Umair’s ton in vain as WI stun Pakistan to reach semis

FATULLAH: Pakistan wicket-keeper/batsman Umair Masood raises the bat after reaching his century in the ICC Under-19 World Cup quarter-final against West Indies at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium on Monday.—Courtesy ICC

FATULLAH: Umair Masood smashed a fighting century but his grand effort went in van as West Indies stunned Pakistan by five wickets to storm into the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup on Monday.

After Pakistan recovered from 57-5 to post 226-6 with Umair contributing a brilliant 113, West Indies romped home with 10 overs to spare while losing five wickets at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium to set up a last-four date with tournament hosts Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday.

India take on Sri Lanka in the first semi-final at the same venue on Tuesday.

Skipper Shimron Hetmyer, who had scored 23 runs in previous four innings, and wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach hit half-centuries in the run chase. Hetmyer scored 52 and Imlach made 54 to ensure Umair’s gallant knock went in vain.

Pakistan’s defeat prevented an all-Asian semi-final despite Umair’s man of the match-winning performance, but the West Indies played better all-round cricket to emerge deserved winners.

Umair came to the crease in the 15th over with Pakistan — who had opted to bat after winning the toss in the last Super League quarter-final — struggling at 40-4 and rebuilt the innings in the company of Salman Fayyaz after half the side was back in the hut by the 21st over.

Umair, who had scored 13 not out and 10 in previous matches in the tournament, hit 15 boundaries and two sixes before he was out in the final over.

Salman remained unbeaten on a defiant half-century, which included three hits to the fence and a six.

The revival came after a two-wicket burst by seamer Chemar Holder and fiery fast bowling by Alzarri Joseph, who conceded just 28 runs in his 10 overs.

Once Joseph’s spell finished in the 36th over, Pakistan added a further 109 runs to set the West Indies a challenging target. The Caribbean flair was evident as the West Indies raced to 100-1 by the 16th over.

Hetmyer and Imlach put on 77 for the second wicket to take the score to 122-1, before two needless run outs saw the total slip to 147-4.

Shamar Springer was the fifth batsman to fall for 37 when 38 runs were still needed for victory, but Jyd Goolie (26 not out) and Keemo Paul (24 not out) saw their side home.

“This is a wonderful result for us,” said Hetmyer. “It feels good to be through to the semi-finals. We just stuck to our plans and executed what we had worked on at practice. It was probably a good toss to lose because our bowlers did very well to take those early wickets.”

Pakistan’s captain Zeeshan Malik congratulated the West Indies, but felt his team should have defended their total.

“Our plan had been to get around 235 because we had the bowlers who were capable of defending it,” Zeeshan said. “I thought we put up a good score despite the poor start. But I must give credit to the West Indies batsmen for playing so aggressively and chasing down the target.”

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe upset the tournament’s defending champions South Africa by eight wickets in Cox’s Bazar to enter the Plate Championship final for teams that finished outside the top eight.

Left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava grabbed 4-10 in nine overs as South Africa was shot out for 91, a modest target that Zimbabwe overtook in 22 overs after an unbeaten 34 from Jeremy Ives.

Zimbabwe will take on the winners of the other semi-final between Afghanistan and New Zealand in the final on Friday.

In a play-off for minor placings, Scotland defeated Fiji by 76 runs in another Plate match in Cox’s Bazar.

Monday’s other results:

Plate Championship semi-final:

Zimbabwe beat South Africa by eight wickets at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium, Cox’s Bazar.

SOUTH AFRICA 91 in 39.5 overs (R. Moonsamy 32; R. Ngarava 4-10, R. Magarira 2-11); ZIMBABWE 94-2 in 22 overs (J. Ives 34 not out, R. Murray 26 not out).

Plate play-off:

Scotland beat Fiji by 76 runs Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground, Cox’s Bazar.

SCOTLAND 225 in 48.1 overs (F.D.W. McCreath 60, Owais Shah 39, H. Aslam 25, R.G. Brown 22; C. Tikoisuva 4-46, J. Baleicikoibia 2-37, P.V. Vuniwaqa 2-41); FIJI 149 in 42.2 overs (P.V. Vuniwaqa 80, J. Baleicikoibia 27; C. Sloman 3-30, F.D.W. McCreath 3-48, H. Aslam 2-20).

Tuesday’s fixtures (starting time 8:00am PST):

Super League semi-final: India vs Sri Lanka (Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka).

Plate championship semi-final: New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium, Cox’s Bazar).

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Zeeshan Malik c John b Holder 3

Mohammad Umar lbw b Joseph 8

Shadab Khan c Hetmyer b Holder 1

Saif Badar c Imlach b Springer 10

Hasan Mohsin c Imlach b Paul 19

Umair Masood c Imlach b John 113

Salman Fayyaz not out 58

Mohammad Hassaan Khan not out 1

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-9) 14

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 227

FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-14, 3-21, 4-40, 5-57, 6-221.

DID NOT BAT: Hayatullah, Sameen Gul, Ahmed Shafiq.

BOWLING: Joseph 10-0-28-1 (4w); Holder 7-2-26-2 (2w); Springer 7-1-43-1 (1w); John 10-1-38-1; Paul 10-1-53-1 (1w); Pope 4-0-20-0 (1w); Goolie 2-0-14-0.

WEST INDIES:

G.D. Pope c Hasan b Ahmed 25

T.A. Imlach run out 54

S.O. Hetmyer st Umair b Shadab 52

K.U. Carty run out 7

S.K. Springer c Shadab b Sameen 37

J.U. Goolie not out 26

K.M.A. Paul not out 24

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-2) 4

TOTAL (for five wkts, 40 overs) 229

FALL OF WKTS: 1-45, 2-122, 3-138, 4-147, 5-190.

DID NOT BAT: M.O. Frew, R.D. John, A.S. Joseph, C.K. Holder.