A batsman seen from behind in silhouette raising his bat toward the glowing stands of a floodlit cricket stadium at dusk after reaching a century.
Sports & Cricket
Zahoor 100* Seals Pakistan's 3-Wicket Win Over India in U19 Asia Cup
Hamza Zahoor's unbeaten 100 off 108 balls rescued Pakistan from 61 for 5 and sealed a three-wicket win over India in the U19 Asia Cup in Muscat, with 11 balls to spare.
⚡Key Highlights
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Hamza Zahoor's unbeaten 100 off 108 balls rescued Pakistan from 61 for 5 and sealed a three-wicket win over India in the U19 Asia Cup in Muscat, with 11 balls to spare.
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Key analysis, background details, and full reporting below.
Hamza Zahoor's unbeaten century rescued Pakistan from 61 for 5 and sealed a three-wicket win over India in the U19 Asia Cup clash at Al Amerat, with 11 balls to spare.
By StoryTimesNow Sports Desk — 08 November 2026, 7:04 PM IST
Pakistan beat India by three wickets in the U19 Asia Cup at Al Amerat on Sunday, 8 November 2026. (Illustration: StoryTimesNow)
Key Takeaways
What happened: Pakistan beat India by three wickets in the ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup Group A match at Al Amerat, Muscat, on Sunday, 8 November 2026 — 209 for 7 in 48.1 overs in reply to India's 208.
Who made the difference: Hamza Zahoor scored an unbeaten 100 off 108 balls (10 fours, three sixes) and shared a 107-run sixth-wicket stand with Hasnain Abbas Dar after Pakistan had slumped to 61 for 5.
What next: Pakistan go top of Group A; India, bowled out for 208 despite Arjun Rajput's 107, next face the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
Introduction
Pakistan were 61 for 5, chasing 209, and heading for a heavy defeat. Then Hamza Zahoor took charge, finishing unbeaten on 100 off 108 balls to carry the defending champions to a three-wicket win over India in the U19 Asia Cup at Al Amerat on Sunday, with 11 balls to spare.
What Happened?
India won the toss and batted, but captain Lakshya Raichandani fell for a duck off the second ball to Ali Raza and India slipped to 42 for 4. Rajput counterattacked, reaching his maiden Youth ODI century off 80 balls with 11 fours and five sixes, and added 64 with Manal Chauhan (11) for the sixth wicket. Kavya Patel's 23 took India past 200 before they were bowled out for 208 in 46.3 overs; Ali Raza, Rizwanullah and Niqab Shafiq took three wickets each.
Pakistan's chase began just as badly: Chauhan struck twice — bowling Abdul Qadir for 20 and trapping Ahmed Hussain leg-before for 8 — and Kavya Patel removed captain Farhan Yousaf for 2. At 61 for 5 after 14.4 overs, Pakistan needed 148 more runs. Then Zahoor, batting at number seven, changed the match with Hasnain Abbas Dar: the pair added 107 for the sixth wicket off 140 balls, and Zahoor stayed unbeaten on 100 off 108 as Pakistan reached 209 for 7 in 48.1 overs. He was named Player of the Match.
Why Does This Matter?
This was the most searched topic in India on Sunday, with more than 500,000 Google Trends searches, and it delivered a classic: two centuries, a collapse, and a chase rescued from 61 for 5.
For Pakistan, the win confirms their status as defending champions — they beat India by 191 runs in last season's final in Dubai — and puts them top of Group A. For India, the concern is the batting: apart from Rajput, no batter passed 23. The bowlers gave them a real chance, Chauhan finishing with 2 for 13 from four overs, but 208 was never quite enough once Zahoor settled in.
Important Details
Match: ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026, Group A, Al Amerat, Muscat, Oman, Sunday 8 November 2026. Pakistan 209 for 7 in 48.1 overs beat India 208 all out in 46.3 overs by three wickets, with 11 balls to spare.
Zahoor: 100 not out off 108 balls, 10 fours, three sixes, batting at number seven; Player of the Match.
Turning point: Pakistan 61 for 5 after 14.4 overs; Zahoor and Hasnain Abbas Dar added 107 for the sixth wicket off 140 balls.
Rajput: 107 off 85 balls, 11 fours, five sixes; maiden Youth ODI century, reached off 80 balls.
Bowling: Ali Raza, Rizwanullah and Niqab Shafiq three wickets each for Pakistan; Manal Chauhan 2 for 13 from four overs for India.
Group A: India, Pakistan, Nepal and the UAE; the top two reach the semi-finals on 12 November, with the final on 14 November.
Background and Context
Both teams arrived with opening wins — India beat Nepal by 10 wickets, Pakistan beat the UAE by nine — so this was effectively a contest for top spot. Conditions at Al Amerat have favoured chasers: three of the four matches before this one were won by the team batting second, and the lowest total successfully defended is 231. India's 208 was below that mark.
What Happens Next?
Pakistan are top of Group A and well placed for the semi-finals on 12 November, with the final on 14 November; they have Nepal to play. India face the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, 10 November: a win keeps their semi-final hopes in their own hands, but the batting must be far more collective than it was against Pakistan.
What Readers Should Know
The scoreline flatters neither top order: India were 42 for 4 and Pakistan 61 for 5. The difference was that Zahoor's unbeaten hundred went all the way to the finish. Pakistan top Group A, India second, and both sides still control their own fate.
FAQs
Who scored a century for Pakistan?
Hamza Zahoor: 100 not out off 108 balls (10 fours, three sixes). He came in at number seven with Pakistan 61 for 5 and was named Player of the Match.
What did Arjun Rajput score for India?
Rajput scored 107 off 85 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes — his maiden Youth ODI century, reached off 80 balls. India were bowled out for 208 in 46.3 overs.
Who do India play next in the U19 Asia Cup?
The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, 10 November 2026; the semi-finals are on 12 November and the final on 14 November.
Sources and Verification
CricTracker live scorecard, 8 November 2026.
Indian Express, 8 November 2026.
Outlook India, 8 November 2026.
JagranJosh, 8 November 2026.
Free Press Journal, 8 November 2026.
NajamSports, 8 November 2026.
Google Trends India, 8 November 2026, 6:58 PM IST.
Scoreline, Zahoor's 100 not out, the 61 for 5 position, the 107-run stand and Rajput's 107 were cross-checked across CricTracker, Indian Express, Outlook India and JagranJosh. All sources are dated 8 November 2026.
Scoreline and figures are cross-checked across CricTracker, Indian Express, Outlook India and JagranJosh, all reporting on 8 November 2026. The result is final. The 15:00 IST first-innings report on this site covered India being bowled out for 208 before the chase was decided; this article reports the completed match.
