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Australia U19s win thriller in Benoni

cricket08 February 2024 16:39| © MWP
By:David Knowles
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Australia reached their first ICC U19 Cricket World Cup final since 2018 with a thrilling one-wicket win against Pakistan in their semifinal match at Willowmore Park, Benoni, with five balls to spare.

 

In a low scoring encounter, Australia were asked to reach 180 to win and, with the Pakistan bowlers taking wickets at vital times and never losing hope, it came down to a last-wicket undefeated partnership of 17 between Raf MacMillan (19*) and Callum Vidler (3*) to get them home.

With three runs needed from the last over, MacMillan edged the first ball from Mohammad Zeeshan past fine leg, which was up in the circle, to the boundary, taking his team to 181/9.

After the Australian bowlers had the upper hand in bowling out Pakistan for 179 in 48.5 overs, it seemed a formality that their strong batting line-up would complete the job and the victory.

Openers Harry Dixon and Sam Konstas saw off the opening 10-over powerplay, reaching 33/0, the first time Pakistan had not taken a wicket in the first powerplay all tournament.

However, the first ball of the 11th over saw Konstas bowled for 14 and, after a decent start, a cluster of wickets had Australia at 59/4 after 16.3 overs.

A partnership was desperately needed and 43 runs came for the fifth wicket between Dixon and Ollie Peake, Dixon reaching his third fifty of the tournament from 70 balls (5x4), then losing his off stump soon after.

Peake (49) found a partner in Tom Campbell (25), adding 44 for the sixth wicket, edging closer to the target, but Pakistan kept bouncing back, none more so than fast bowling sensation, the 15-year-old Ali Raza who kept producing the goods when most needed.

He caused doubt and panic in the Australian camp as what appeared to be a gettable total suddenly looked rather difficult.

He finished with 4-34 in his 10 overs, but it wasn’t quite enough as Pakistan fell agonisingly short.

Pakistan spinner Arafat Minhas bagged 2-20 in his 10 overs, with Ubaid Shah (1-45) and Naveed Khan (1-25) also among the wickets.

Winning the toss, Australian captain Hugh Weibgen sent Pakistan in, a decision which looked to pay rich dividends as his bowlers maintained a challenging line and length to keep the pressure on the batsmen.

Fast bowler Tom Straker was superb in claiming 6-24 in 9.5 overs, the best figures in a semifinal of a U19 World Cup.

He was deservedly the Man of the Match. MacMillan, Mahli Beardman and Callum Vidler were the other wicket takers.

Azan Awais and Minhas scored 52 apiece to give the bowlers something to defend, the only other double figure score coming from Shamyl Hussain at the top of the order with 17.

Sunday’s final at the same venue, will see Australia seeking their sixth U19 World Cup and India their fourth.

AUSTRALIA: Sam Konstas, Harry Dixon, Hugh Weibgen (capt), Harjas Singh, Ryan Hicks (wkt), Oliver Peake, Tom Campbell, Raf MacMillan, Tom Straker, Mahli Beardman, Callum Vidler

PAKISTAN: Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Azan Awais, Saad Baig (capt, wkt), Ahmad Hassan, Haroon Arshad, Arafat Minhas, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Zeeshan, Ali Raza, Naveed Ahmed Khan

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