India and Pakistan open U19 Asia Cup with routs in Oman

India and Pakistan both opened their U19 Asia Cup campaigns with routs at Al Amerat in Oman on Friday. Pakistan beat UAE by nine wickets. India beat Nepal by ten. Neither chase needed 38 overs.

Both matches are in Group A, which also holds UAE and Nepal. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka had won the tournament's opening two fixtures a day earlier.

Usman Khan sets the tone

UAE made 224 all out in their 50 overs. Pakistan answered with 225 for 1 in 37.3. Usman Khan finished 139 not out from 120 balls, an innings The Sports Encounter records as carrying 21 fours and a six. Dawn, Geo Super and Nukta all report the nine wicket margin and the century.

Mohammad Sayyam took 3 for 37 from his ten overs. UAE had runs in the middle order and no way to defend them.

Nepal fold for 128

Nepal were bowled out for 128 in 42.3 overs. Ishan Sood and Arjun Rajput took three wickets each. Yashveer Goud took two. The innings never built a stand worth the name.

• Pakistan beat UAE by 9 wickets: UAE 224, Pakistan 225 for 1 in 37.3 overs
• India beat Nepal by 10 wickets: Nepal 128, India 129 for 0 in 19.1 overs
• Usman Khan 139 not out off 120 balls for Pakistan
• Aaryavir Sehwag 70 not out off 52 balls for India

An opening stand that ended it

India needed 19.1 overs and lost nobody. Aaryavir Sehwag made 70 not out off 52 balls with seven fours and four sixes. Lakshya Raichandani was 53 not out off 63. ETV Bharat puts India top of Group A on net run rate of plus 4.170.

The gap inside Group A

Margins like these are the routine shape of associate fixtures against the two largest academies in the region. UAE at least posted 224 and made Pakistan bat 37 overs. Nepal did not get that far.

Oman is hosting. Al Amerat has become the Gulf's default neutral ground for age group and associate cricket. A tournament week there gives three boards outside the Test game competitive days their own calendars cannot supply. The group concludes before the semi finals.