Pakistan edge spirited Bangladesh to reach U19 World Cup semi-final

Monitoring Desk

BENONI: Ubaid Shah-led Pakistan bowling attack defended a low total against Bangladesh in an enthralling ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup clash to book their place in the semi-final.

Put into bat first, Pakistan’s strong batting lineup failed in a crucial clash and could only yield 155 runs before bundling out in 40.4 overs. Openers Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan provided a decent start to the Green Shirts as they added 37 runs for the wicket.

The opening stand was dominated by Shahzaib while Hussain was rotating the strike before falling victim to Doullah Borson in the ninth over. He scored 19 off 31 deliveries.

His dismissal ignited a collapse as Pakistan began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, consequently slipping to 76/4 in the 24th over when their in-form opener Shahzaib also walked back. He scored a gutsy 26 off 67 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.

Following the slump, Arafat Minhas took the reigns of Pakistan’s batting expedition and ticked the scoreboard singlehandedly while losing partners at the other end. Minhas finally perished in the 41st over, top-scoring with a 40-ball 34 as Pakistan failed to breach a commendable total.

For Bangladesh, Doullah Borson and Sheikh Paevez Jibon bagged four wickets each. In pursuit of a modest 156-run total, Bangladesh fell just five runs short as they were booked on 150 in the 36th over, courtesy of Ubaid Shah’s five-wicket haul.

Borson had Bangladesh hoping for a thrilling victory with his courageous knock at the death but Mohammad Zeeshan cleaned up Maruf Mridha to steer his side to a sensational victory.

Borson remained stranded at the other end unbeaten at 21 off 24 deliveries, while Mohammad Shihab James was the top-scorer for Bangladesh with a 43-ball 26 in the middle.

For his match-winning five-fer, Ubaid Shah was adjudged the Player of the Match award in the all-important U19 World Cup clash for Pakistan.

Besides him, Ali Raza bagged three wickets while Zeeshan had one to his name. Pakistan will now take on Australia in the second U19 World Cup semi-final on Thursday.