Harare: England got off to a winning start with a 37-run win over Pakistan in the U19 World Cup at the Takashinga Sports Club on Friday.
Chasing 211 runs, Pakistan were bowled out for 173 runs in 46.3 overs as England bowled brilliantly to keep the score modest.
The Green Shirts started their innings steadily, but lost Samir Minhas in the fourth over and Alex Green scored 10 runs off 12 balls, including a boundary.
In one delivery, Mohammad Shayan fell to the green ball for 7 runs off 18 balls as Pakistan cruised to 23-2 in 5.5 overs.
Usman Khan fell to James Minto for the third wicket after hitting a 10-ball six. Ahmed Hussain and captain Farhan Yousuf tried to stabilize the innings but Hussain fell for 12 runs off 34 balls, including a boundary.
Pakistan’s problems deepened when Huzaifa Ahsan was dismissed by Ralphie Albert after scoring 17 runs off 32 balls with 3 fours as the team slipped to 77-5 in 23.2 overs.
Albert struck again in the next over, hitting wicketkeeper Hamza Zahoor for four runs off six balls, and piled the pressure on the Green Shirts.
Captain Farhan Yusuf led from the front with Abdul Subhan keeping the scoreboard ticking. Their partnership helped Pakistan cross 100 runs in the 30th over.
Farhan was in fine form, playing smartly to anchor his side and reach his first half-century in junior ODI cricket, while adding 48 runs for the seventh wicket with Subhan.
The partnership ended when Subhan was run out by Manny Lumston with Pakistan 133-7 in 37.2 overs for 14 off 38 balls.
In the 41st over, Minto struck again to dismiss Farhan, who scored an important 65 off 86 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes.
Manny Lumston also contributed with the ball, with Umar Saif scoring 10 off 15 balls. Pakistan’s final batsman Ali Raza was run out in dramatic fashion to end their innings and ensure England’s win.
After being asked to bat first, England got off to a steady start as openers Ben Dawkins and Joseph Moores laid a solid foundation and struck at a healthy rate.
However, an opening stand of 33 was broken when Ali Raza struck to bowl out the Moors for 7 off 16 balls.
England continued to score runs, but suffered another setback when Ahmed Hussain dismissed Dawkins, who smashed 33 runs off 38 balls, including 4 fours and a six.
Hussain added another wicket to his tally as he dismissed Ben Mayes for 20 off 25 balls with 3 fours.
Captain Thomas Reeve and Caleb Falconer tried to stabilize the innings, but Abdul Subhan stopped England’s momentum by dismissing Reeve for 13 off 22 balls.
Falconer and Ralphie Albert combined to rebuild the innings as England passed 100.
Falconer regained his form by hitting two fours and 2 sixes in an over off Usman Khan to score 22 as England reached 125-4 in 24 overs.
The 19-year-old Falconer continued his impressive form and added a crucial 50-run partnership with Albert. He led his team past 150 with a well-deserved second half-century in youth ODI cricket.
However, the 80-run stand was broken when Ahmed Hussain took his third wicket, taking Albert to 25 off 37 balls, which included a four and a six, as England posted 170-5 in 33.2 overs.
Pakistan took control of the innings as Ali Raza picked up his second wicket after removing the dangerous Falconer who scored 66 off 73 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes.
England came under further pressure when Momin’s Comer Sebastian Morgan dismissed the team to 185-7 in 39.2 overs.
With 15 off 28 balls, the eighth wicket fell quickly as Farhan Ahmed was run out by skipper Farhan Yousuf’s direct hit.
Qamar then picked up his second wicket off 12 balls by dismissing James Minto for 4 before Abdul Subhan dismissed Manny Lumsden for 2 off 13 balls to end the innings.
For Pakistan, Ahmed Hussain led the bowling with figures of 3/38 from 10 overs, while Momin Qamar, Ali Raza and Abdul Subhan claimed two wickets each.