Australia won the toss and invited Pakistan’s young team to bat in the second semi-final of the ongoing U-19 World Cup in South Africa yesterday.
Pakistan captain Saad Baig said after the toss that if he had won, he would have batted first as he wanted his opening batsmen to stay on the pitch and score. But it could not happen.
Ali Raza got four wickets by giving 34 runs،
In this match, Pakistan scored 179 runs while batting first. The entire Pakistan team was bowled out in 48.5 overs but the batting got some support thanks to half-centuries from Azan Owais and Arafat Minhas.
Shamail Hussain 17, Shahzeb Khan 4, Captain Saad Baig 3, Ahmed Hasan 4, Haroon Arshad 8, Obaid Shah 6, Muhammad Zeeshan 4, and Ali Raza were dismissed for zero. Naveed Ahmed Khan remained not out scoring 9 runs.
Australian bowler Tom Stricker took six wickets for 24 runs.
In reply, Australia achieved the target of losing nine wickets in 49.1 overs. Ali Raza got four wickets by giving 34 runs.
Now Australia will face the defending champions India in the final of the U-19 World Cup on February 11.
Earlier in the first semi-final, the defending champion India team defeated the host team South Africa in a thrilling match and reached the final.
In the past five matches between Australia and Pakistan under-19 teams, Pakistan won three and Australia won one while one match was inconclusive.
Good performance of Pakistan in the U-19 World Cup
A total of 16 teams participated in this Under-19 World Cup starting from January 19, 2024. The first match was between USA and Ireland, which Ireland won by seven wickets.
In this initial stage, there were four groups and each group had four teams with three matches each.
India topped Group A by winning all three matches، while South Africa topped Group B with four points.
In Group C, Australia won the first position by winning all three matches, while in Group D, the Pakistan team won all their matches and stood at the top.
The second step of the U-19 World Cup
A total of 12 teams remained in this stage and they were divided into two groups of six each. In the first group, there were teams from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, New Zealand, and Nepal, while in the second group, there were teams from South Africa, Australia, West Indies, England, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Teams India and Pakistan won all their matches and ranked first and second in terms of run rate, while Australia failed to win one match and South Africa lost one match.
Thus India’s semi-final match against South Africa and Pakistan’s semi-final match against Australia were decided.
The Pakistan team performed well before the second semi-final to be played in Benoni City near Johannesburg.
Pakistan opener Shahzeb Khan has been batting well so far and has scored 260 runs in five matches with one century and one half-century and is fifth overall.
In the bowling department, Obaid Shah has taken 17 wickets in five matches and is third overall after South African and Indian bowlers.
Pakistan won the first match in the group matches against Afghanistan by 181 runs. Shahzeb Khan scored 106 runs while Obaid Shah took four wickets. The entire team of Afghanistan was dismissed by scoring 103 runs in response to Pakistan’s 284 runs.
Pakistan won their second match against Nepal by five wickets. Nepal scored 197 runs in the allotted 50 overs, which Pakistan easily achieved thanks to Azan Owais’ 63 runs. Arafat took three wickets from Minhas for 23 runs.
In their third match, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 10 wickets. New Zealand were bowled out for 140 runs in 38 overs. Once again Arafat Minhas bowled well, taking three wickets for six runs while Shah scored 80 runs and his partner Shamail Hussain scored 54 runs, both not out.
This was followed by a Group Six encounter with a three-wicket win over Ireland. Ireland scored 181 runs in which Obaid Shah took three wickets for 31 runs. Pakistan achieved this target in the 44th over. Ahmed Hasan scored the highest 57 runs and was not out.
Pakistan’s last match was against Bangladesh on February 3, which it won by five runs. The entire Pakistan team was bowled out for 155 runs in the 41st over with Arafat Minhas scoring the most 34 runs.
But he dismissed Bangladesh for 150 runs in the 36th over. Obaid Shah took five wickets for 44 runs and was declared Man of the Match. Captain Saad Baig has scored only one half-century so far while he has led the team well.
In the Under-19 World Cup, Pakistan has won twice, Australia has won three times and India has won five times.
Pakistan win against India in U-19 Asia Cup: ‘An innings to remember for a lifetime, Azaan Owais is the hero’
Players who became Test cricketers before playing U-19,
Rameez Raja: Journey from Under-19 Cricket to PCB Chairmanship
It should be noted that the Indian team defeated South Africa in the first semi-final of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup and the final of the event will be played between India and Australia on February 11.
Defeated Pakistan in U-19 World Cup semi-final
