Dhaka, Jan 25 (IANS) Left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed picked an impressive five-wicket haul, while Sarfaraz Khan scored 81 to help India script a comfortable five-wicket victory over rivals Pakistan in the final warm-up match here on Monday ahead of the Under-19 cricket World Cup.
Batting first, Pakistan were dismissed for 197 in 44.1 overs in a match reduced to 45 overs-a-side due to a delayed start, and India surpassed the target in the 34th over to fashion a convincing and morale-boosting win ahead of the tournament starting on Wednesday.
Khaleel grabbed five wickets for 30 runs as Pakistan, who were cruising at 75 for one at one stage, lost their last nine wickets for 122 runs.
Mohammad Umar (36) and Hasan Mohsin (33) were the top scorers.
Hard-hitting batsman Sarfaraz sealed India’s comfortable win by smashing 81 off 68 balls with 12 boundaries and a six.
Next up, three-time champions India will open their campaign against Ireland in Group D on January 28.
In another match, hosts Bangladesh trounced England by 97 runs to show they will be a force to reckon with in the tournament.
New Zealand’s spin twins, Aniket Parikh and Rachin Ravindra, took three wickets each to help their side overcome a spirited Afghanistan by 13 runs.
Shammu Ashan (81 off 74) starred with the bat as Sri Lanka downed Nepal by 65 runs.
