Two-time former winner Pakistan held its nerve to beat traditional rival and defending champion India by two wickets in the quarter-final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010 on Saturday.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Pakistan chased down a target of 115 runs with just three balls and two wickets to spare after overnight and early morning rain had reduced it to a 23-over-a-side fixture.
In an intense match, both the sides played as if their cricketing lives depended on it. Pakistan’s outfield catching was exceptional, and when it was its turn in the field India fielders threw themselves at everything in a desperate effort to deny a run to their opponents.
Set a victory target of 115 runs for a place in the semi-finals, Pakistan had its back against the wall when it slumped to 16-3 in six overs before a fourth wicket partnership of 55 runs between Rameez Aziz (28) and Ahsan Ali (30) repaired the damage.
After the pair was dismissed in a space of nine balls, India regained the initiative with Pakistan requiring 37 runs off 29 balls with five wickets standing.
However, number-six batsman Hammad Azam kept a cool head on his shoulders and belted a six and two fours, including the winning boundary, in a 13-ball 21 to take his team home with three balls remaining.
Earlier, Pakistan made a sentational start when 16-year-old fast bowler Fayyaz Butt dismissed both the India openers in the first over of the match.
Fayyaz disturbed the furniture behind Rahul Kannaur on the first ball of the match and four balls later had Mayank Argawal caught at the wicket to leave India at 3-2 after the first over.
India was able to crawl its way back into the match with a third wicket stand of 40 runs between Mandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh, but the defending champion was unable to push the score along and barely reached 114-9 from 23 overs.
Fayyaz was in menacing form, finishing with 4-27 while left-arm spinner Raza Hassan took 3-26.
Man of the match Fayyaz was elated with his efforts. “The conditions really helped me today. It was amazing for me to get a wicket with the first ball of the match – it was in a good place, it was unplayable.”
Pakistan captain Azeem Ghumman said it was a tough match and admitted there was still work to do. “The target is not to beat India but to win the World Cup,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve adapted here as yet.”
In the other Super League quarter-final at Rangiora, fast bowler Jason Holder took 5-19 and bowled the West Indies to a stunning 18 runs victory over England in a rain-shorted match.
The West Indies didn’t make a promising start to the day, finding itself on the ropes after England snared two early wickets. However captain Andre Creary (52), along with opener Kraigg Braithwaite, rescued the innings – Creary mixing aggression with timing, and punishing anything short pitched.
The West Indies looked to be in danger again after Brathwaite was dismissed for 69, as the side lost its last eight wickets for 31 runs to be dismissed for 164 with eight balls still remaining.
For England, David Payne was the pick of the bowlers when he returned figures of 6-1-19-4.
In reply, the England innings suffered at the hands of huge fast bowler Jason Holder, who is reminiscent of West Indies great Joel Garner. Holder decimated the English batting with his accuracy and pace, finishing with match figures of 5-19.
Four batsmen made it to 20 but none were able to kick on. Danny Briggs and Captain Azeem Rafiq put up a late fight but England had lost too many wickets and fell 18 runs short of the target.
Captain Andre Creary was delighted with Holder’s performance. “I am especially happy with his bowling in the powerplay as I told him to bowl straight and full and he bowled to that plan.”
In a repeat of the group stage match, Pakistan and the West Indies will now meet in the first Super League semi-final, to be played on Monday at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, in Lincoln.
Sat, Jan 23, 2010
Sports