Ulva pulls off heist as India lift Under-19s Asia Cup after instant classic against Pakistan

This was the stuff of miracle, an instant India-Pakistan classic, bursting into life right when it seemed to be all over, like all the best cricket heists. Chasing 338 in the Under-19s Asia Cup final, India were 252 for 8 in the 42nd over. In a repeat match-up of last year's fixture, Pakistan were on the verge of defending their title. Then, No. 7 Manal Chauhan and No. 10 Mohit Ulva orchestrated an all-timer of a comeback, helping India chase down 87 off 51 with just two wickets to spare.

Pakistan's bowlers, who had been precise with their plans in hot and humid Al Amerat so far, erred in line and length as the sun went down. They kept feeding slot balls to the big-hitting pair of Chauhan and Ulva. The two put together a 57-run stand in just 5.5 overs, and even then, Pakistan had the upper hand when Chauhan fell on 47 off 32, with India still needing 29 off 16.

But in the company of No. 11 Chigurupati Venkata - playing his first game in this tournament - Ulva kept India in the hunt and drilled a drive over long-off to steal a last-ball one-wicket win, and the Asia Cup title, for his team.

The start of India's innings had been the very antithesis of its finish: The top order opted to start cautiously, and were 186 for 3 in the 33rd over. The required rate was already above eight per over. The pressure rose against Pakistan's tight lines on a surface that had begun to grip. India lost five wickets for just 80 runs and were heading towards a big defeat, with fast bowler Rizwanullah completing his three-for through the middle overs.

Pakistan had been in a position of such dominance because with the new ball in hand. Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam had homed in on hard lengths that cramped India's batters for room. In the fifth over, opener and player-of-the-tournament Aaryavir Sehwag was struck on the right forearm, just below his elbow, and was in agony for the rest of his innings. Just two balls later, he swatted a ball away after defending it and the Pakistan in-fielders appealed for obstructing the field, but the umpires turned them down.

With strapping on his arm and painkillers, Sehwag battled his way to a 61-ball 58 before miscuing a lofted shot to long-off, off Niqab Shafiq's bowling, in the 18th over. His contribution would prove to be vital in the end, though it was not as decisive as Lakshya Raichandani's effort at the other end, as the two shared a 95-run opening stand.

Despite intermittent authoritative shots, Raichandani played at a slow strike-rate of 79.20. He top-scored with his 80 off 101. At least of his partners, notable VK Vineeth and Arjun Rajput, were dismissed arguably while trying to manufacture shots to up the run-rate. Raichandani himself was finally caught off a stunning leaping catch by Hasnain Abbas Dar at midwicket, in the 37th over. The next ball, a direct hit sent back Anvay Dravid, caught out of his crease looking for a non-existent run.

Pakistan had been tight in their fielding all day, and as they nabbed their sixth wicket, they stood in contrast to India's sloppy effort in the field: India had dropped at least three catches and missed one run-out chance. But as Pakistan's bowling discipline waned in the death overs, India's decision to take the game deep was vindicated.

Earlier in the day, opener Usman Khan's 107, a blistering 54-ball 80 from Abdul Qadir, and a half-century later in the innings from captain Farhan Yousaf had taken Pakistan to 337 for 9.

India's quicks went too full in their search for swing with the new ball, shared by Ulva and Kavya, and Usman and fellow opener Hayam Khan took full toll as they erred with their lengths.

Pakistan had looked set to score a lot more, having blazed away to 93 for 1 in the batting powerplay 204 for 2 after 30 overs. But Kavya Paresh Patel (4 for 68) and Venkata (3 for 40) headlined the last ten overs, as only 63 runs were scored for six wickets.

Hayam (21) fell in the ninth over, to Kavya, skipping down the track to a wide delivery and sending an outside edge to the wicketkeeper. Kavya had anticipated his movement because till then, the Pakistan batters had used their feet quite effectively to throw India's bowlers off their lengths. They continued doing so even after the powerplay, as Usman and Qadir shared a 135-run partnership off just 113 balls for the second wicket.

Qadir was the aggressor, even as Usman scored at just under a-run-a-ball at the other end. Qadir smashed eight sixes and three fours and made his first fifty at this level. The highlight of his innings came in the ninth over itself, when he played a high-elbowed front-foot pull off Kavya.

Thereafter, the two batters continued to be aggressive even against the spinners. In particular left-arm spinner Manal Chauhan, who went wicketless in his three-over spell for 40 runs. Qadir finally fell in the 27th over, looking to continue his high-risk batting but holing out with a leading edge to the covers off Arjun Rajput.