KARACHI: After suffering two straight defeats in the ongoing Tri-nation Under-19 Tournament in Dubai, Pakistan restored their pride when they overwhelmed Australia by a commanding margin of 109 runs in the fourth game of the series at the ICC Academy Ground No 2 on Saturday.

Pakistan’s young guns put on a strong batting show to collect 311 all out in 49.4 overs after skipper Gohar Hafeez chose to bat first upon winning the toss.

Mohammad Umar starred with an 85-ball 66 that featured eight boundaries and one six, while Saif Badar hit five fours in making 53 from 61 deliveries. Gohar contributed a quick 33-ball 36 with seven fours, while Hasan Mohsin blasted three sixes and two fours in 19-ball cameo of 34.

Pakistan wicket-keeper Umair Masood had an excellent match. After making 32 (of 39 balls, four fours), Umair made six dismissals for the second game running against the Australians. This time he held four catches and two stumped two batsmen as Australia were dismissed for 202 in 40.4 overs.

Arjun Nair, another player of Indian-origin in the Aussie ranks, too had a great game. After claiming 3-48 in 10 tidy overs of off-spin bowling, the 17-year-old opener played a lone hand as he scored 106 from only 89 balls with the aid of 13 fours and three sixes.

Shahab Khan and Arsal Sheikh claimed seven wickets between them. Shahab claimed 3-34 in nine overs while Arsal’s eight overs fetched him figures of 4-50.

Pakistan lost their opening two fixtures to New Zealand and Australia last week by three wickets and 23 runs (D/L Method), respectively.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Australia rode on Sam Harper’s blistering 84-ball knock of 103 (12 fours and one six) to seal a five-wicket victory over New Zealand at same venue.

Requiring 282, Australia posted 284-5 with 18 balls to spare. Harper and left-handed Patrick Page, who slammed 99 off 104 balls with 12 fours and one six, shared a third-wicket stand worth 183.

Earlier, New Zealand reached 281-9 after electing to bat first at the toss. Opener Glenn Phillips excelled by hitting 105 from only 84 deliveries with 13 fours and six sixes as he and Daniel Stanley (56 off 87 balls, seven boundaries) added 148 for the first wicket.

Nair bagged four wickets for 29 runs in 10 overs while left-arm seam bowler Tom O’Donnell, the 19-year-old son of former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell, took 4-63 in 10 overs.

The last preliminary-round match will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand on Tuesday before both teams head off to Bangladesh to compete in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, which starts from Jan 27.

Results:

Australia beat New Zealand by five wickets.

NEW ZEALAND 281-9 in 50 overs (G.D. Phillips 105, D.D. Stanley 56, J.A. Clarkson 30, F.H. Allen 28, B.V. Sears 20 not out; A.J. Nair 4-29, T.J. O’Donnell 4-63); AUSTRALIA 284-5 in 47 overs (S.B. Harper 103, P.C. Page 99, C.D. Hinchliffe 34 not out; N.G. Smith 4-51).

Pakistan beat Australia by 109 runs.

PAKISTAN 311 in 49.4 overs (Mohammad Umar 66, Saif Badar 53, Gohar Hafeez 36, Hasan Mohsin 34, Umair Masood 32, Mohammad Hassaan Khan 22; L.C. Hatcher 4-67, A.J. Nair 3-48, K.J. Gardiner 2-50); AUSTRALIA 202 in 40.4 overs (A.J. Nair 106, P.C. Page 29; Arsal Shaikh 4-50, Shadab Khan 3-34).

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2016