#ICCU19WorldCup: Pakistan qualify for semis with narrow win against Bangladesh
Uzaid Shah took a brilliant fifer as they dismissed Bangladesh for 150.
Pakistan clinched the last semi-final spot after beating Bangladesh by five runs in an ICC U19 men’s World Cup super-six clash at Willowmoore Park, on February 3.
The Pakistanis did the unthinkable as they clinched victory from the claws of defeat while Bangladesh, who won the title in SA in 2020 – saw their dream of a repeat come crashing down in a painful fashion.
Bowling first after winning the toss, the Tigers restricted their sub-continent neighbours to a reachable 155 all out, thanks to a bowling masterclass from Rohanat Doullah Borson and Sheikh Paevez Jibon, who grabbed four wickets each.
With the Pakistan openers Shamyl Hussein (19 off 31) and Shahzaib Khan (26 off 67) building the innings nicely in the first power-play, Borson gave his team the breakthrough in the ninth over with the wicket of Hussein.
Coming from around the wicket, the seamer unleashed a ripper that pitched outside off and swung back inside. Hussein premeditated the leave but misjudged the ball as it clipped top of off stump, departing for 19 off 31.
Pakistan posted 50/1 inside the power-play but Borson got the wicket of Azan Awais (6 off 6) with the fourth ball of the 11th over with a thick outside edge to keeper Ashfiqur Rahman Shibli.
Saad Baig (9 off 21) followed in the 17th over after he was run out with a direct hit from Ariful Islam from point after some hesitation in the running which proved costly for the Pakistanis.
Jibon joined in on the action with the wicket of Khan before Borson grabbed his third scalp of the day with the wicket of Ahmad Hassan (11 off 25). The seamer landed it short and Hassan looked to pull it but missed and edged it to the keeper.
The off-spinner got his second with a flatter delivery to Haroon Arshad (7 from 9), who knelt down to smash it out of the park but failed to get power on his shot. He instead got height than distance and Ahrar amin took a good catch diving forward at long-on.
Arafat Minahus (34 from 40) brought Pakistan’s 100 in the 30th with a four through the third man boundary but the wickets kept falling as they failed to build any solid partnerships.
Ali Asfand (19 from 29) was caught by Amin off Jibon, who served it full and the batsman attempted the reverse sweep but the ball flew straight to the fielder at point.
Borshon, Jibon and Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby got the three remaining wickets as Pakistan only managed 155, setting Bangladesh 156 to win.
Shah fifer leads Pakistan to victory
In response, Ubaid Shah grabbed 5/44 as he came out guns blazing to help his team dismiss Bangladesh for 150.
After a positive start from Bangladesh, Shah found the breakthrough with the wicket of Jishan Alam (19 off 12) in the third over. Trying to fend off a lifter, Alam instead got a thin edge that fell comfortably in the hands of Baig behind the stumps.
The seamer grabbed his second with a brilliant short of a length ball that Shibli nicked to the keeper as Bangladesh lost two wickets in the first power-play.
His third scalp came in the 16th over with a fuller delivery which Amin tried to drive to the covers but was caught in the slip by Arshad.
The 18-year old added to his tally with the wickets of Jibon and Mohammad Jhihab James to end the match with five wickets.
He was assisted by Ali Raza who took the wickets of Chowdhury Rizwan, Islam and Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby while Mohammad Zeeshan cleaned the tail calp to help their team qualify for the semis against Australia on February 6 at Willowmoore Park.
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