Aryan Lakra stars again as UAE thrash Qatar in ACC Under 19 Western Region semi-final

The left-arm spinner took six wickets for just nine runs as the national team claimed a 10-wicket win at the Dubai International Stadium

Aryan Lakra took six wickets to lead UAE to an emphatic win over Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Another six-wicket haul by Aryan Lakra laid the platform for UAE’s crushing win over Qatar in the ACC Under 19 Western Region semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium.

The national team could scarcely have been more dominant in booking their place in Friday’s final, as they thrashed their Gulf opposition by 10 wickets.

They chased the 49-run target in just 3.5 overs, meaning they won with 277 balls to spare.

Qatar had floundered against Lakra, who took 6-9 with his left-arm spin. It was the second time he had taken six wickets in the space of the past three matches.

The Winchester, Dubai schoolboy says he has never enjoyed such a run of form before, even in junior cricket.

“This has been a really good time for me,” Lakra said. “All of it has come about because of the hard work I have put in in the past year or so with my coaches. I am just reaping the rewards now.”

While Lakra’s figures were the most striking, each of the home team’s bowlers excelled.

Akasha Tahir took 2-11 with the new ball, and Karthik Meiyappan took 2-12 from 10 overs, bowling in tandem with Lakra.

“Karthik and I work in a partnership,” Lakra said. “Whenever we play against a good opposition, we both like to bowl together because it is either him putting on the pressure and me getting the wickets, or me putting on the pressure and him getting the wickets.

“I think the partnership is working really well as of now.”

The tournament carries with it a place in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka later this year.

If the national team win Friday’s final, it will confirm their place at a second major tournament, having last month booked qualification for the 2020 Under 19 World Cup in South Africa.

Dom Telo, the coach, said his side wanted to be ruthless after arriving at the knockout stage of the competition.

“In the group stages, we wanted to make sure we gave everyone a go, as much as possible without affecting the outcome of the game,” Telo said.

“The minute we come to these knockout games, we wanted to be ruthless, and we go about our business the way that we should. I think that’s what the guys did today.

“They started really well with the ball, and one thing that pleased me the most was the fielding. The guys fielded with a really good intensity, no matter what the situation of the game was.

“We want to take that forward as a unit. We want to be ruthless. We know that in a knockout game, once you get on top, you can never let a side get back up.”