Australia hammered Pakistan by 119 runs to enter the semifinal of the ICC Under-19 World Cup where they will play the winner of India vs Bangladesh quarterfinal.
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Fifties from Teague Wyllie and Corey Miller, combined with a power-packed performance from the bowlers helped Australia continue their dominance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022. Australia had suffered a defeat to Sri Lanka in the league stages while Pakistan was unbeaten. But, in the knockout stages, Australia once again got their A-Game to the fore. The 119-run win in the quarterfinal in Antigua ensured Australia would play the winner of the India vs Bangladesh quarterfinal on Saturday. England will take on Afghanistan in the other encounter.
Pakistan chose to bowl in the quarterfinal and it looked like their decision backfired. Campbell Kellaway and Teague Wyllie were in fine form as they started on a positive note. Kellaway got going with two boundaries while Wyllie was keeping the scoring rate steady. Kellaway and Wyllie continued to find the boundaries at will as the opening partnership went past fifty at a rate of five runs per over. Pakistan appealed for a couple of close run-outs but Australia continued to motor on.
Kellaway neared his fifty with a six but he was stumped on 47 by Qasim Akram as Pakistan looked to make inroads.
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Wyllie held firm and he was joined by Corey Miller who milked the runs. On 4, Miller was dropped at cover and he made them pay in a big way. Wyllie made slow but steady progress as he notched up his fifty. After reaching his fifty, he opened up with two fours off Maaz Sadaqat. Miller joined in the fun with two fours off Zeeshan Zameer. The bowler was in for more punishment as Miller hit a big six to bring up his fifty in grand style.
Miller notched up the 100-run partnership but Awais Ali sent back Wyllie for 71. Pakistan got the opening when Miller was dismissed by Qasim Akram for 64. Captain Cooper Connolly, who has been in fine form in the tournament, was the key. When Lachlan Shaw departed, Australia’s hopes of reaching 300 were dashed. Aidan Cahill showed his mettle with some big blows but he fell for 18. Connolly struck some crucial boundaries to take Australia past 250.
William Salzmann hit two sixes and a four to ensure Australia ended on 276/7. For Pakistan, they had to make a good start but they did not do that. Muhammad Shehzad hit two glorious fours off Jack Nisbet but the bowler had his revenge by dismissing him.
Pakistan continued to stutter in the chase, with Tom Whitney getting the wicket of Haseebullah Khan for 10. Irfan Khan and Abdul Faseeh then stitched a stand that looked to revive Pakistan. Faseeh got a life when he was dropped by Shaw at extra cover off Salzmann. Australia’s bowlers maintained the discipline and did not give Pakistan easy runs.
Irfan Khan hit two boundaries off Salzmann to signal his intentions of raising the rate. But, Salzmann bowled a brilliant yorker to uproot Irfan Khan’s middle stump as he fell for 27. Cahill sent back Faseeh as Pakistan’s woes mounted. Australia built the pressure and Abbas Ali was dismissed for 3. When skipper Qasim Akram fell, the game was all but done for Pakistan.
Jack Sinfield sent back Maaz Sadaqat. Mehram Mumtaz and Ahmed Khan delayed the inevitable with some big blows. Mumtaz hit Sinfield for two sixes and a four to have some fun. When Connolly was hit for two fours in one over, it seemed that Pakistan would stage a last-gasp revival. But, Salzmann and Whitney sent both of them back and Australia clinched a brilliant win.
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