Pakistan were punished for some some ill-discipline today - firstly from the opening bowlers who were punished by the Indian batsmen, secondly for dropping Sarfaraz Khan at first slip, who went on to score 74 from 78 balls and thirdly for a number of run-outs, the pivotal one being Captain Sami Aslam being caught short. The spinners however, in particular Karamat, were a positive that Pakistan can carry forward into the tournament.

Plenty of positives for India. The batting ensured they posted a formidable total on a difficult pitch after losing four quick wickets, and the spinners, in particular Hooda and Sarfaraz Khan - never let Pakistan back in the game.

By PakPassion Staff (15th February, 2014)

Toss: India Under 19s won the toss and chose to bat.

Teams:

Pakistan Under-19s: 1. Sami Aslam(c), 2. Imam-ul-Haq, 3. Hasan Raza, 4. Saud Shakeel, 5. Kamran Ghulam, 6. Saifullah Khan(wk), 7. Zafar Gohar, 8. Karamat Ali, 9. Zia-ul-Haq, 10. Mohammad Aftab, 11. Irfanullah Shah

Sri Lanka: 1. AK Bains (wk), 2. AA Herwadkar, 3. DJ Hooda, 4. VH Zol(c), 5. AA Gani, 6. SV Samson, 7. RK Bhui, 8. SN Khan, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. CV Milind, 11. Avesh Khan

Openers Ankush Bains and Akhil Herwadkar got India off to a rapid start as the Pakistani bowlers struggled to find the right length with the new ball. Mohammad Aftab and Zia-ul-Haq leaked 10 boundaries – nine fours and a six – in the first eight overs. Irfanullah struck in the ninth over, to remove Bains (24) as the ball nipped back through the gate and hit the stumps. Zia-ul-Haq removed new man Zol in the next over, trapping him lbw with a good delivery that came back in a touch.

Pakistan captain Sami Aslam introduced his star bowler Karamat Ali (2/37) into the attack in the 16th over and he found some spin off the pitch. He took two wickets in quick succession, bowling the well-set Herwadkar (41) in the second over of his spell and claiming a caught and bowled against Bhui (1) one over later.

India were 94/4 in the 20th over when the highly-rated Sanju Samson was joined by Sarfaraz Khan and struggled in the initial overs bowled by spinners Zafar Gohar, Kamran Ghulam and Karamat. Sarfaraz in particular looked in trouble and edged to first slip, only for the fielder to drop the chance.

This seemed to bring the batsmen to life and although Khan rode his luck on his way to 74(78), Samson (68) at the other end looked secure. Zafar Gohar broke the 119-run partnership, Khan playing one shot too many and the impressive fast bowler Irfanullah Shah (10 overs, 3/32) removed Samson who looked to pull a short delivery. The two batsmen had done their job though, carrying India from a precarious 94/4 to a strong 213/6 in the 43rd over.

India lost just one more wicket – Gohar with a sharp piece of fielding off his own bowling to run out Kuldeep Yadav and a cameo by Hooda (22 off 18 balls) helped India reach 262/7, the highest score against Pakistan in an Under 19 World Cup.


Fall Of Wickets

1-65 Bains, 8.1 overs,
2-69 Zol, 9.6 overs,
3-90 Herwadkar, 17.3 overs,
4-94 Bhui, 19.2 overs,
5-213 Khan, 42.3 overs,
6-229 Samson, 45.1 overs,
7-247 Kuldeep Yadav, 48.2 overs

The Pakistani openers were pinned back by some impressive new-ball bowling by the Indian duo of Chama Milind and Avesh Khan. They bowled good lines and found some movement and Pakistan were 25/0 after eight overs. However, Sami Aslam broke the shackles in the ninth over, striking Mlilind for consecutive boundaries and Pakistan repeated it in the next, reaching 47/0 after 10 overs.

Sami Aslam and Imam-ul-Haq looked comfortable before Imam (39 off 62), looking for the big shot, holed out to long-off and Sami Aslam was run out a couple of overs later after Raza Hasan sent him back. The Captain was clearly not happy, giving Hasan an earful before dragging himself off the field. Aslam had played well for his 64(85), including a succession of sweep shots against the spinners.

Hasan Raza (14) was bowled by Sarfaraz Khan with a ball that kept low, and a couple of balls later Kamran Ghulam was run out for a duck. The bowler had dislodged one bail with his arm, but the ball struck the remaining bail and he was given out by the third umpire as Pakistan went from 143/2 to 143/4.

India turned the screw and the Pakistani batsmen struggled to score runs on a sluggish pitch. The batting powerplay was taken and Hooda, who made runs earlier in the day, trapped Saifullah Khan (6) lbw to leave Pakistan on 160/5, still needing 103 runs. Set batsman Saud Shakeel was the next to go, top-edging a sweep shot to leave Pakistan 175/6, needing 88 from 58 balls as Hooda claimed his 2nd wicket. Hooda had bowled well throughout the innings and he was rewarded again for some consistent bowling a few overs later as Zafar Gohar (11) top edged to square leg and Karamat Ali departed in similar fashion as the spinner collected his fourth wicket.

Zia-ul-Haq hit a couple of sixes before hitting the ball high to Sarfaraz Khan and Hooda completed a five-wicket haul - 5/41 - as Pakistan were bowled out for 222, Mohammad Aftab the last man out for 10, bowled by Milind.


Fall Of Wickets

1-109 Imam-ul-Haq, 23.4 overs,
2-116 Sami Aslam, 25.3 overs,
3-143 Hasan Raza, 32.3 overs,
4-143 Kamran Ghulam, 32.5 overs,
5-160 Saifullah Khan 36.3 overs,
7-180 Zafar Gohar, 42.4 overs,
8-203 Karamat Ali, 46.1 overs,
9-210 Zia-ul-Haq, 46.4 overs,
10-222 Mohammad Aftab, 48.4 overs

Pakistan were punished for some some ill-discipline today - firstly from the opening bowlers who were punished by the Indian batsmen, secondly for dropping Sarfaraz Khan at first slip, who went on to score 74 from 78 balls and thirdly for a number of run-outs, the pivotal one being Captain Sami Aslam being caught short. The spinners however, in particular Karamat, were a positive that Pakistan can carry forward into the tournament.

Plenty of positives for India. The batting ensured they posted a formidable total on a difficult pitch after losing four quick wickets, and the spinners, in particular Hooda and Sarfaraz Khan - never let Pakistan back in the game.


Next Game:

17th Feb, Monday: Pakistan Under-19s vs Papua New Guinea Under-19s at ICC Academy, Dubai.

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