Bangladesh go through as group winners ahead of Pakistan after poor weather prevents results in two games, with Canada's clash with Afghanistan abandoned without a ball being bowled
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan are all safely through to the quarter-finals of the Under-19 World Cup. Poor weather in Potchefstroom saw play curtailed early in one game, while another never even began. The third – between India and New Zealand – was shortened to 23 overs aside.
The point picked up by an impressive Afghanistan side confirms their qualification as group winners, having already comfortably seen off South Africa and United Arab Emirates.
Bangladesh and Pakistan, meanwhile, had already eased into the next phase, with both subcontinental teams sweeping past Zimbabwe and Scotland. The abandonment of their clash means that Bangladesh go through as winners of the group, with Pakistan close behind – courtesy of an inferior net run rate.
In beating New Zealand at Bloemfontein in the only completed game of the afternoon, India completed a clean sweep of their group. At one stage, it seemed unlikely that there would be any result at all as the rain in South Africa proved an inconvenience – there was no play before lunch on the first morning of the Test between South Africa and England in Johannesburg.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyansh Saxena batted serenely for 23 overs in an unbroken first-wicket stand of 115, before the rain came down. That was all the Indian team – captained by Priyam Garg – would get, with New Zealand handed a target of 192 for victory from just 138 deliveries under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern
At one stage, when New Zealand were 99 for two inside the 11th over, an improbable chase appeared to be within reach.
Yet, while Jaiswal has signed a deal to represent Rajasthan Royals in this year’s Indian Premier League, Ravi Bishnoi will represent Kings XI Punjab in the coming months.
With his diet of leg-breaks and googlies, which had already proven too much for Japan and Sri Lanka, he spun his way to four more scalps as New Zealand’s hopes of topping their group subsided.
Only Afghanistan’s Shafiqullah Ghafari has proven more successful at this stage, taking 11 wickets in just two games.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made an unbeaten 57 as India beat New Zealand
Until conditions finally saw both sides handed a point each at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, Rohail Nazir’s Pakistan side had been well on top after opting to field against a Bangladesh team that, like their opponents, had made a strong start to the competition.
Mohammad Amir Khan, in for his first game of the tournament, raced through Bangladesh’s top order, taking the wickets of the top four batsmen inside the first 12 overs of the encounter.
Abbas Afridi, who has taken eight wickets at a strike rate of one per 16.5 deliveries thus far, soon added three more to leave Akbar Ali’s team reeling. There was a show of resistance of sorts from Bangladesh’s lower order, perhaps in the knowledge that rain was on the way and that survival was, therefore, more significant than putting together a target that would ultimately never be chased.
Matters were concluded just 25 overs in, with no more play possible. A share of the spoils and a mighty relief for Bangladesh, who sneak through as the top team in their group in the process.
Feature image © ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2018
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