ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Bowlers, Abhishek Sharma guide India A to semi-finals with seven-wicket win over UAE

A clinical India A defeated United Arab Emirates by seven wickets in their second Group B match of the 2024 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup match in Al Amerat, Oman on Monday and qualify for the semi-finals. After the bowlers, led by Rasikh Salam (3/15) helped India A see off UAE for 107, Abhishek Sharma scored a scintillating 58 off 24 balls as the Boys in Blue chased down the total in just 10.5 overs.

This was the Indian team’s second win in as many matches in the tournament, having beaten traditional rivals Pakistan by seven runs in the opener.

As it happened | I ndia vs UAE, ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup match  

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Ayush Badoni completed the formality of chasing down a target of 108 with a six and four. India won with as many as 55 balls still left to be bowled.

While Abhishek hit five fours and four sixes in his blazing knock, skipper Tilak Varma missed out on a big one after making 21 in 18 balls.

Opting to bat first, UAE were bowled out for 107 in 16.5 overs. The decision backfired as UAE lost both openers — Mayank Kumar (10) and Aryansh Sharma (1) — inside the first two overs.

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Seamer Rasikh Salam dismissed three batters in his opening over, reducing UAE to 40 for 5 inside the power play.

Salam was adjudged the Player of the Match for returning excellent figures of 3/15 with the ball. There were also a couple of strikes from Ramandeep Singh (2/7) as India bundled out UAE with more than three overs remaining in their innings.

UAE skipper Basil Hameed (22 off 12 balls) and Rahul Chopra (50 off 50 balls) steadied the ship with a 41-run partnership before Abhishek broke the partnership, getting the former caught off his own bowling. That UAE managed to cross 100 was largely due to Chopra’s effort.

India are currently on top of Group B with four points, and take on hosts Oman in their final group game on Wednesday.

With inputs from PTI