Afghans into quarters; SL crash out of Under-19 World Cup: Pakistan down Zimbabwe

By Our Correspondent
January 23, 2020

LAHORE: Pakistan Under-19s beat Zimbabwe U-19s by 38 runs at the Witrand Oval, Potchefstroom on Wednesday and ensured their qualification to Super League quarter-finals.

According to information available here in their chase of 295, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 255 in 46.3 overs.Zimbabwe were off to a good start with openers Wesley Madhevere and Emmanuel Bawa adding 64 runs for the first wicket. The partnership was broken by left-arm-spinner Aamir Ali who accounted for the wicket of Bawa (19). Madhevere was the second wicket to fall as he was dismissed caught and bowled by Qasim Akram after scoring 53 off 55 balls (six fours, one six). Qasim also took the key wicket of captain Dion Myers (39 off 50 balls, two fours and one six) who was spectacularly caught by Mohammad Irfan Khan, who took a one-handed diving catch. The match was turned on its head by Abbas Afridi in the 39th over of Zimbabwe innings.

Scores in brief: Pakistan 294 for 9 in 50 overs (M Haris 81, Qasim Akram 54, Fahad Munir 53; Dylan Grant 3-46) Zimbabwe 255 all out in 46.3 overs (Milton Shumba 58, Wesley Madhevere 53, Dion Myers 39; Tahir Hussain 3-42, Abbas Afridi 3-55, Aamir Ali 2-51, Qasim Akram 2-41).

Meanwhile, with six needed off two balls, New Zealand No. 9 Kristian Clarke smashed a six over deep midwicket to knock Sri Lanka out of quarter-final contention and secure his team’s pathway into the next round in dramatic fashion. With three wickets in hand, New Zealand needed 12 off the final over that was being delivered by Dilshan Madushanka, but Clarke - who finished unbeaten on a three-ball nine - walked across his stumps to connect cleanly with his slog. The New Zealand players rushed onto the field to celebrate while the Sri Lanka team fell on their knees.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan were through to the quarter-finals after beating United Arab Emirates by 160 runs, their second straight victory.

In another match, South Africa bounced back from their opening-day loss to Afghanistan by trouncing Canada by 150 runs in Potchefstroom.