Four ‘extras’ in last over take India B to final of under19 quadrangular meet

LUCKNOW: Aayush Singh couldn’t score off his bat, but managed to run four crucial extras (a leg-bye and three overthrows) in the last over to help India B enter the final of the under-19 quadrangular with a thrilling two-wicket win against top-billed Afghanistan here on Friday.

Set 239 to win at the B ground of the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, India B needed five runs in the last over with three wickets in hand. The over had all the ingredients of a thrilling finish with lanky seamer Abdul Rehman Rahmani conceding just one run in the first two deliveries.

Rehmani trapped Pankaj Yadav (0) off the third delivery and almost ensured a win for his side as four runs looked almost uncertain for the home team. But Aayush not only ran for a leg-bye off the fourth delivery, but also three more over an overthrow to seal an exciting win for India B.

In the other match of the day, India A — flying to Bangladesh for the Asian Cricket Council’s Asia Cup after this — notched up a convincing eight-wicket win against Nepal. India A and B play each other in their last league match on Sunday before Tuesday’s final.

Afghanistan opener Riyaz Hassan underlined his potential with a 143-ball 100 after his side chose to bat. Arif Khan Dawlatzai (28) and Abid Mohammadi (23) also made useful contributions as the side managed 238/9.

India B responded in a befitting manner with opener Qamran Iqbal scoring a 108-ball 89. Sameer Rizvi (54) and N Thakur Tilak Varma (30) later batted well before Aayush had the last laugh in the final over.

BRIEF SCORES

Nepal 156 in 45.5 overs (S Zora 66, TR Das 46, YD Mangwani 4/23, AD Goud 4/24). India A 157/2 in 24.1 overs (YV Rathod 59*, A Rawat 47, Prabhsimran Singh 46*). India A won by 8 wkts. Afghanistan 238/9 in 50 overs (R Hassan 100). India B 239/8 in 49.4 overs (Q Iqbal 89, S Rizvi 54). India B won by 2 wkts.