CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 27: Pakistan scored a thrilling five-run victory over Sri Lanka in their opening Super League encounter of ICC Under-19 World Cup at Lincoln University Ground No.3 Sunday.
After being sent in, Pakistan were bowled out for 184 in 48.3 overs. Sri Lanka, in reply, were bowled out for 179 in 48.5 overs.
Sri Lanka looked dead and buried at 118 for eight in the 38th over when skipper Dhammika Niroshan spooned a catch to Asim Munir in the covers off Arsalan Mir for 10.
But Gamini Chandrakumara and Dhammika Prasad gave the Pakistanis a scare as they added 50 for the ninth wicket to tilt the match in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Chandrakumara scored 45 off 58 balls with four fours and one six.
Sri Lanka now needed 25 off the four remaining overs. Prasad lifted off-spinner Irfanuddin for a huge six over midwicket but three balls later Irfan took his revenge by clean bowling Prasad for 24.
Sr Lanka needed 12 runs in the final two overs with their last pair in. At this stage, Chandrakumara hit Irfan for a massive six over midwicket. With six runs required off the last eight balls, Chandrakumara was brilliantly caught by Asim Munir on the midwicket boundary as the young Pakistanis heaved a sigh of relief.
Pacemen Umar Gul and Junaid Zia gave Pakistan a flying start when they dismissed the Lankan openers, Upul Tharanga and Sumulka Perera, with 12 runs on the board.
Slow left-armer Kamran Younis also played a key role in Pakistan’s incredible victory by conceding a mere 19 runs in his quota of 10 overs. In the process, Kamran also picked the scalp of all-rounder Charith Sylvester.
Earlier, Mohammad Fayyaz was Pakistan’s batting hero with a superb 53 off 73 balls and was named Man-of-the-Match. His knock was studded with four fours and one massive six over midwicket off slow left-armer Prasad Ranawaka.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN:
Salman Butt c Sylvester b Niroshan 7
Kamran Younis c Perera b Prasad 16
Khaqan Arsal c Ranawaka b Prasad 15
Kamran Sajid run out 31
Asim Munir c A’singhe b C’kumara 4
Mohammad Fayyaz run out 53
Arsalan Mir c Sylvester b Niroshan 18
Amin-ur-Rehman c Sylvester b Prasad 8
Junaid Zia c Sylvester b Prasad 7
Umar Gul lbw b Niroshan 2
Irfanuddin not out 4
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-12, NB-3) 19
TOTAL (all out, 48.3 overs) 184
FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-43, 3-44, 4-68, 5-101, 6-145, 7-167, 8-168, 9-172.
BOWLING: Niroshan 10-1-44-3 (1nb, 3w); Maharoof 8-2-19-0 (2nb, 1w); Prasad 8.3-0-30-4 (8w); Chandrakumara 6-0-16-1; Fernando 6-0-26-0; Ranawaka 4-0-16-0; Mendis 6-1-29-0.
SRI LANKA:
U. Tharanga c K. Younis b Umer 7
S. Perera lbw b Junaid 2
F. Maharoof c Amin b Junaid 11
J. Mendis c K. Younis b Umer 39
E. Abeysinghe run out 0
P. Ranawaka run out 18
C. Sylvester st Amin b K. Younis 9
G. Chandrakumara c Asim b Irfan 45
D. Niroshan c Asim b Arsalan 10
D. Prasad b Irfan 24
L. Fernando not out 2
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-7, NB-1) 12
TOTAL (all out, 48.5 overs) 179
FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-12, 3-34, 4-37, 5-77, 6-92, 7-97, 8-118, 9-168.
BOWLING: Umar Gul 10-3-42-2 (1nb, 1w); Junaid Zia 9-1-32-1 (4w); Kamran Sajid 3-0-18-0; Irfanuddin 9.5-1-37-2; Arsalan Mir 7-0-32-1 (2w); Kamran Younis 10-2-14-1.
RESULT: Pakistan won by five runs.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mohammad Fayyaz.—APP
REUTERS ADDS: India comfortably beat West Indies by eight wickets in their opening Super League match.
Maninder Bisla shone for India with an unbeaten 68 as India reached 157 for two in reply to the West Indies total of 155.
Sunday’s other results:
Super League:
India bt West Indies by 8 wickets. West Indies 155-9 in 50 overs (Lorenzo Ingram 43); India 157-2 in 27.3 overs (Maninder Bisla 68no, Parthiv Patel 47).
Plate Championship: Bangladesh bt Papua New Guinea by nine wickets. Papua New Guinea 74 in 37.2 overs (Mohammad Wassell Uddin 3-13); Bangladesh 76-1 in 18.1 overs.
Zimbabwe bt Kenya by 211 runs. Zimbabwe 291-7 in 50 overs (Tatenda Taibu 65); Kenya 80 in 31.3 overs (W. Mwayenga 5-21).