DUBAI: Sizzling centuries from Samir Minhas and Ahmed Hussain helped Pakistan beat Malaysia by 297 runs in their ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 campaign opener.
Set a target of 346 runs, Malaysia’s batting unit managed just 48 runs against a dominant Pakistan bowling before being bowled out in 19.4 overs.
Muhammad Akram top scored for Malaysia with nine off 16 balls.
Mohammad Syam and Ali Raza combined to attack Pakistan’s bowling, taking three wickets each, followed by Daniel Ali Khan with two wickets and Niqab Shafiq with a scalp.
Malaysia skipper Dees Patro’s decision to field first after winning the toss backfired as the Green Shirts’ batting unit amassed 345/3 in their allotted 50 overs thanks to a third-wicket partnership from Sameer and Ahmed.
Pakistan, however, had a different start to their innings as Usman Khan (A) fell to Nagineswaran Sathnakumar with just four runs off the final delivery of the second over.
Following an early stumble, Ali Hassan Baloch joined Samir in the middle for a cautious 26-run partnership that culminated in the 10th over when Sathnakumaran dismissed the former for 14 off 26 balls.
With the scoreboard reading 30/2 in 9.5 overs, Sameer and Ahmed joined hands to turn the game around as they added 293 runs at a blistering pace amid their third wicket partnership.
The monumental stand was broken in the last over when Ahmed suffered a strange dismissal on a hit-wicket off Muhammad Akram.
The middle order batsman scored 132 runs off 144 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Sameer, on the other hand, carried his bat to the full and returned to his highest unbeaten 177 off 148 balls with 11 fours and 8 sixes.
For Malaysia, Sathnakumaran led the wicket-taking charts with two wickets, but the price came as he conceded 91 runs in his 10 overs, while Akram took one run for 64 runs.