Pakistan sweep aside Zimbabwe at U-19 World Cup

LAHORE: Pakistan on Wednesday secured their qualification to Super League quarter-finals when they defeated Zimbabwe by 38 runs at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 294-9 in their 50 overs. Mohammad Haris top-scored with 81, while Qasim Akram and Fahad Munir made fifties. In reply, Zimbabwe were skittled out for 255 in 46.3 overs courtesy a consolidated bowling effort from the Pakistan bowlers.

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 after scoring 53 off 55 balls. Qasim also took the key wicket of captain Dion Myers (39 off 50 balls) who was spectacularly caught by Mohammad Irfan Khan.

The match was turned on its head by Abbas Afridi in the 39th over of Zimbabwe innings. The right-arm medium-fast first bowled Milton Shumba, who scored 58 off 82, on a slower one and then sent back Tadiwanashe Marumani (16) two balls later to leave Zimbabwe at 208-5.

Tahir and Abbas took three wickets, while Aamir and Qasim bagged two wickets each. Earlier, Haris scored a blistering 81 after Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat.

Haris came into bat with Pakistan placed at 140-4 in 33 overs. They added 154 runs in the last 17 overs mainly due to Haris’ brilliance. The right-hander hit seven fours and three towering sixes in his 51-ball knock.

Haris added 43 for the fifth-wicket with Qasim (54 off 50 balls), 41 for the sixth-wicket with Mohammad Irfan (15) and 42 for the seventh wicket with Abbas (10) before falling with 12 balls left in the innings.

Haris took the attack to the bowlers and made the most of the repair job done by Qasim and Fahad (53 off 79 balls) who added 66 runs for the fourth-wicket partnership to rescue the side from a tentative start which saw them reduced to 74-3 in 21.3 overs.

Openers Haider Ali (19), Mohammad Shehzad (27) and captain Rohail Nazir (0) were the first three wickets to fall. Pakistan will now play Bangladesh in the last group match on Friday (tomorrow).