Australia defeat Pakistan in thriller to arrange closing in opposition to India

The ICC U19 Males’s Cricket World Cup 2024 closing will see Australia going through off in opposition to India after the previous edged Pakistan in an exciting contest in Benoni.

If India’s slim win over South Africa within the first semi-final was not sufficient, Benoni bore witness to a different nail-biter as Australia beat Pakistan by one wicket to hitch India within the event closing.

Diminished to 9 wickets with 16 runs nonetheless required in a run-chase of 180, Pakistan had one foot within the closing. Nonetheless, Australia’s last-wicket pair held their nerve, defying the percentages to clinch the match with simply 5 balls remaining, leaving the spectators on the sting of their seats.

The win means that we’ll have a repeat of the ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup 2023 closing with U19 World Cup defending champions India going face to face in opposition to Australia.

Australia’s captain, Hugh Weibgen, gained the toss and opted to place Pakistan in to bat within the essential semi-final match of the 2024 version of the ICC U19 Males’s Cricket World Cup, unleashing his tempo bowlers on a contemporary wicket.

Pakistan’s openers, Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan, began cautiously in opposition to the brand new ball from Mahli Beardman and Callum Vidler. Nonetheless, the introduction of Tom Straker as the primary change bowler introduced quick success for Australia.

In simply his second over, Straker claimed the necessary wicket of Shamyl Hussain, who tried an bold pull shot solely to top-edge it to Oliver Peake, taking a fantastic catch at mid-on. Shortly after, Shahzaib’s watchful innings got here to an finish as he miscued a drive off Vidler to Hugh Weibgen at backward level, who held onto a splendid low catch.

With each openers dismissed inside the Powerplay, Australia gained a powerful foothold within the semi-final. Saad Baig and Azan Awais regarded to rebuild for Pakistan and the previous was saved by a dropped likelihood from Harry Dixon at first slip off Straker.

Baig’s luck didn’t final lengthy, although, as Straker had the final snort within the subsequent over. The seamer discovered the left-hander’s edge once more and this time Dixon held on to the catch at slip to scale back Pakistan to 43 for 3.

After 16 overs dominated by tempo, Weibgen launched spin into the assault. Raf MacMillan responded to his captain’s name by dismissing Ahmad Hassan with a well-pitched supply that trapped him in entrance of the stumps.

MacMillan got here near claiming one other wicket when Haroon Arshad narrowly survived a stumping likelihood. Nonetheless, Beardman’s return to the assault proved fruitful as he dismissed Arshad with a supply that skidded off the pitch and disturbed the off-stump.

Arafat Minhas joined Azan Awais, and collectively they revived Pakistan’s innings with a gentle partnership. Awais reached his half-century off 83 balls, because the pair steadily elevated the scoring charge between overs 31 to 40.

Nonetheless, Straker ended their partnership by dismissing Awais for 52, caught behind by the wicketkeeper. With Awais departing, Pakistan discovered themselves in a precarious place at 133 for six, requiring a big contribution from the decrease order.

Minhas carried on unflustered, thumping Vidler off the again foot with a powerful pull and bringing out the sq. lower in opposition to the spinner. He reached his half-century off 60 balls, reducing Tom Campbell in entrance of sq. for a boundary, however fell subsequent ball when he tried a loft over cowl and sliced it to the deep fielder.

The tailenders couldn’t add an excessive amount of to the whole as Straker ran by means of them, cleansing up the final two off successive deliveries, to complete with six wickets, as many as he had managed in all the event till as we speak.

Pakistan completed on 179, needing their bowlers to step up big-time to place them within the finals of the event.

Whereas Harry Dixon and Sam Konstas acquired Australia off to a gradual, regular begin, Pakistan made a roaring comeback after the Powerplay overs.

Fifteen-year-old Ali Raza cleaned up Konstas with a supply that nipped again in sharply to hit the stumps. Weibgen smashed a full toss straight to brief cowl off Naveed Khan to depart for 4 and a large mix-up between Harjas Singh and Dixon noticed the tip of the previous.

With three wickets falling shortly, Baig turned to strike bowler Ubaid Shah and the transfer labored. The harmful Ryan Hicks was bowled off an inside edge for a golden duck as Australia slipped to a tense 59 for 4.

Dixon was joined by the left-handed Ollie Peake, who has needed to bat solely two occasions within the competitors earlier than this. The 2 left-handers went about rebuilding the innings as Pakistan regarded to assault additional.

Dixon accomplished his half-century within the twenty fourth over as Peake settled in on the different finish. Minhas’ entry into the assault noticed the again of Dixon. The left-arm spinner had the well-set Dixon cleaned up for 50 with a supply that turned massively again into the batter.

Runs dried up as Minhas and Naveed Khan saved issues fairly tight. Raza returned to the assault after Naveed was bowled out and nearly immediately discovered a wicket. Tom Campbell’s edge was discovered however the ball raced over the keeper for a boundary, the primary for Australia in 9 overs.

Minhas, in the meantime, continued to bowl unchanged from his finish and in his eighth over, the left-arm spinner struck once more. Campbell was undone by an arm ball that skidded on with the angle and hit the stumps.

With one other threatening stand damaged, Pakistan have been again into the competition. Australia have been nonetheless 34 runs away with 4 wickets left within the financial institution. Raza discovered MacMillan’s edge the very subsequent over with the slip fielder diving to take a catch near the bottom. However affirmation for a clear catch wasn’t wanted because the ball was over waist peak and therefore a no-ball.

Peake continued to construct, unflustered by the chaos round him, however whereas on 49, he nicked a innocent Raza supply, happening the leg-side, by means of to the wicketkeeper to depart Australia in a tough place. They have been nonetheless 25 runs away and Pakistan sensed a method again to win the competition.

Raza added two extra in his closing over to place Pakistan getting ready to a sensational win, sending again Staker and Beardman to scale back Australia to 9 down.

MacMillan continued to combat although and acquired a fortunate prime edge over the keeper’s head for 4 within the forty eighth over with Australia needing lower than 10 runs.

Ubaid Shah nearly trapped the lower-order batsman in entrance within the following over, however the umpire dismissed the attraction, judging the ball to be sliding down the leg-side. Vidler then performed out the remaining deliveries, decreasing the equation to simply three runs wanted off the final over.

In a nerve-wracking climax, on the primary ball of the ultimate over, MacMillan, who regarded to punch off his again foot, acquired an inside edge and the ball raced by means of fantastic leg, securing Australia’s thrilling victory.

Australia now have the chance to copy the success of their senior staff from three months in the past once they face India within the closing on Sunday, 11 February.

Australia skipper Hugh Weibgen said that he had full confidence in Vidler and MacMillan to efficiently end the run-chase.

“By no means unsure [win]. We had full religion in Vids [Vidler] and Raf [MacMillan] to get the job accomplished. There was fairly a little bit of emotion within the dressing room. I used to be fairly tense and excited too. I nonetheless don’t know what actually occurred, nevertheless it was superior.”

Pakistan skipper Saad Baig recommended Ali Raza for his splendid spell, however remained composed regardless of the heartbreaking loss.

“It’s tough to be the dropping staff, however I felt we have been 20-30 runs brief. The boys performed rather well. Ali Raza was good. Our bowling was fairly good all through the event. Anyway, one staff has to win, one has to lose, that’s the sport.”

Pakistan 179 (48.5 overs) beat Australia 181/9 (49.1 overs)

Content material courtesy: ICC Enterprise Company FZ LLC 2020 through On-line Media Zone.