Christchurch, January 29
Australia sauntered into the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup by halting Afghanistan’s dream run with a six-wicket victory, built around Jack Edward’s half-century and a splendid bowling show today. Electing to bat, the team from the strife-torn nation posted a modest total of 181, which was never going to be enough against three-time champions Australia.
Had it not been for wicketkeeper-batsman Ikram Ali Khil’s brave 80 off 119 balls, Afghanistan would have struggled to reach even 150. Despite his fighting knock, Australia faced little trouble in knocking off the required runs, with opener Jack Edwards producing a solid 72-run knock.
Off-spinner Mujeeb Zadran, picked up by Kings XI Punjab at the IPL auction, provided an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Max Bryant (4). Afghanistan managed to dismiss captain Jason Sangha (26), caught and bowled by leg-spinner Qais Ahmad, and Jonathan Merlo (17) early but Australia took these setbacks in their stride as they chased down the target with 75 balls to spare.
Ahmad, though, denied Edwards a possible century by cleaning him up for a well-made 72. However, the pair of Pawan Uppal (32) and Nathan McSweeney (22) took the side over the finish line with an unbeaten 53-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Earlier, Afghanistan struggled to forge partnerships. Khil held one end tight with his fighting 80, but he did not get support from the other end. As many as seven Afghani batsmen could not manage a double-digit score as pacer Jonathan Merlo ran through the middle-order. After Khil, the biggest contribution came from opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 20 off 37 balls. Merlo accounted for four batsmen, conceding just 24 runs in his 10 overs, while his pace colleague Zak Evans scalped 2/26. — PTI
Brief scores
Afghanistan: 181 all out in 48 overs.(IA Khil 80, R Gurbaz 29; J Merlo 4/24, Z Evans 2/26)
Australia: 182 for 4 in 37.3 overs.(J Edwards 72, P Uppal 32 not out; Q Ahmad 2/35).
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