CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -- The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010 in New Zealand has reached the sudden-death stage with eight teams remaining in the hunt for the trophy while the lower qualifiers battle for the Plate Championship competition.
In what promises to be the match of the tournament so far, defending champion India meets two-time former winner Pakistan in the quarter-final in Lincoln on Saturday. The match will be televised live by ESPN STAR Sports to a worldwide audience.
The subcontinent rivals weren’t expected to meet so early in the tournament. But after a less than convincing performance with the bat against England on Thursday, India finished second in Group A having earlier dispatched Afghanistan and Hong Kong. The side will be looking to impressive fast bowler Saurabh Netrawalkar to utilise the conditions with the new ball.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has unearthed a potential superstar in Muhammad Babar Azam who has scored 260 runs at an average of 130 at the top of the order. The side won a close three-way chase with the West India and Bangladesh to on finish top of Group D with its final group match against Bangladesh going down to the last over.
India captain Ashok Menaria said his side was positive despite going down to England. “Although we lost, we’re pretty confident,” he said. “With one loss a good team doesn’t become bad.”
Pakistan captain Azeem Ghumman said his side will go into the bat with its confidence high. “All the boys are good enough to perform against any team – not just India – and I’m very hopeful that they will do well.”
In the other quarter-final on Saturday in Rangiora, Group A winner England faces a dangerous West Indies, who finished second in Group D.
England cantered through its first two matches, but was tested by a talented Indian team in the final group match before coming out on top largely thanks to Ben Stokes’ magnificent century.
West Indies secured wins against Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea (PNG) after losing its first match of the tournament to Pakistan by 40 runs. Kraigg Braithwaite showed his talent with knocks of 92 not out against Pakistan and 82 against the PNG. The side’s key victory came against Bangladesh when it fought back to win by one-run.
Sunday brings another two intense clashes with South Africa taking on Sri Lanka and host New Zealand facing former winner Australia.
South Africa has progressed with wins against Ireland, the USA and an exciting two-wicket win over Australia to top Group B. South Africa has a real weapon in Dominic Hendricks at the top of the order and the Sri Lanka seamers, including an in-form skipper Chathura Peiris, will have to be on top of their game to counter his stroke-play.
New Zealand, who topped in Group C, will face an experienced Australia which has four players with first-class experience but had failed to finish top of Group B after a close loss to South Africa.
New Zealand has flown under the radar with comprehensive victories against Canada and Zimbabwe, followed by a solid performance against Sri Lanka, chasing down 196 to win with 40 balls and six wickets in hand, thanks largely to Harry Boam’s 85 not out.
In the Plate Championship, Bangladesh looms as a genuine contender for the title following sensational results leading up to the tournament including victories against New Zealand and Australia during World Cup warm-ups. However, a poor showing in Group D with losses to West Indies and Pakistan has consigned them to the Plate Championship.
All matches in the Plate Championship will be played in Napier with Ireland meeting Zimbabwe and Canada playing the USA on Saturday, and Bangladesh clashing with Hong Kong and Afghanistan taking on the PNG on Sunday.
Ireland’s match against Zimbabwe should be a thriller with Ireland’s talented Paul Stirling having already scored 114 against USA. Zimbabwe has been pretty disappointing until now having lost all its three group matches.
At the halfway point in the competition, Pakistan’s Babar Azam is the leading run-getter with 260 runs in three matches to date, including scores of 129 against the West Indies, 91 against Bangladesh and 40 not out against the PNG.
South Africa’s Dominic Hendricks is the only other batsman to pass the 200-run mark in the tournament so far, with 216 runs at 108.
In the bowling stakes, Peiris is the tournament’s joint leading wicket-taker with eight wickets from three matches, including 5-25 against Canada.
Pakistan’s 16-year old leg-spinner Usman Qadir, son of Abdul Qadir, also has eight wickets with a best of 4-35.
The best performance from an Associate nation player – and one of the best bowling performances of the tournament – came from Afghanistan left-armer Zakiullah Zaki, who captured 5-34 against Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the ICC has announced umpire appointments for the quarter-final stages in the Super League and Plate Championship.
In the Super League matches to be played in Christchurch, the responsibilities will be shared between Bruce Oxenford, Kumar Dharmasena, Norman Malcolm, Richard Kettleborough, Gary Baxter, Paul Baldwin, Brian Jerling, Shavir Tarapore.
Umpires at the Plate Championship matches, to be played in Napier, will be Ian Ramage, Shahul Hameed, Owen Chirombe, Nadir Shah, Buddi Pradhan, Nadeem Ghauri, Niels Bagh, and Sarika Prasad.
