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.

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*).

Afghanistan 238/9 in 50 overs (R Hassan 100). India B 239/8 in 49.4 overs (Q Iqbal 89, S Rizvi 54).