India set 263-run target for Pakistan in U-19 WC opener

DUBAI: Half-centuries by Sarfaraz Khan and Sanju Samson rescued India Under-19s to set a rather difficult target of 263 for Pakistan Under-19s in the first big clash in the ICC Under –19 World Cup here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Their stand of 119 was the difference between a below-par total and a competitive one on a second-day Dubai pitch that turned and required concentration from the batsmen.

At 94 for 4 in the 20th over, India looked in danger of folding up for less than 262, until Samson and Sarfaraz showed the team's middle-order reliability.

Sarfaraz brought up his fifty with a six over long-on, off Zia. He had made up for his slow start, needing just 60 balls for his landmark.

The batting Powerplay was a productive period for India as both players used their feet against the spinners to loft inside out over the covers to take 36 runs off that block of overs.

Pakistan finally had a breakthrough when Sarfaraz mis-hit the left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar over cover and was caught. Samson too was caught, off a top edge and when the pair had departed, India were at a more secure 229 for 6 after 45.1 overs.

India were earlier given a brisk start by their openers Ankush Bains and Akhil Herwadkar, who punished the seamers who were guilty of bowling too short. Bains lost his middle stump trying to drive the right-arm seamer Irfanullah Shah before Vijay Zol was done in by Zia's inswing. Herwadkar was bowled trying to cut Karamat and the bowler later claimed Ricky Bhui when the batsman drove at a ball that had stopped on him. From then, Pakistan let the advantage slip.