Pakistan’s batting collapsed as England clinched a 37-run win in a Group C match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on Friday.
Chasing a below-par 211, Pakistan was reduced to 85 for six in the 26th over, before a 48-run alliance for the seventh wicket between captain Farhan Yousaf and Abdul Subhan lent the scoreboard some respectability.
Yousaf’s 65 off 86 balls was the only significant contribution as no other Pakistani batter could score more than 18 runs.
It was a well-rounded from England’s bowlers, with seamers Alex Green and James Minto nabbing two wickets each, while left-arm spinner Ralphie Albert also picked two scalps.
Earlier, after being put in to bat, middle-order batter Caleb Falconer top-scored with 66 off 73 as England was bowled out for 210 in 46.5 overs. Pakistan leggie Ahmed Hussain, who picked 3/38 in 10 overs, posed the most significant threat to the English batters.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan stunned South Africa in a Group B contest at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek. Chasing a challenging 267-run total, South Africa’s batting line-up endured four run outs and eventually fell 28 runs short of the target.
Southpaw Jason Rowles anchored South Africa’s innings with a 93-ball 98 but fell with his team still needing 89 runs to win with four wickets in hand. Though lower-order batters Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (22), Daniel Bosman (20) and Corne Botha (25) fought valiantly, it wasn’t enough.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s batting was propped up by half-centuries from opener Khalid Ahmadzai (74), Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai (51 n.o.). Though Afghanistan suffered a collapse, sliding from 183 for one to 186 for five, the Mahboob Khan-led side still managed to put a match-winning total on the board.
The first century of the tournament, struck Steven Hogan, helped Australia to a thumping eight-win win over Ireland in a Group A match at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Hogan’s 115 off 111, along with opener Nitesh Samuel’s 101-ball 77, ensured Australia overhauled Ireland’s 236-run target with more than 10 overs to spare.
Right-arm pacer Charles Lachmund was the pick of the Australian bowlers, his 3/41 in 10 overs restricting Ireland to 235 for seven in 50 overs. Middle-order batter Rob O’Brien impressed with a gritty 79-run knock, but it wasn’t enough as Ireland failed to amass a total that would challenge the defending champion.
BRIEF SCORES
England 210 in 46.5 overs (Caleb Falconer 66, Ahmed Hussain 3/38) beat Pakistan 173 in 46.3 overs (Farhan Yousaf 65).
Ireland 235/7 in 50 overs (Freddie Ogilby 49, Rob O’Brien 79, Charles Lachmund 3/41) lost to Australia 237/2 in 39.4 overs (Nitesh Samuel 77 n.o., Steven Hogan 115).
Afghanistan 266/8 in 50 overs (Khalid Ahmadzai 74, Faisal Shinozada 81, Uzairullah Niazai 51 no, Bayanda Majola 3/59, Corne Botha 3/45). beat South Africa 238 in 47.4 overs (Jason Rowles 98).
