Sports

Tayyab, Muqeem dazzle as Pakistan A humble India A to clinch Emerging Cup

Malik1998

July 23, 2023

Pakistan A emerged victorious in a thrilling clash against India A, securing a resounding 128-run victory to retain the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup title in Colombo. The heroics of two standout players, Tayyab Tahir, and Sufiyan Muqeem, played a pivotal role in this momentous triumph.

Tayyab Tahir, already having a sensational year, continued his remarkable journey with another exceptional performance. Following his dazzling half-century debut in the PSL for Karachi Kings and his maiden T20I appearance against Afghanistan, Tayyab showcased his prowess by smashing a blazing 108 off just 71 balls. This explosive knock propelled Pakistan A to an imposing total of 352 for 8, a commanding start to their innings after being put into bat by Yash Dhull.

As India A began their pursuit of the challenging target, Sufiyan Muqeem, the young and promising left-arm wrist-spinner, took center stage with his deceptive variations. Having made his List A debut earlier in the tournament, Muqeem proved to be a significant threat to the Indian batters. His perplexing wrong’uns, coupled with well-disguised leg breaks, kept the Indian batsmen guessing and piled pressure on their chase. Eventually, India A faltered and managed to score only 224 runs in 40 overs.

Muqeem’s exceptional bowling played a pivotal role in tilting the match in Pakistan’s favor. His crucial dismissals of India’s top scorer, Abhishek Sharma, who scored 61 runs, and Dhull, who contributed 39, were instrumental in breaking the momentum of India A’s innings. Muqeem concluded with impressive figures of 3 for 66 in his ten overs, receiving crucial support from fellow spinners Mubasir Khan and Mehran Mumtaz.

Interestingly, the Pakistan team management had strategically held back Muqeem from the league game against India, possibly to surprise the opposition batters in the grand finale. And indeed, the move paid off brilliantly, as Muqeem showcased his exceptional control, guile, and fearlessness, never shying away from an attacking approach, even when faced with early aggression from Abhishek.

With this emphatic victory, Pakistan A’s triumph in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup serves as a testament to the team’s talent and determination. Tayyab Tahir’s stellar batting and Sufiyan Muqeem’s precocious spin wizardry will undoubtedly be remembered as key components of this memorable title defense.

The jubilant Pakistan A players erupted into celebration as they clinched victory in the Emerging Cup. India’s lower-order batsmen put up a late resistance, attempting to extend the game, but their efforts fell short when Mohammad Wasim delivered a devastating yorker to dismantle Yuvrajsinh Dodiya’s stumps, sealing the win for Pakistan.

This triumph held particular significance for Pakistan A, especially considering their earlier defeat at the hands of India A during the league fixture. Tayyab, who, like Muqeem, was absent from that game, entered the fray with Pakistan A at 146 for 2 in the 22nd over, courtesy of a formidable century partnership between openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub.

However, the momentum shifted when both Omair Yousuf and Qasim Akram fell in quick succession to Riyan Parag’s right-arm wizardry in the 28th over. The very next over saw the captain, Mohammad Haris, trapped lbw by Nishant Sindhu’s left-arm spin, resulting in Pakistan A losing three wickets for just four runs in ten deliveries.

At 187 for 5, India A sensed an opportunity and began to apply pressure with their spinners. But Tayyab had different plans – refusing to let the game drift, he launched a fierce counterattack. Seizing the chance when the Indian bowlers momentarily lost their grip, Tayyab unleashed a display of aggression that soon transformed into a masterclass in batting.

Luck favored Tayyab when he was dropped on 51 in the 37th over, as Rajvardhan Hangargekar misjudged a ball at the long-on boundary. Undeterred, Tayyab exhibited remarkable maturity, manipulating the field, accumulating runs, and cleverly unsettling the bowlers. He even added a touch of flair with cheeky reverse paddles, all while maintaining a facade of composure.

Mubasir’s crucial support further solidified Pakistan A’s position. His resilient presence at the crease and a magnificent 126-run partnership for the seventh wicket allowed Pakistan A to amass a substantial total, preventing a potential collapse that could have resulted in a much lower score.

Ultimately, this memorable victory exemplified Pakistan A’s determination and resilience, showcasing Tayyab’s remarkable batting prowess and the team’s ability to rally even in the face of adversity.

India A’s pursuit of the target began on a promising note, with Abhishek Sharma and Sai Sudharsan displaying an array of impressive shots, matching each other’s strokes in an enterprising display during the initial ten overs. Sudharsan’s wristwork was especially noteworthy, effortlessly maneuvering the ball to various parts of the leg side. However, his innings was cut short when he fell victim to an Arshad Iqbal short ball, resulting in a top-edged pull to the wicketkeeper and breaking a solid 64-run opening partnership.

Nikin Jose had an unfortunate dismissal, given out caught behind, although replays suggested the ball had brushed his right hip on its way to the wicketkeeper. Dhull tried to steady the innings but struggled to find support after Abhishek departed, caught playing an ambitious cut shot off Muqeem.

Pakistan A capitalized on the skillful bowling of Mubasir, who operated from the other end and managed to dismiss Sindhu, who was elevated up the batting order. Mubasir’s delivery dipped, causing Sindhu to offer a return catch. As Dhruv Jurel and Parag followed suit with quick departures, India A’s chances of a comeback faded away. The match concluded in favor of Pakistan A, as they successfully defended their total with precision and composure.

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