Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Sudharsan, Hangargekar help India A thrash Pakistan A by eight wickets, top Group B

Sai Sudharsan smashed an unbeaten ton after Rajvardhan Hangarhekar collected a five-for as India A thrashed Pakistan A by eight wickets in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup in Colombo on Wednesday. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Hangargekar returned superb figures of 5/42, his best List A figures, and was ably supported by Manav Suthar (3/36) as the Indians bowled the Pakistanis out for 205 after the latter elected to bat. Tamil Nadu and Gujarat Titans batter Sai Sudharsan then remained unbeaten on 104 off 110 deliveries, forging a 99-run second-wicket partnership with Nikin Jose (53) along the way as the Indians strolled to the target with eight wickets and a little under 14 overs to spare. The victory ensured India A topped Group B with three wins in as many outings. They face Bangladesh A in the second semi-final on Friday, with Pakistan A squaring off against Sri Lanka A. Batting first, Pakistan were all out for 205 in 48 overs with Hangargekar taking 5 for 42 in eight overs and then Sudharsan’s unbeaten 104 off 110 balls ensured that the meagre target was surpassed in 36.4 overs. In fact, Sudharsan pulled and then lofted senior Pakistan team pacer Shahnawaz Dahani for back-to-back sixes to complete his fourth List A hundred. His 99-run second wicket partnership with Kerala man Jose (53 off 64 balls) literally ended Pakistan’s hopes of a comeback. Sudharsan, who was equally good against Nepal on the other evening, hit 10 boundaries apart from three sixes. His driving on both sides of the wicket was regal once he was set. The most impressive part of his batting was nearly 40 singles that he took to keep the strike rotating. Credit should be given to skipper Yash Dhull (21 not out off 19 balls), who allowed Sudharsan to go for the milestone giving him bulk of the strike during their 53-run stand. With two required for a win and his century, Sudharsan hit Dahani for an exquisite six over extra cover to end the game. “I was focusing more on risk-free runs. Focusing on ones and twos, and reducing dot balls. Against spinners, it was dicey and tricky wicket to bat. It was better to face against fast bowlers,” Sudharsan said after the match. However Hangargekar and left-arm spinner Suthar (3/36 in 10 overs) also deserve equal credit for restricting Pakistan batters as no one even got to a fifty. Had Qasim Akram (48) and Mubasir Khan (28) not added 53 for the seventh wicket, Pakistan team’s total wouldn’t have gained the semblance of respectability that it got in the end. Hangargekar, the muscular Maharashtra man, bowls back of the length stuff with occasional fuller deliveries which do the trick. The pace is in and around 140 clicks which made it difficult for the top order batters to drive on the up. Suthar, the Rajasthan man, also varied his pace and used the loop to good effect to get his share of dismissals. Brief Scores: Pakistan A 205 in 48 overs (Qasim Akram 48, Rajvardhan Hangargekar 5/42, Manav Suthar 3/36) vs India A 210/2 in 36.4 overs (Sai Sudharsan 104 not out, Nikin Jose 53). With inputs from PTI