WATCH: Mohit Ulva's last-ball boundary as India clinch U-19 Asia Cup over Pakistan
Three runs. One ball. One wicket remaining. Mohit Ulva had the weight of an India-Pakistan final resting on his shoulders, but the 18-year-old held his nerve to produce a moment that will be remembered for a long time.With India needing three runs off the final delivery to win the Under-19 Asia Cup final, Ulva smashed Pakistan leg-spinner Ahmed Hussain's delivery towards the long-off boundary to seal a stunning one-wicket victory and India's ninth U-19 Asia Cup title.The dramatic finish came after India had been pushed to the brink of defeat while chasing Pakistan's imposing 338-run target.
The Boys in Blue were struggling at 252 for eight in the 42nd over before Ulva and Manal Chauhan joined forces to revive the chase.The duo stitched together a crucial 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket, with Manal contributing 47 off 32 balls and Ulva scoring an unbeaten 49 off just 26 deliveries.Manal's dismissal at 302 left India needing another 36 runs with only one wicket remaining.
Ulva then found support in No. 11 Chigurupati Venkata, who scored an unbeaten 11 off eight balls.The pair kept India's hopes alive, collecting 17 runs in the penultimate over to bring the equation down to eight runs from the final six deliveries.Facing Ahmed Hussain in the final over, Ulva and Venkata rotated the strike and negotiated a tense stumping appeal. With three runs required off the last ball, Ulva took matters into his own hands, finding the boundary to complete India's remarkable chase at 339 for nine in 50 overs.Earlier, Pakistan had posted a formidable 337 for nine, powered by Usman Khan's 107, Abdul Qadir's 80 and captain Farhan Yousaf's 63.
India's Kavya Patel claimed four wickets, while Venkata picked up three.India's chase was initially anchored by captain Lakshya Raichandani, who scored 80, and Aaryavir Sehwag, who made 58. Their 95-run opening stand provided a strong start, but a middle-order collapse threatened to derail India's title hopes before Ulva and his partners produced a remarkable turnaround.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.
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