Australia beat Pakistan by one wicket to set up a mouth-watering Under-19 World Cup final clash against India, a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final.
After making just 179 with the bat, Pakistan roared back with the ball, but Australia survived a late surge to snatch victory in thrilling fashion.
The first innings was dominated by Australia quick Tom Straker, who claimed 6-24. The most eye-catching wickets were those of Nos.10 and 11 Mohammad Zeeshan and Ali Raza, each of whom had a stump ripped out of the ground. But he had already contributed important scalps, taking the first wicket of Shamyl Hussain and dismissing joint top-scorer Azain Awais for 52 as well as captain Saad Baig. Ubaid Shah, brother of senior Pakistan quick Naseem, was Straker’s other victim.
Four other Australia bowlers took a wicket, while Arafat Minhas equalled Awais’ contribution but was furious with himself for holing out one ball after reaching his fifty.
The left-arm spinner made up for any runs left out there in the chase, with his miserly spell of 2-20 one of two major efforts in the Pakistan defence, along with Raza’s 4-34.
Australia made slow early progress, with passages of caution and moments of panic. Just 33 runs came off the wicketless opening powerplay before Sam Konstas became Raza’s first wicket, a wobble-seam nip-backer finding the gap between bat and pad on its way to the stumps. That triggered a slide to 59-4, with Harjas Singh’s run out betraying the pressure the Aussies were under. Dixon ran for a single, Singh was caught ball watching, and both found themselves at the same end.
Australia rebuilt, but Minhas’ two wickets kept Pakistan fighting. He dismissed top scorer Harry Dixon for 50, turning the ball back in to clip off stump, while Tom Campbell also had his off stump pegged back, an arm ball going past the outside edge.
Superstar in the making! 🌟
Ali Raza finishes his heroic spell with excellent figures of 4️⃣-3️⃣4️⃣ 🙌#PakistanFutureStars | #U19WorldCup | #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/m6UU5KwvXj
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 8, 2024
Before Campbell’s wicket, Australia were 146-5, just 34 runs from victory. What followed was dramatic in the extreme. Raza, 15 years old, was the star. He had one wicket chalked off after a high full toss was called a no ball, with the juggling catch at slip also in doubt. Then he was fortunate to continue after another beamer, with only the second deemed dangerous and leading to a warning. A lifter brushed past the edge but made no contact, before a delivery down leg was feathered through. In his final over, Straker nicked off a rising delivery, and Mahli Beardman had his off-bail trimmed by the faintest of margins.
Australia still needed 16, with Pakistan favourites all of a sudden, but Minhas and Raza had completed their spells. Shah and Zeeshan, the six foot seven quick who had torn up the U19 Asia Cup, probed but couldn’t strike, and the runs were eked out. It fell to Zeeshan to defend three off the last. He found the inside edge first ball, but not the drag-on. The ball flew to the fence – had Pakistan not been behind the over-rate, perhaps the fine leg fielder would have been on the boundary – and Australia rejoiced.
Australia and India will clash on Sunday, February 11, in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, won by Australia, and the 2018 Under-19 World Cup final, won by India.
