Harsh Dubey Stars with Bat and Ball as India A Storm into Asia Cup Emerging Teams Semi-Finals

All-rounder Harsh Dubey produced a match-winning performance to propel India A into the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup with a clinical six-wicket victory over Oman A at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Put in to bat after India skipper Jitesh Sharma won the toss, Oman A posted 135 for 7 in their 20 overs, largely riding on an unbeaten 54 from Waseem Ali. India chased down the modest target in just 17.5 overs, finishing at 139 for 4, courtesy of Dubey’s unbeaten 53 off 44 balls – his maiden T20 half-century – and a crucial 66-run fourth-wicket stand with Nehal Wadhera.

The win sealed India A’s place in the last four with an unassailable record in Group B, having already beaten Pakistan Shaheens and UAE earlier in the tournament.

Oman’s innings began brightly with captain Hammad Mirza blazing 32 off 16 balls, including three fours and two sixes. But once Vijaykumar Vyshak removed him in the fifth over, the innings lost momentum. Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma (2-23) and left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh (2-25) struck at regular intervals, while Dubey, Vyshak and off-spinner Naman Dhir chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Waseem Ali held the lower order together with a responsible 54 not out from 45 deliveries (5×4, 1×6), but Oman could only manage 98 runs in the last 15 overs.

India’s reply suffered early jolts. Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, fresh from consecutive half-centuries, fell for 12, and Priyansh Arya departed for a run-a-ball 10. Naman Dhir counter-attacked with 30 off 19 balls, peppered with two sixes, before Samay Srivastava cleaned him up.

At 61 for 3, the match was still in the balance, but Dubey’s promotion to No. 5 proved inspired. The left-hander, who had already contributed with the ball, batted with maturity alongside Wadhera (23 off 24). The duo milked the spinners and accelerated against the pace-off deliveries, knocking off the runs with 13 balls to spare.

Dubey reached his fifty in the 17th over and sealed the chase when Jitesh Sharma flicked Aryan Bisht to the fine-leg boundary for four. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder finished with an unbeaten 53 (44b, 7×4, 1×6), earning Player of the Match honours.

India A will now head into Thursday’s semi-final high on confidence, with Dubey emerging as a genuine two-way asset alongside the likes of Vaibhav, Ayush Mhatre and the spin pairing of Suyash and Manav Suthar.

For Oman A, the defeat ended a promising campaign that included a shock win over Sri Lanka A earlier in the week. Waseem Ali’s fighting fifty was the only silver lining on a night when their bowlers failed to defend a below-par total.

Brief scores: Oman A 135/7 in 20 overs (Waseem Ali 54, Hammad Mirza 32; Suyash Sharma 2-23, Gurjapneet Singh 2-25) lost to India A 139/4 in 17.5 overs (Harsh Dubey 53, Naman Dhir 30; Aryan Bisht 1-19) by 6 wickets.