Raichandani’s 93 sends India into U-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan on Saturday

Lakshya Raichandani’s 93 took India into the U-19 Asia Cup final on Thursday, 12 November, as the captain led an eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second semi-final in Oman. India reached 230 for two with 79 balls to spare and will play Pakistan, the only side to beat them in the tournament, for the title on Saturday, 14 November.

Afghanistan won the toss, chose to bat and were 143 for three in the 36th over, with 51 apiece from Noman Salarzai and Shah Faisal Rahimi. Then the innings came apart. Arjun Rajput removed Salarzai with the last ball of that over, and Aryan Savsani struck twice in the next to leave Afghanistan at 146 for six. Captain Sohail Khan’s unbeaten 36 lifted them to 227 for eight. Ishan Sood was the pick of the Indian attack with three for 43 in nine overs.

Openers set up the chase

Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag put on 117 for the first wicket before Sehwag fell in the 17th over for 51 off 57 balls, an innings with four sixes in it. Two days earlier he had made 160 against the UAE. Raichandani hit 13 fours and a six in his 90-ball stay and was out with the score on 194 in the 32nd over, seven short of a hundred. V.K. Vineeth (57 not out) and Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan (16 not out) finished the job in 36.5 overs. The ACC scorecard names Raichandani player of the match.

Pakistan booked their place on the same day with a nine-wicket win over Bangladesh. Rizwanullah took five for 30 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 138, and openers Hayam Khan (69) and Usman Khan (64 not out) knocked off the runs in 21.5 overs.

A rematch, and a Hyderabad name in the squad

Pakistan won the group meeting on Sunday, 8 November, by three wickets. Arjun Rajput’s 107 had carried India to 208, and Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten 100 took Pakistan home at 209 for seven in 48.1 overs after they had slipped to 61 for five.

Hyderabad’s Vutkuri Yashveer Goud is in the 15-member squad picked by the BCCI’s Junior Cricket Committee for the tournament, which opened in Muscat on 5 November. BCCI squad lists place him with the Hyderabad Cricket Association. He took two wickets in India’s 10-wicket win over Nepal on Friday, 6 November, but was not in the side for the semi-final.

The ACC fixture list puts the final at OCA Ground 2 in Oman, starting at 10.30 am IST on Saturday.