Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Leads India A To Huge Win Over UAE In Rising Stars Asia Cup | Cricket News

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shone for India A.

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Young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blasted the joint second-fastest T20 hundred by an Indian batter, leading India A to a commanding 148-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup Rising Stars on Friday.

Sooryavanshi scored 144 off 42 balls (11 fours, 15 sixes), while skipper Jitesh Sharma contributed 83 off 32 balls, helping India amass a massive total of 297 for 4 in 20 overs.

The UAE were never in the chase and finished at 149 for 7, with left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh (3 for 18) spearheading India’s bowling attack.

UAE middle-order batter Shoaib Khan provided some resistance with a 41-ball 63.

Sooryavanshi was the highlight of the evening, reaching his hundred in just 32 balls, matching Rishabh Pant’s record for Delhi against Himachal Pradesh in 2018.

The 14-year-old reached his century with a well-timed four off pacer Muhammad Arfan in the 10th over.

Sooryavanshi was ably supported by Naman Dhir (34) as the second-wicket pair added 168 runs in just over 10 overs at a rate of 16 per over.

Although Sooryavanshi fell short of surpassing compatriots Abhishek Sharma and Urvil Patel, who hold the record for the fastest Indian T20 hundreds off 28 balls, he maintained a single-minded aggressive approach throughout his innings.

UAE left-arm spinner Harshit Kaushik bore the brunt of Sooryavanshi’s assault, conceding four sixes and a four in the 11th over, which yielded 30 runs.

Sooryavanshi was eventually dismissed by off-spinner Mohammed Farazuddin, caught by Ahmed Tariq in the deep when India were at 195 for three in 12.3 overs. His wicket momentarily slowed India’s momentum, but Jitesh quickly regained the pace.

Jitesh reached his fifty in 24 balls with a six off Arfan and then hammered the pacer for 6, 4, 4, 6, and 6 in the 19th over, adding 28 runs.

Chasing 298 was beyond UAE’s capability, and their main aim was to minimise the margin of defeat. However, this proved difficult against a high-quality Indian attack featuring first-class regulars.

(With agency inputs)