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ICC U-19 World Cup 2018: Australia, Pakistan cruise to quarter-finals

16 years ago Australia had secured the highest margin victory against Kenya around the same time in New Zealand itself.

Nathan McSweeney © Getty Images
Nathan McSweeney © Getty Images

Australia U-19 vs PNG U-19

Australia secured a thumping victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG) by a massive margin of 312 runs at Lincoln No. 3 in Match 19 of 2018 U-19 World Cup. Interestingly, 16 years ago, Australia had secured the highest margin victory against Kenya around the same time in New Zealand itself. Nathan McSweeney starred with his 111-ball 156 that was decorated with 18 fours and 4 sixes while Jason Ralston defended the total with his 7-wicket haul.

Put to bat, Australia brought up a grand total of 370 on the board. Apart from McSweeney’s century, skipper Jason Sangha and Param Uppal also notched up fifties in the middle to keep Australia afloat. Sangha and McSweeney’s 250-run stand tormented the PNG bowlers until James Tau removed the settled batsmen off consecutive deliveries. However, Tau missed a hat-trick opportunity thereafter. Austin Waugh and Param Uppal then steadied the ship with their 92-run stand. Daure Aiga kept PNG in the game with consecutive wickets of Waugh and Uppal. He, however, missed his hat-trick as well.

Chasing 371, PNG batsmen fell like a pack of cards. Leke Morea was the top-scorer for the side with 42-ball 20. The remaining batsmen perished for single digits. Ralston romped through the top-order and lower-order to finish the task for Australia within 25 overs. He ended up with best bowling figures going past Jeevan Mendis and Trent Boult’s figures of 7 for 19 and 7 for 20 respectively.

With this win Australia are through to the quarter-finals while PNG have a chance to flourish in the plate stage.

Brief scores:

Australia 370 for 8 in 50 overs (Nathan McSweeney 156, Jason Sangha 88; James Tau 2 for 42) beat PNG 59 all out in 24.5 overs (Leke Morea 20; Jason Ralston 7 for 15) by 312 runs

Man of the Match: Nathan McSweeney

Pakistan U-19 vs Sri Lanka U-19

In Match 18 of 2018 U-19 World Cup between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the former edged past the latter by 3 wickets. Ali Zaryab was on top with his 94-ball 59. Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were standing in same position in Group D, saw the former reaching the quarter-final. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have slumped to No. 3 in the table and will have to make the most of the occasion through the Plate Stage.

Given a target of 189 to chase, Pakistan’s innings was a start-stop one. Thisaru Rashmika got the better of them cleaning the top-order. It was Zaryab and Mohammad Taha who helped resurrect the Pakistan innings with their 61-run stand. In the middle, Zaryab was playing a lone battle as he lost his partners in succession. However, skipper Mohammad Hasan Khan and Zaryab tried to revive the innings. Mohammad Musa, too, played a crucial role with his heroics in the lower-order.

Earlier, Suleman Shafqat and Shaheen Afridi’s combined efforts restricted Sri Lanka to 188 in 48.2 overs. Jehan Daniel was the only one to notch up a fifty after the top-order and middle-order stuttered. Ashen Bandara and Daniel were brought up a 76-run stand to help them to some respectability.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 188 all out in 48.2 overs (Jehan Daniel 53; Suleman Sahfqat 3 for 29) lose to Pakistan 190 for 7 in 43.3 overs (Ali Zaryab 59; Thisaru Rashmika 3 for 47) by 3 wickets

Man of the Match: Ali Zaryab

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