ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004
Dhaka, 20 February 2004 - ICC Reports
Victory not enough for Australia
Australia beat Sri Lanka by two runs at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium.
Australia beat Sri Lanka by two runs in a thrilling climax to Group C in Rajshahi but it was not enough to secure the holders a passage to the Super League. Australia finished the group stage level on points with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe but a poorer net run rate means that they were third in the group and will compete for the Plate Championship instead of the main prize.
A sell-out crowd at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium was treated to a fascinating duel that was only decided when Manoj Chanaka was caught off the first ball of the final over with Sri Lanka two runs short. After being put into bat and scoring 186 for 9 in 50 overs, Australia needed to restrict Sri Lanka to less than 98 to qualify for the Super League at their opponents' expense. By the second ball of the sixth over it looked as though Australia might make it. Sri Lanka's top four were all back in the pavilion with only 10 runs on the board. Aussie left-armer Gary Putland took three of these early wickets. But then Sri Lanka captain Farveez Maharoof joined Kaushal Silva at the crease and the pair patiently took the sting out of Australia's attack.
Scoring at little more than three-an-over the pair carried Sri Lanka to safety so that when Maharoof was dismissed in the 30th over for 56 with the score on 106, only pride was at stake for the Australians. Sri Lanka's lower order picked up the run-rate so that three runs were needed for victory off the last over but in the end they ran out of wickets.
Maharoof was named man of the match.
"It is very difficult to win if the top order don't score any runs but I am pleased to have scored some runs and I hope we can play much better as a team in the Super League," said Maharoof.
Australia's coach Bennett King praised his team for their attitude in the final match.
"If our boys had performed the way they did today in the match against Zimbabwe then we would be going to Dhaka tomorrow but instead we are heading to Chittagong to play in the Plate," said King.
India send hosts to Plate
India beat Bangladesh by 131 runs at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
India today served a heavy 131 run defeat to Bangladesh to send the hosts to the Plate Championship in Chittagong. India's stylish victory put it top of Group C and left Bangladesh third in the group behind New Zealand.
The result means that India and New Zealand qualify for the Super League while Bangladesh and Scotland will play in the Plate Championship.
On an overcast morning India were put into bat by Bangladesh but the home bowlers were unable to take advantage of the favourable early conditions and India raced to 50 in eight overs. Openers Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan put on 135 for the first wicket before Uthappa was out lbw to Nadif Chowdhury for 57. The dismissal did not slow India's progress as Dhawan played a solid support role alongside a string of quick-fire innings. Dinesh Kartik (25), Gaurav Dhiman (32) and Abhishek Sharma (23) all scored at faster than a run-a-ball while Dhawan picked up his second century of the tournament.
The dependable left hander was dismissed for 120 in the penultimate over and his team finished on 309 for 7. The big score guaranteed India's position at the top of the group but a Bangladesh victory would still have put the hosts through at the expense of New Zealand.
To the disappointment of over 10,000 partisan spectators the home side never looked like reaching the target. Under pressure to score quickly, seven Bangladesh batsmen were caught out and two stumped and they were all out for 178 in 40.3 overs. Abhishek Singh and Praveen Gupta picked up three wickets apiece as only Aftab Ahmed with 44 runs from 29 balls threatened to bring Bangladesh back into contention.
Bangladesh coach Richard McInnes believes his players will learn from the experience of playing a strong India side.
"The occasion overwhelmed the team," said McInnes. "There were enormous pressures created by expectations on them. However, the team is still learning. This experience will be useful to them. They will get used to playing under pressure, noise and high quality opposition. "The bowling was more disciplined today. Not many extras were conceded. They just came up against a powerful batting line-up that performed well today."
India coach Robin Singh refused to get carried away with a third consecutive victory.
"There can never be a perfect day, performances can always improve and today the batsmen could have performed better," said Singh. "Each match will be treated just like any other game as thinking too much creates unnecessary pressures. This undermines the performance of the team. We must just ensure that the team plays well consistently."
India and Pakistan are the only unbeaten sides in the tournament after defeats today for England and Sri Lanka.
South Africa squeeze into Super League
South Africa beat England by one wicket at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium
South Africa squeezed into the Super League by the narrowest of margins by beating England by one wicket at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium. South Africa had to win the match to qualify from Group C and looked in control after bowling England out for 189. But South Africa made hard work of the run chase and it needed a nervy 20-run last wicket partnership to secure the victory.
It means that South Africa and England will play in the Super League while unlucky Nepal who beat South Africa two days ago and Uganda go into the Plate Championship. Six different South Africa bowlers picked up wickets in the England innings as Steven Davies, man of the match against Nepal, was the only batsman to reach 50 before being bowled for 63. The South Africa reply was anchored by opener Vaughn van Jaarsveld whose 76 runs paved the way for Keegan Africa and Craig Alexander to shepherd the side to victory.
South Africa coach Russell Domingo was relieved with the outcome. "The bowling and fielding departments are performing to expectations but our batting remains weak," said Domingo. "The team's performance will have to improve during the next phase of the tournament."
Van Jaarsveld was named man of the match.
Pakistan thrash West Indies in front of full house
Pakistan beat West Indies by 163 runs at the Khulna Divisional Stadium
Pakistan became one of only two sides to emerge from the group stage unbeaten, completing their stay in Khulna with a thumping 163 run victory over West Indies. In front of a 16,000 sell-out crowd, Pakistan made 251 for 9 in 50 overs after being put into bat by West Indies.
Jahangir Mirza top-scored with 92 and Usman Saeed contributed 40 against a West Indies attack that was without a still-unwell Ravi Rampaul.
The West Indies reply was over in 27.3 overs due mainly to a devastating opening burst from right-arm fast bowler Riaz Afridi. In 8.3 overs Afridi picked up five wickets for 28 runs with Tariq Mehmood (3 for 18) and Mansoor Amjad (2-12) providing able support as West Indies were all out for 88.
"We simply have to improve our batting as we have not been consistent enough," said West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin. "We have enjoyed out time in Khulna, it has been fantastic here."
Pakistan coach Aqib Javed believes his side is in good shape to perform well in the Super League. "We stuck to our game plan today and performed well," said Javed. "I was pleased with our batting and bowling and I am looking forward to the Super League in Dhaka."
Afridi was named Man of the Match.
Pakistan and India are the only unbeaten sides in the tournament.