India A has punched its ticket to the Rising Stars Asia Cup semifinals, defeating Oman A by six wickets in a must-win encounter in Doha. The team’s strong performance, anchored by Harsh Dubey’s maiden T20 half-century, signifies a successful comeback after a previous defeat.
Oman A was limited to 135 for seven thanks to a disciplined bowling effort from India A. Suyash Sharma’s economical four-over spell, yielding 2 wickets for 12 runs, was a highlight, with Gurjapneet Singh also bagging two wickets. Wasim Ali’s resilient 54 was the cornerstone of Oman’s innings, but it wasn’t enough to set a daunting target.
The Indian batting lineup faced some early jitters during the chase. After losing a couple of quick wickets, Naman Dhir injected aggression with a quickfire 30 off 19 balls. This momentum was crucial for Harsh Dubey, who took charge at number four. Dubey played a stellar innings, remaining unbeaten on 53 off 44 balls, his first T20 fifty. He found a reliable partner in Nehal Wadhera, who contributed 23, as they comfortably guided India A to victory in just 17.5 overs.
This win ensures India A finishes second in their group and will face the Group A winner in the semifinal on Friday. The prospect of a final showdown with Pakistan A, who have also qualified, looms large for November 23, should both teams emerge victorious from their semifinal matches.