Sharjah: Vijay Zol played a captain's knock (100) while Sanju Samson too made a match-winning century (100) as India colts beat arch-rivals Pakistan by a comprehensive 40 runs to clinch the Under-19 Asia cup title here on Saturday.
Zol's knock came off 120 balls, including seven fours and two sixes, while Samson took just 87 deliveries for his ton that included eight boundaries and four sixes, to help India reach 314 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.
In reply, Pakistan could reach 274 for nine, despite a fighting ton from Kamran Ghulam (102 not out; 89b, 12X4s).
Put in to bat, India got off to a solid start with openers -- Ankush Bains (47) and Akhil Herwadkar (12) -- putting on 65 runs in 6.4 overs for the opening wicket. Zia-ul-Haq got the first breakthrough for Pakistan by removing Herwadkar, while leg-spinner Karamat Ali dismissed Bains to reduce India to 85 for two.
However, skipper Vijay Zol found an able partner in Sanju Samson and the two shared a massive 180-run partnership for the third wicket. Karamat finally broke the partnership by getting the wicket of Zol, who mistimed a shot, giving a catch to Zafar Gohar at mid-on. And by the time Samson departed, India were comfortably placed at 286 for four in 44.1 overs.
For Pakistan, Zafar Gohar (2/52), Zia-ul-Haq (2/56) and Karamat (2/78) took two wickets each, while Kamran Ghulam chipped in with one.
Chasing a massive target, Pakistan faltered from the very beginning, losing Mohammad Umair (17), Imam-ul-Haq (18), Hasan Raza (1) and Saifullah Khan (3) cheaply, to be reeling at 88 for four.
However, Sami Aslam pfound an able support in Kamran Ghulam and the two put on a solid 93-run stand together for the fifth wicket to keep Pakistan's chances alive. Aamir Gani managed to to give India the breakthrough as he dismissed Aslam for a well-made 87 off 96 balls. Ghulam though held the fort from one end, he kept running out of partners at the other end and it was a matter of time before Pakistan ran out of their allotted 50 overs, falling short by a huge margin.
Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of three for 72, while Deepak Hooda (2/37), Gani (2/39) and Chama Milind (2/44) claimed two wickets each.
