CHITTAGONG, Feb 29: Favourites Australia reached the final of Under-19 Plate Championship after defeating a brave but outclassed Ireland by 49 runs in the first semifinal on Sunday.
The result was never in doubt once Australia piled up 340 for five batting first at the M.A. Aziz Stadium. But Ireland went out of the competition with their heads held high, as they compiled a fine 291 for nine in reply.
The Irish openers, skipper William Porterfield and wicket-keeper Gary Wilson, made 48 and 44 respectively, while Eion Morgan capped a fine tournament with 65.
Australia, still smarting from the humiliation of missing out on the Super League spot after starting the tournament as the defending champions, looked on a mission as their batsmen went on rampage.
Tim Paine, the captain, and Theo Doropoulos (83 off 82 balls, 16 fours) opened up with a first-wicket stand of 131 in 21.5 overs, before Man-of-the-Match Matt Harrison took over with a hard-hitting 91 off 78 deliveries, striking 14 fours.
Ireland then slipped from a promising 176 for four to 230 for nine before Andrew Riddles (29) and last man Allan Coulter (38) survived the remaining 7.5 overs to add 61 in an appropriately resolute final act.
Australia will now play winners of Monday's second semifinal between Scotland and hosts Bangladesh in Thursday's final at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA:
T.D. Paine c Wilson b Thompson 45
T.P. Doropoulos c Wilson b Thompson 83
M.M. Harrison c Porterfield b O'Brien 91
M. Henriques c Porterfield b Coulter 44
A.J. Crosthwaite c Thompson b O.Brien 47
A.R. Beadle not out 11
K.J. Skewes not out 0
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-6, W-8, NB-1) 19
TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 340
FALL OF WKTS: 1-131, 2-138, 3-213, 4-307, 5-330.
DID NOT BAT: S.N.J. O'Keefe, J.F. Mangan, C.S. Huckett, G.D. Putland.
