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KARAJ: Pakistan outplayed arch-rivals India with a dominant 14-1 victory in the semifinal of the 16th BFA West Asia Baseball Cup here on Tuesday.
With a victory against India, Pakistan maintained their unbeaten run in the regional tournament, currently taking place in Karaj, Iran.
Pakistan will now face Palestine in the final in a bid to defend their West Asia Baseball Cup title.
Pakistan displayed dominance throughout the game against India as mercy rule was applied after seven innings due to a significant lead, which eliminated any chance for opposing team comeback.
The defending champions opened the game with power, notching five runs in both the first and third innings to establish their dominance.
Third baseman Hussain played a pivotal role in the offense, achieving a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with two RBIs and crossing home plate four times.
Earlier, Pakistan topped Group B with a perfect record. The Green Shirts opened their campaign with a 10-6 win over Bangladesh in a game that saw early fireworks and some nervy moments.
Pakistan raced to a 6-run lead early on but allowed Bangladesh to claw back due to fielding lapses. However, bowler Syed Muhib Shah stepped up to anchor the side’s recovery and ensure a winning start.
In their second match in the West Asia Baseball Cup, Pakistan produced a ruthless display against hosts Iran, cruising to a 14-0 win.
The batting unit ran riot from the very first inning, piling up 12 runs in the first three frames. On the mound, Muhammad Haris was virtually unplayable, delivering six scoreless innings, striking out 13 batters, and conceding just two hits.
For the unversed, the event, organized by the Baseball Federation of Asia, which is the continental branch of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) and operates under the International Olympic Committee (IOC), features top national teams from across West Asia.
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