Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
India booked their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup on Sunday after outclassing arch-rivals Pakistan by 58 runs in a Super Six match played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Sent in to bat, India showed composure and depth to post 252 all out in 49.5 overs before backing it up with a disciplined bowling effort that saw Pakistan dismissed for 194, bringing an end to their neighbours’ campaign.
Pakistan began their chase facing a stiff task, needing to score at more than seven runs an over, but India struck early to tighten the screws. Sameer Minhas was the first to go, trapped lbw by Henil Patel in the fourth over for 23, as the Indians wasted no time in asserting control.
A 55-run stand between Hamza Zahoor and Usman Khan briefly revived Pakistan’s hopes, but the pair never managed to get ahead of the required rate. Kanishk Chouhan broke the partnership in the 17th over when he bowled Zahoor for 42, and from there the chase steadily drifted away as the asking rate climbed beyond reach.
With qualification slipping away, Pakistan were left chasing pride and bragging rights in one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries, but India remained unyielding with the ball. Captain Farhan Yousaf was caught at long-on for 42 off RS Ambrish with the score on 151, while Ahmed Hussain endured a short stay, edging Ayush Mhatre to wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu for two.
The final resistance ended when Pakistan’s top scorer Usman Khan was adjudged lbw for 66 with the score on 165, after which India cleaned up the tail, conceding just 29 more runs before bowling Pakistan out in 46.2 overs to seal victory and set up a semi-final clash with Afghanistan in Harare.
