Pakistan thrash Australia to storm into youth World Cup final by AFP

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Ground:	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Scorecard:	Australia Under-19s v Pakistan Under-19s
Player:	Riaz Kail
Event:	ICC Under-19 World Cup 2005/06

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DateLine: 18th February 2006

 

Riaz Kail hit a half-century under pressure to set up Pakistan's 163-run victory over Australia in the semi-final of the under-19 World Cup cricket tournament here on Friday.

 

The lower-order batsman scored a solid 87 as defending champions Pakistan recovered from 80-5 to reach a challenging 287-9 off their allotted 50 overs after electing to bat in the day-night match.

 

Australia failed to cope with Pakistan's pace-spin combination and were bowled out for 124 in 32.3 overs.

 

Left-handed opener Usman Khawaja top-scored for Australia with a 69-ball 59, which contained eight fours.

 

Off-spinner Usman Malik, who came in as a super-sub, and left-arm spinner Imad Wasim each finished with three wickets, while left-arm seamer Jamshed Ahmed bagged two.

 

Pakistan will meet India in the day-night final on Sunday. India had beaten England by 234 runs in the first semi-final.

 

Man-of-the-match Kail earlier led Pakistan's fightback with his maiden half-century of the tournament as he put on 160 for the sixth wicket with Ali Asad (66) after his team had lost five wickets for 80 runs.

 

Australian fast bowlers Moises Henriques and Adam Ritchard did the early damage when they grabbed two wickets apiece in their lively opening spells.

 

But Kail, who had managed just 38 runs in the last four matches, rescued his team with a big stand with Asad. He struck 10 fours in his 99-ball knock.

 

Asad hit one six and four boundaries in his 86-ball innings.

 

Henriques finished with three wickets, while fellow-seamers Ritchard and Simon Keen took two scalps apiece.

 

Brief scores (semi-final):

 

Pakistan 287-9 in 50 overs (Riaz Kail 87, Ali Asad 66, Imad Wasim 29 not out, Rameez Raja 28; Moises Henriques 3-58, Simon Keen 2-46, Adam Ritchard 2-71) beat Australia 124 in 32.3 overs (Usman Khawaja 59; Imad Wasim 3-16, Usman Malik 3-17, Jamshed Ahmed 2-17) by 163 runs.

 

Man of the match: Riaz Kail (PAK)

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)