UAE lose out to United States in thriller despite Aryan Lakra's heroics

Aryan Lakra was denied a winning start to his international career as UAE lost out by a single wicket to United States in a thrilling one-day international in Aberdeen.

The 20-year-old debutant made a fine half-century to help the national team post a target of 254. Then USA weathered an alarming late collapse as they just made it over the winning line.

The fact Lakra had been picked to debut in place of Kashif Daud was not entirely a surprise.

Daud had been uncharacteristically poor a day earlier in the loss to Scotland, with an economy rate of 6.66 when bowling, and suffering the indignity of a golden duck, too.

Swapping him for Lakra would give the UAE an extra left-arm spin option, on a wicket that was having its second day of use.

What was a shock, however, was the fact Lakra walked to the wicket right at the start of play, and opened the batting with Muhammad Waseem.

Deposing Chirag Suri from his berth at the top of the order seemed a canny decision right from the off, though.

Lakra took his first over in international cricket for 11 runs, and seemed well equipped to deal with stepping up to elite level.

Great shift by the ground staff here at Mannofield pic.twitter.com/GNGuog1WZS

Hearteningly, the biggest stand of the UAE innings was between two players who had played together on the world stage in Under 19 cricket only recently.

Lakra captained the UAE side who went to the age-group World Cup in two years ago, leading a cohort that included Vriitya Aravind.

Aravind, who only turned 20 in June, has established himself in the senior game in the time since – to a record-breaking extent, as he became just the third player to notch two ODI tons while still a teenager.

So rapid has been his ascent, Aravind has been