India U19 vs Pakistan U19: Hamza Zahoor’s Hundred Seals a Three-Wicket Win

Pakistan U19 beat India U19 by three wickets in a tense ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup Group A match at Al Amerat, Oman, on November 8. India made 208 in 46.3 overs, led by Arjun Rajput’s 107 from 85 balls. Pakistan fell to 61 for five in the chase, then wicketkeeper-batter Hamza Zahoor steadied the innings and finished unbeaten on 100 from 108 balls as Pakistan reached 209 for seven in 48.1 overs.

The result quickly became one of India’s top cricket searches, but the scoreline does not capture the match’s two distinct acts: Rajput’s counterattacking hundred gave India a defendable total, and Zahoor’s composed chase rescued Pakistan after a collapse. The match was decided by which side could build a partnership under pressure.

How did India reach 208?

India chose to bat after winning the toss, but the innings began with a wicket in the first over. The top order found it difficult to score freely. Aaryavir Sehwag made 22 from 40 balls, while VK Vineeth and Yashbardhan Chauhan fell cheaply. India were 42 for four before Rajput and the lower middle order began to repair the innings.

Rajput changed the tempo without losing the shape of his innings. He hit 11 fours and five sixes, scoring at a strike rate above 125. He carried India from a vulnerable position to 170 for seven before being dismissed for 107. The innings did not end there: Kavya Paresh Patel contributed 23 and helped take the total past 200, but India were all out in the 47th over.

The team score of 208 was neither a collapse nor a dominant total. It offered India something to defend, especially after Rajput’s century, but Pakistan could still chase at a measured pace if it kept wickets in hand. India’s challenge was to turn early pressure into a sustained squeeze.

Why did Pakistan’s chase look nearly lost?

Pakistan lost wickets in clusters. Two early dismissals were followed by more pressure in the middle overs, and the side was 61 for five inside 15 overs. India’s seamers and spinners had made the target feel much larger than 209. Manal Chauhan’s three wickets for 32 runs were central to that phase, and India had a realistic chance to finish the match before the final overs.

At that point, a risky counterattack could have ended the chase quickly. Zahoor instead worked the ball into gaps, protected his wicket and allowed Hasnain Abbas Dar to settle beside him. The partnership put Pakistan back in the contest without requiring a boundary every over.

Also readVirat Kohli’s 74 Powers India to DLS Win Over New Zealand in 1st ODI→

How did Hamza Zahoor turn it around?

Zahoor made an unbeaten 100 from 108 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes. Hasnain Abbas Dar scored 38 from 67 balls, and together they added 107 runs for the sixth wicket. That stand took Pakistan from 61 for five to 168 for six. It did more than add runs: it forced India to bowl longer spells, kept the required rate manageable and shifted the pressure onto the fielding side.

India broke the partnership and took another wicket, briefly reopening the game. Pakistan were seven down at 183, still needing 26 runs. Zahoor stayed in control, and the lower order added what was needed around him. Pakistan crossed the line with 11 balls left and three wickets in hand. Zahoor’s hundred was the headline, but the 107-run partnership with Dar was the structural turning point.

Which bowling performances mattered?

Pakistan’s attack kept India to 208 by taking wickets regularly after Rajput’s dismissal. Rizwanullah claimed three for 24, while Ali Raza took three for 37. Niqab Shafiq also finished with three wickets. Those strikes prevented India from converting a strong individual hundred into a much larger total.

India’s bowlers also had a strong opening. Chauhan returned three for 32 and kept the middle overs tense. The late phase was the test: after Pakistan’s partnership grew, India needed another breakthrough or a run of quiet overs. They managed to remove two batters late, but Zahoor remained available at the finish.

What does the result mean in the group?

Pakistan’s win was its second consecutive victory in the tournament after beating the UAE in its previous match. India had opened its campaign with a win over Nepal, so the loss was an early setback rather than an end to its qualification hopes. Group standings can change with later results and net run rate; readers should check the official tournament table for the latest position instead of treating one result as a final qualification verdict.

There is also a useful distinction between this youth match and senior India–Pakistan cricket. These players are still developing, and one score should not be used to label a teenager’s long-term prospects. Rajput’s hundred and Zahoor’s chase are performances to assess in context: skill under pressure, decision-making, and how each player responds in the next games.

What India can take from the defeat

India’s first innings had two clear lessons. The early wickets made Rajput’s century essential, and the finish left some runs in the dressing room when the last three wickets fell quickly. A slightly longer lower-order stand could have added valuable margin. In the chase, India did the hardest part by reaching 61 for five; the next wicket or a sustained squeeze might have changed the outcome. The review should focus on execution, not on blaming one bowler or one dropped chance without evidence.

Pakistan, meanwhile, showed why a chase is not over when the scoreboard looks grim. Zahoor and Dar matched patience with intent, chose their scoring options and kept the partnership intact through the middle overs. That is a repeatable lesson for young batters: after a collapse, first restore the innings, then take calculated risks.

Also readWhy European Club Football Attracts So Much Interest in India→

His Insight: the partnership was the match

India had the better opening phase; Pakistan had the better recovery. Rajput’s 107 was the most striking individual innings, but the game turned when Zahoor and Dar added 107 after Pakistan had lost half its side. The three-wicket margin reflects a close finish, while the partnership explains how the chase became possible at all.

Frequently asked questions

Who won India U19 vs Pakistan U19 on November 8, 2026?

Pakistan U19 won by three wickets in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup Group A match in Al Amerat, Oman.

How many runs did Hamza Zahoor score?

Zahoor scored an unbeaten 100 from 108 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes.

What was India’s total?

India U19 were all out for 208 in 46.3 overs. Arjun Rajput made 107 from 85 balls.

What was the turning point?

After Pakistan slipped to 61 for five, Zahoor and Hasnain Abbas Dar added 107 runs for the sixth wicket, bringing the chase back under control.

Verdict

India’s 208 was built around a brilliant Rajput hundred, but Pakistan’s recovery was stronger as a team effort. Zahoor’s unbeaten century anchored the chase, Dar’s support rebuilt it, and Pakistan’s bowlers had already stopped India from pushing well beyond 208. For India, the next match is a chance to respond; for Pakistan, the win reinforces the value of staying composed after an early collapse.

Sources: Pakistan Cricket Board official scorecard; PCB match report, Nov 8, 2026; Cricbuzz scorecard; Google Trends India.