Pakistan win in emphatic style to open their U19 World Cup campaign - read a review of the days action

By Mayur Sharma (11th August, 2012)

 

Pakistan won by 109 Runs (Pakistan 253/6 in 50 0vers, Afghanistan 144/10 in 45.1 Overs)


Sunshine Coast was the venue for the opening game of Under-19 World Cup between close neighbours Pakistan and Afghanistan. A small Afghani crowd was present, with some of them having travelled up from as far as Melbourne.

Afghanistan had impressed many with their skill and determination in the warm-up games leading into the tournament. With Ex-Pakistani coach Geoff Lawson in charge of the young Afghans, this was bound to be an enthralling contest and one that the Pakistani team could not take lightly.

As has been the norm thus far, the team winning the toss decided to bowl with Afghanistan sending Pakistan in to bat. The Pakistani think-tank had decided to not include Azizullah and instead picked Zafar Gohar the left arm spinner, making it a four-man spin attack. Both Pakistani openers Babar Azam and Sami Aslam began with a cautious approach against the Afghani paceman Aftab Alam and Sayed Shirzad. The run rate crawled for the early stages of the game. It was Sami Aslam whose frustration at the lack of runs cost him his wicket when he gave a catch to Shabir Noori off the bowling of the first change bowler, Yamin Ahmadzai.

Imam Ul Haq came to the crease and along with his skipper Azam started to play the ball around. The hope was that the scoring rate would pick up once the Afghani spinners came on, but some tight bowling and inspirational fielding prevented the Pakistani batsman from settling. Imam was eventually dismissed for a soft dismissal – caught and bowled by the offspinner Shabbir Rooni. Pakistan was 3-122 in the 32nd over.

Umar Waheed joined Babar Azam at the crease , but the partnership did not last. Babar Azam hit Yamin to mid off and raced off for a quick single. Sayed Shirzad, was quick to it and the direct hit had Babar short.

Saad Ali who is affectionately known to his team as 'Jadoo' (magic), was coming off a century in the last warmup game against England and he opened his account with an exquisite four driven past gully, all along the ground. A few balls later, he hit one in the air towards the gully Javed Ahmadi who pulled off one of the most impressive catches you will see in this competition, diving full length and grasping it with both hands.


Salman Afridi was promoted ahead of all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, but the experiment did not pay off as he was out caught behind off the bowling of Sayed Shiraz. Pakistan’s coach Sabih Azhar had suggested that he felt 260 was a par score, but with the middle order collapse, there was a risk that Pakistan would not even play out their 50 overs. Pakistan with a middle order collapse all too common with the senior side. Score read 5-148 in the 37th over.


A couple of balls later Yamin dropped Nawaz with a difficult diving catch on the boundary. It was a drop which would prove costly. Boundaries were still hard to come by but Waheed and Nawaz began working the ball around. The Afgani paceman were bowling short of a length and Nawaz was hit on the hand by one from Sayed Shiraz requiring some attention from the doctor.

Eventually the two started to open up their arms and began playing some expansive shots. Waheed was happy to rotate the strike and allow Nawaz to hit out. It worked well as they slowly pushed past the 200 mark. As the final overs got underway, runs became easier to come by with many singles and twos. Although in the middle of all that, the Afghani captain bowled the 47th over which only gave away a single, particularly strangling runs off Mohammad Nawaz who faced 4 of those balls.

Nawaz though had his revenge in the 49th over from Mohammed Javed which wasn’t as economical this time. Nawaz managed to connect some meaty blows and took 17 runs off the over including a straight six down the ground.

The final over of the innings was bowled by Sayed Shiraz. It cost 9 runs and he picked up Nawaz caught behind as his second scalp of the day as. Pakistan finished off with a score of 253 for the loss of 6 wickets.


The Afghan openers began with intent, particularly captain Mohammed Javed who was coming off a half century against India. Chances were still being provided though. Ehsan Adil enticed a couple of edges but either there was no slip in place or the gap between slip and keeper was too great.

Zia ul Haq got the first break through for Pakistan at the score of 36 by pitching one short, inducing a pull from Javed but he could only manage a top edge. Zia called for it and held it safely with a slight juggle. Next to go was Afsar Khan who gloved one to wicket-keeper Salman Afridi off a short ball from Zia. Shabir Ahmed and Hashmatullah Shaidi took charge after both the openers were sent back to pavilion. While Shaidi kept picking useful runs, his partner Shabir let the pressure get on to him and ultimately felt victim to left arm spinner Zafar Gohar in the 14th over at the score of just 5. Nasir Jamal was the next batsman to come and he didn't have an easy life either. As Pakistan was only playing the two quicks in Zia ul Haq and Adil, Umar Waheed was asked to bowl his medium pace. He bowled a tight line, pitching it up to the stumps. Umar Waheed and Zafar Gohar kept the pressure on from both ends resulting in Ahmadzai giving catch to Mohammad Nawaz off Umar Waheed's bowling in the 21st over leaving Afghanistan struggling at 77 for 4.

Afghanistan finally struck a partnership when Mohibullah Paak came to the crease but the required rate kept getting higher. Pakistani bowlers continued their tight line-length, forcing the Afghan batsmen to be content with one's and two's only. Hashmatullah Shaidi completed a well deserved half century but felt victim to spinner Usman Qadir immediately after that in the 33rd over at the score of 111.

Remaining batsmen didn't trouble the scorers much and kept losing their wicket cheaply, leaving Mohibullah Paak stranded at one end. Zafar Gohar, Zia ul Haq and Mohammed Nawaz were among the wicket takers. Zia-ul-Haq was at his best again in his last spell and cleaned up the tail finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 30 in 8.1 overs. Mohibullah Paak who didn't get much support from the other end was the last Afghan batsman to be dismissed for 30 and Afghanistan were bowled out for a very disappointing score of 144.

Whilst Pakistan may be rightly pleased with their overall performance today, the fate of the Sri Lankan U19s against the unfancied Bangladesh today (Bangladesh winning by 25 runs) will serve as a stern reminder that none of the opposition can be taken for granted.

Pakistan’s next game is on 13th August where they take on Scotland at the Kev Hackney Oval, Buderim.