Minhas hits record 172 as Pakistan crush India to win U19 Asia Cup

Pakistan produced a dominant display to crush India by 191 runs and clinch the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup title at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Sunday.

Riding on opener Sameer Minhas' record-breaking 172, Pakistan posted a daunting 347 for eight before dismissing India for 156 in just 26.2 overs. It was Pakistan's second U-19 Asia Cup title after they shared the trophy with India following a draw in the 2012 final.

The 191-run winning margin is also the second-largest victory by runs in the final of the tournament after Bangladesh's 195-run win against the UAE in the 2023 final.

Opener Minhas was the standout performer, hammering 17 fours and nine sixes in his 113-ball innings. The knock was the highest individual score by a Pakistan batter in Youth ODIs and also the highest individual score in a Youth Asia Cup match. The 19-year-old eclipsed India batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi's 171, set earlier in the tournament against the UAE.

Pakistan lost fellow opener Hamza Zahur for 18 but Minhas added 92 runs for the second wicket with Usman Khan, who scored 35 off 45 balls. After Usman's dismissal, Minhas shared a pivotal 137-run third-wicket stand with Ahmed Hussain, who struck 56 off 72 balls.

Minhas eventually departed with Pakistan on 302 and 7.1 overs to spare. The innings slowed down in the death overs, with Pakistan adding 71 runs in the final 10 while losing five wickets.

Deepesh Devendran picked up three wickets at the end but conceded 83 runs in his 10 overs.

India's chase began at a frantic pace as they raced to 32 before losing their first wicket in the third over, skipper Ayush Mhatre falling for two. Opener Suryavanshi then counterattacked, smashing three sixes in a blistering 26 off nine balls before pacer Ali Raza had him nicking off in the fifth over. India were 49 for three at that point and 68 for five by the end of the powerplay.

From there, wickets fell regularly as Pakistan maintained control. India were eventually bowled out for 156, with Devendran's 36 off 16 balls -- the highest score in the innings -- providing brief resistance.

Ali Raza was Pakistan's most effective bowler returning figures of four for 42. Four Pakistan bowlers shared the wickets, continuing a remarkable trend that saw Pakistan bowl out every opposition they faced in the tournament.

Minhas, who amassed 471 runs at an average of 157, was adjudged the player of the tournament and the player of the final. He also finished as the tournament's highest run getter. India's Deepesh, meanwhile, bagged 14 wickets at an economy rate of 4.77 and topped the wicket-taker's charts.