Cricket

Afghanistan A emerged victorious in the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, defeating Sri Lanka A by seven wickets in a thrilling final at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground.Sri Lanka A, after winning the toss, opted to bat first. However, their innings faltered as they struggled to build partnerships. Sahan Arachchige stood out with an unbeaten 64 off 47 deliveries, including six towering sixes. Nimesh Vimukthi (23) and Pawan Rathnayake (20) provided some support, but Sri Lanka A could only muster 133/7 in their allotted 20 overs.Afghanistan A's bowlers were in top form, led by Bilal Sami's impressive three-wicket haul. Allah Ghazanfar also chipped in with two wickets.In the chase, Afghanistan A lost Zubaid Akbari for a duck in the first over. However, Sediqullah Atal (55) and Darwish Rasooli (24) steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Karim Janat (33) and Mohammad Ishaq (16) then accelerated the scoring, guiding Afghanistan A to a comfortable seven-wicket victory.Sri Lanka A's bowlers failed to make an impact, with only Eshan Malinga, Dushan Hemantha, and Sahan Arachchige claiming wickets.Afghanistan A's triumph marks a significant achievement for the nation's cricket development program. The team's success in this tournament showcases the growing talent and potential within Afghanistan's cricketing ranks.

In a thrilling encounter at the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, India A emerged victorious over Pakistan A by a narrow margin of 7 runs. Led by captain Tilak Varma, India A posted a competitive 183/8 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to contributions from Abhishek Sharma (35), Prabhsimran Singh (36), and Varma himself (44).Pakistan A's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost their captain Mohammad Haris early on. Yasir Khan provided some resistance with a quickfire 33, but his dismissal proved to be a turning point. Anshul Kamboj and Rasikh Salam kept the pressure on with crucial wickets, while Qasim Akram (27) and Arafat Minhas (41) tried to steady the ship.However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and Abdul Samad's late surge (25 off 15) was not enough to prevent Pakistan A from falling short. Kamboj's impressive bowling performance (3/33) earned him the Man of the Match award.India A's victory was a testament to their collective effort, with contributions from various players. Their bowlers, led by Kamboj and Salam, kept the Pakistan A batsmen in check, while their batsmen provided a solid foundation.Pakistan A, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance, particularly their inability to build substantial partnerships. They will need to regroup and improve their execution in their upcoming matches.India A will now face United Arab Emirates on Monday in their next match, while Pakistan A will look to bounce back against Afghanistan.