107 for the sixth wicket, and the Indian attack could not separate them quickly. Hamza remained unbeaten on 100, with 10 fours and 3 sixes, while Hasnain made 38. Pakistan reached 209 in the 48th over and celebrated the win.

A few more runs from India's batters might have given the bowlers a real chance of defending the total. It did not happen on the day.