New Delhi, Nov 02: A fine all-round performance by Irfan Pathan helped India clinch a narrow 10-run victory against Pakistan in the Asian under-19 cricket championships at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore today. In the first match in five years between the two countries at any level, man of the match Pathan scored an invaluable 28 off 38 balls to prop up India's total and then struck twice in his first over to fashion India's win the four-nation competition. After skittling out India for 148 in 38.2 overs, Pakistan were dismissed for 138 in 34.2 overs, according to information received here. In the other match of the day, Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by eight wickets. The Indian junior team's visit to its neighbouring country is the first after an under-19 team toured Pakistan last in 1998. India take on Bangladesh while Pakistan face off Sri Lanka on tuesday. Sri Lanka beat India by four wickets and Pakistan won by 117 runs against Bangladesh in the opening matches on Oct 31. Pathan (3-23) removed opening batsman Khalid Latif and Sohail Ahmed in the last two balls of his opening over. The Gujarat left arm seamer failed to make it a hat-trick next over but clean bowled Khurram Manzoor off the second ball to leave Pakistani innings in disarray.
Shahid Yousuf (27) and Salman Qadir (57 no) added 55 runs for the sixth wicket before Riaz Afridi (27) shared a 58-run eighth wicket stand with Qadir. But three quick wickets by Avinash Yadav hastened Pakistan's end. V R Singh (3-58) was the other bowler to make early inroads into the hosts batting. Earlier, put into bat, the Indian innings was in shambles after Afridi, captain Latif and Mansoor Amjad scalped three wickets each. Only Karnataka batsman Robin Uthappa make a respectable score of 40. After the fall of Uthappa, at seven for 105 in the 25th over, Pathan's knock was crucial in prolonging the Indian innings. Brief scores: India U-19 148 in 38.2 overs (Robin Uthappa 40, Irfan Pathan 28, V R Singh 17 no; Riaz Afridi 3-18, Khalid Latif 3-27, Mansoor Amjad 3-33) bt Pakistan U-19 138 in 34.2 overs (Shahid Yousuf 27, Salman Qadir 57 no, Riaz Afridi 27; Irfan Pathan 3-23, V R Singh 3-58, Avinash Yadav 3-10).
Bureau Report