Pakistan A sealed a comfortable eight-wicket victory over India A, powered by a match-winning all-round performance from 20-year-old Maaz Sadaqat. Chasing 137, Sadaqat played a stunning innings, finishing unbeaten on 79 off 47 balls after earlier triggering India A’s dramatic collapse with his tight left-arm spin.
India A had started brightly thanks to 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who continued his superb form with a fluent 45 off 28 balls. He attacked early, dominating pacer Ubaid Shah and stitching a 49-run stand with Naman Dhir. His strokeplay—inside-out drives, clean hits over midwicket, and sharp pickups—gave India A strong momentum despite the tricky, turning pitch. But his dismissal opened the gates for Pakistan A.
Sadaqat’s introduction with the ball changed the game completely. His clever angles, drift, and subtle variations tightened the scoring, triggering a slump. He removed Jitesh Sharma and Nehal Wadhera in quick succession, while Shahid Aziz returned to clean up the tail. India A, once looking set for 180, crashed to 136 all out.
Sadaqat then dominated the chase from the first over. Dropped early, he immediately counterattacked, taking on Gurjapneet Singh and later punishing legspinner Suyash Sharma with back-to-back boundaries. His 31-ball fifty set the tone, and even after a few chances went India’s way, India A never regained control. He showcased range—flat-bat hits, reverse sweeps, and clean strikes down the ground—ensuring Pakistan stayed well ahead of the rate.
Remaining not out on 79, Sadaqat guided Pakistan A to their second straight win in the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup, guaranteeing them a place in the semi-finals.
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