ICC Under 19 World Cup 2024

U19 CWC 2024 DAY 4 ROUND-UP: AUSTRALIA SURVIVE NAMIBIA SCARE; BANGLADESH BATTLE TO FIRST WIN​


Australia were given a scare by Namibia in a low-scoring affair in Kimberley while Shihab James impressed again as Bangladesh overcame Ireland in Bloemfontein.

Australian captain Hugh Weibgen was put to work on his first day at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 as he was required to produce a fighting knock in trying circumstances in the run-chase to give his side a first win in the tournament.

Namibia’s admirable fightback with the ball after an ordinary batting display put the brakes on Australia’s cruise before Weibgen stepped up to calm the storm with a solid innings.

In Bloemfontein, meanwhile, Bangladesh’s batters put together a promising performance. Ireland had put up 235/8 courtesy of a composed 113-ball 90 from Kian Hilton, despite limited help from the others.

In reply, however, a 90-run opening partnership between Ashiqur Rahman Shibli and Adil Bin Siddik, and an unbeaten century stand between Ahrar Amin and Mohammad Shihab James helped the young Tigers home.

Australia beat Namibia by four wickets in Kimberley

Australia 95/6 (19.5 overs) v Namibia 91 (33.1 overs)

Kimberely witnessed special scenes as Namibia, who appeared down and out after the first innings of the game, came roaring back with the ball to induce panic in the Australian camp.

Led by skipper Weibgen, Australia eventually managed to overhaul the target, but it’s unlikely to be considered a convincing victory, despite the exemplary bowling display.

On the bowling front, Australia’s all-pace attack had proved too good for Namibia as the fast bowlers shared 10 wickets between them in 33.1 overs to bowl Namibia out for 91.

Opting to bowl first, Australia had Namibia on the ropes with two wickets inside the first six overs courtesy Callum Vidler.

Vidler sent back Johannes de Villiers and wicketkeeper Johannes Visagie in back-to-back overs. Namibia's middle-order was further exposed when Tom Straker dismissed a resilient Gerhard Rensburg, who faced 32 balls for two runs.

Zacheo van Vuuren and Alexander Volschenk made valuable twenties, but before either could carry on for Namibia, Australia struck with further blows.

Van Vuuren was sent back by Straker for 29, and the seamer went on to dismiss Ryan Moffett in the next, as Namibia lost half their side for under 50.

Mahli Beardman joined the fast bowling party with a wicket in the next over before Henry van Wyk offered Volschenk some company.

The duo arrested the slide and resisted for a bit, but Vidler once again proved to too good for them – he returned to end van Wyk’s 26-ball vigil for seven.

Volschenk struck a few lusty blows, but it didn’t take long for Australia to wipe out the tail, Namibia being bowled out for 91.

It was more of the same in the second innings. Jack Brassell and Hanro Badenhorst led Namibia’s impressive fightback with the ball, sharing five wickets between them to reduce Australia to 57/5 inside the first 13 overs. But ultimately, they just didn’t have enough runs on board to push the Aussies further.

Weibgen stood tall amid the other batters with a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 39 off 43. With some help from Raf MacMillan, Weibgen ensured his team crossed the line and began their campaign with an all-important win.


After the victory, Namibia’s skipper Alex Volschenk revealed the team’s mindset that led to the second-half fightback:

“We looked at each other and remembered the qualifiers when we had bowled a side out for 140, so we decided to fight till the end.”

Meanwhile, Australian captain Hugh Weibgen stated the team would take their time to reflect on the performance, but was happy to hit the winning runs for the team.

“It’s always good to spend some time out there, partnership with Raf (Macmillan) settled us and it was good to get the winning runs.”

Bangladesh beat Ireland by six wickets in Bloemfontein

Bangladesh 239/4 (46.5 overs) v Ireland 235/8 (50 overs)

Kian Hilton’s 90 laid the platform for Ireland’s solid batting display in Bloemfontein after Bangladesh chose to bowl after winning the toss, but his valiant single-handed effort was overcome by a team effort from the Tigers, where four batters crossed the 30-run mark.

Maruf Mridha, who had picked up a five-wicket haul against India, was once again in the thick of the action early with the ball, snaring Ryan Hunter early while Sheikh Paevez Jibon dismissed Gavin Roulston for five.

No.4 batter Hilton walked in with the team in a spot of bother at 45/2, and held up his end steadily. While Bangladesh struck with two big wickets in the middle overs, Hilton found able company in Scott Macbeth.

Macbeth and Hilton stitched together an 81-run stand that posed a major threat to Bangladesh. Between overs 25 and 35, the pair managed to hit seven boundaries as the partnership frustrated the fielding side.

Ireland were heading to what would have been a strong total when skipper Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby struck with the vital wicket of Macbeth to break the stand.

John McNally made a 24-ball 23 while Hilton carried on with his calculated approach as Ireland prepared for a late onslaught.

That never quite materialised, however, with Mridha and Rohanat Doullah Borson, who had taken a hat-trick in the warm-up games, taking a wicket apiece.

Ireland finished on 235/8, making 61 runs in the last 10 overs. The impressive Hilton fell just 10 runs short of what would have been an impressive century.

In response, a solid 90-run opening stand between Ashiqur Rahman Shibli and Adil Bin Siddik gave Bangladesh a strong foothold in a run-chase of 236. Ireland fought back, taking four wickets in the space of eight overs to add some jeopardy as the chase progressed.

At 130/4, Ireland seemed to be clawing their way back into the game, but any hope for a win was thwarted by a strong stand between Ahrar Amin and Mohammad Shihab James. The duo put on a century stand to ease Bangladesh to a win.

While Amin made an unbeaten 45, Shihab James, who had made a half-century against India in the previous game, struck another fifty (55*).

Player of the Match Shihab James, whose impression as a finisher has grown in two games, was pleased with his effort.

“Last match, I did well, but could not finish off the game. But today, I managed to score a fifty and remain unbeaten.”
 
That’s that. The conditions haven’t improved and England win by 36 runs (DLS method) as they register their second win of the tournament. They are now the first ranked team of Group B.
Click to expand...

Ah well.
 

U19 CWC 2024 DAY 5 ROUND-UP: NEW ZEALAND EDGE AFGHANISTAN IN DRAMATIC THRILLER; ENGLAND OVERCOME SOUTH AFRICA​

New Zealand beat Afghanistan in a dramatic, low-scoring contest in East London while England won their second match in a rain-affected game against hosts South Africa.

Matt Rowe followed up a sensational, five-wicket burst inside 16 balls with a nerveless shot to hit the winning runs in New Zealand’s one-wicket win over Afghanistan at Buffalo Park in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024.

In a low-scoring game that went down to the wire, a run-out at the non-striker’s end in the final moments was the major talking point, but Rowe’s crucial hit took New Zealand past the finish line for their second win that took them to the top of the table.

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar was exceptional with the ball to nearly negate Afghanistan’s ordinary batting effort, but in the end, they just had too few runs on board to force a win.

Meanwhile, in Potchefstroom, England proved too good for hosts South Africa. Jaydn Denly, Eddie Jack and Tazeem Ali all took three wickets apiece as South Africa were bowled out for a par total of 230.

Skipper, Ben McKinney, and Noah Thain then put England ahead in the game before persistent rain and lightning resulted in abandonment. England, well ahead on the DLS method after their strong start, notched up a second win in the tournament to top Group B.

New Zealand beat Afghanistan by one wicket in East London

New Zealand 92/9 (28.2 overs) v Afghanistan 91 (21.3 overs)

Opting to bat first in East London, Afghanistan would have hoped to fare better than they did against Pakistan three days back, when they were bowled out for 103.

While they lost Hassan Eisakhil and Khalid Taniwal early to the impressive Ryan Tsourgas, Jamshid Zadran held the fort to help Afghanistan to a steady start. At 46/2, Afghanistan had a decent start, but it derailed all too quickly thereafter.

In 34 balls, Afghanistan lost five wickets for eight runs with pacer Matt Rowe running amok and completing a five-wicket haul in 16 balls.

The New Zealand speedster, cousin of White Ferns player Hannah Rowe, had Afghanistan on the mat with his spell. At 54/7, Afghanistan had thrown away their solid start and it was down to the tail to resurrect the innings and get them to the three-figure mark.

That didn’t quite happen, but Afghanistan’s tail still managed to stick around enough to get into the nineties, eventually getting bowled out for 91.

With a meagre target to defend, Afghanistan threw their trump card, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, the new ball, and the ploy worked.

The mystery spinner, often likened to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, was touted as a superstar right from age group cricket and showed exactly why on Tuesday.

He sent back three of the top four batters for ducks to reduce New Zealand to 23/3. With the centurion from the last game, Snehith Reddy, absent, New Zealand’s top-order struggled to combat Ghazanfar.

Khalil Ahmed joined in on the act with a couple of quick wickets as New Zealand crumbled to 42/5.

Afghanistan, however, then struggled to make further inroads as skipper Oscar Jackson, who had smashed 75 in the previous game against Nepal, stood tall to counter the spinners.

A 30-run stand between him and Sam Clode was broken when Naseer Khan had the wicketkeeper bowled in the 25th over. In a massive breakthrough for Afghanistan, Jackson followed suit in the next over with Arab Gul Momand bowling him with a fuller, quicker ball that slipped under his bat to hit the timber.

A streaky four and a few singles brought New Zealand to within touching distance of the target, but skipper Naseer Khan had noticed Ewald Schreuder taking a few steps outside the crease at the non-striker’s end.

In the first ball of his next over, Naseer ran Schreuder out at the non-striker’s end, leaving the match tantalisingly poised. New Zealand still needed two runs to win, but only had one wicket left.

Despite the tense atmosphere, Rowe was all calm. He calmly hit the winning runs off the very next ball to script a thrilling win for New Zealand.

Reacting to the non-striker’s end run out, Naseer Khan told ICC Digital: “Yeah it is in the rules and that’s why I did it.”

The New Zealand skipper Oscar Jackson hailed the match as a “great game of cricket” and praised Matt Rowe for his excellent spell.

“It was a great day for bowling and our top bowlers did a great job. Matthew Rowe was just unbelievable today – his control, and line and length were perfect and broke the game wide open for us. After the day he had with the ball, it was always going to be his day [on him hitting the winning runs].”

England beat South Africa by 36 runs (DLS Method)

England 137/2 (28.3 overs) v South Africa 230 (49.2 overs)

Put in to bat in Potchefstroom, South Africa got off to a flyer, making 71 runs in less than 11 overs before pacer Jack and left-arm spinner Denly struck in back-to-back overs to pull England back into the game.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius was the first to fall after a half-century stand with Steve Stolk. The latter was the more aggressive of the two in the partnership and had already raced to 44 in 36 balls when Pretorius nicked an upper-cut to the wicketkeeper.

David Teeger was sent back for nought the next over, but Richard Seletswane and Stolk strung together a partnership that brought the Proteas back up to pace.

However, against the run of play, Stolk was run out for 64 while attempting a risky single, the wicketkeeper Jack Carney showing impeccable skills to collect the throw and take down the stumps.

The game soon turned England’s way decidedly when off-spinner Tazeem Ali struck off successive deliveries to send back Oliver Whitehead and Romashan Pillay for ducks.

With three spinners in the side, England strangled the South African middle-order and runs were hard to come by on a sluggish wicket.

That didn’t quite affect Dewan Marais, fresh off an exceptional knock against the West Indies in the opening game. The lower middle-order batter and Seletswane stitched together a stand before another couple of quick wickets put a halt to South Africa’s charge.

Jack returned to clean up Seletswane and Denly struck the next over to remove the well-set Marais for 42.

But the tail-enders put up a good fight for the hosts, with each of the final four batters making double-digit scores. From 169/7, South Africa made a further 61 runs to finish on 230.

South Africa made a strong start with the ball as Tristan Luus accounted for opener Denly (1) in the second over, but England dominated from there with skipper McKinney once again impressing.

The left-hand opener, who had struck an 88 against Scotland in the previous game, was accompanied by Noah Thain at No.3 and the duo put on a strong partnership that pushed the hosts on the backfoot.

Runs came thick and fast during the stand as both batters played positive cricket. It took the medium pace of Romashan Pillay for South Africa to make the breakthrough.

Bowling from around the wicket, Pillay slanted one back into McKinney to beat his drive and hit the stumps. Despite the wicket, McKinney’s 48 had laid a strong foundation for England in the run-chase.

Thain continued to go for his shots, reaching his fifty with two boundaries off Juan James in the 26th over. With Hamza Sheikh for company, England brought the runs required to under 100 when lightning and rain stopped play at Senwes Park.

Skipper Ben McKinney identified Tazeem Ali as the game-changer, stating that his three wickets, which came in two overs, changed the game.

"I think Tazeem Ali came in and picked three wickets in two overs. It just changes the pattern of the game. They got off to a great start, but the way we got back was excellent."
 
SCO 205/9
WI 206/5

West Indies won by 5 wickets.

WI are ahead of us now by run rate.

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At least South Africa isn't the only team blighted by wides and no balls. England has sent down 19 (18w & 1nb). Criminal when defending such a low score.
 
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