India thrash UAE by 234 runs as 14-year-old Suryavanshi smashes 171 in U19 Asia Cup opener

Teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a blistering 95-ball 171 to spearhead India’s commanding 234-run victory over the UAE in the opening match of the ACC U19 Asia Cup at the ICC Academy on Friday.

Set a mammoth 434-run target, the UAE managed only 179-7 in their 50 overs.

Uddish Suri top-scored with an unbeaten 78 off 106 balls, while Prithvi Madhu contributed 50 off 87, but the hosts struggled throughout after losing early wickets.

Indian pacers Henil Patel and Kishan Singh struck in their opening overs, triggering a collapse that saw half the UAE side back in the pavilion by the 11th over.

An 85-run stand between Suri and Madhu briefly steadied the innings, but with the required run rate spiralling, UAE never recovered. Deepesh Devendran finished with two wickets for India.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, India piled up a formidable 433-6.

The 14-year-old Suryavanshi lit up the innings with a breathtaking knock featuring 14 sixes and nine fours.

He shared a 212-run partnership for the second wicket with Aaron George, who scored 69.

Vihaan Malhotra also added 69 to the total.

For the UAE, Uddish Suri and Yug Sharma claimed two wickets each.

India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a highly anticipated Group A clash on Sunday, 14 December.