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Pakistan secured their second consecutive victory in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup 2024 on Wednesday, January 24. In their second U-19 World Cup match Pakistan rode on Azan Awais' batting heroics to beat Nepal by five wickets. Azan Awais spearheaded Pakistan's successful run-chase after Arafat Minhas and Ahmed Hussain's spin bowling had limited Nepal to a modest score in East London.
Choosing to bat first, Nepal started aggressively against Pakistan's initial inconsistent bowling. The introduction of Ahmed Hussain as the first-change bowler proved pivotal, as he quickly dismissed Arjun Kamal and then Aakash Tripathi.
Nepal's Bipin Rawal and captain Dev Khanal steadied their innings, but Pakistan regained control thanks to left-arm spinners Arafat Minhas and Ali Asfand. Asfand broke the partnership by dismissing Khanal for 23, and Minhas took out wicketkeeper Uttam Magar and the well-set Rawal for 39.
Nepal's score went from a promising 80/2 to a shaky 96/5. However, their lower middle order, including Gulshan Jha, Deepak Dumre, and Subash Bhandari, added valuable runs, and with contributions from No.10 Aakash Chand, Nepal reached a respectable total of 197. Minhas led Pakistan's bowling with three wickets, while Ubaid Shah took the final two wickets in the last over.
Pakistan's response was anchored by an 80-run opening partnership between Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan. They started cautiously but picked up pace after the Powerplay. However, Chand's double strike in the 22nd over disrupted Pakistan's flow, claiming both openers.
Pakistan's position became precarious at 104/4 after Minhas and another batsman fell. Yet, Azam Awais, batting at No.4, along with Hassan, stabilized the innings with a 54-run fifth-wicket partnership, dashing Nepal's upset hopes.
Hussain was dismissed for 29 by Dipesh Kandel, but Awais stayed unbeaten at 63*, guiding Pakistan to victory with a boundary over mid-on.
With their eyes set on the final game against New Zealand, both teams have already advanced to the Super Six stage. Nepal, facing two losses, must beat Afghanistan to keep their chances alive.
In another Under-19 World Cup match in Kimberley, Sri Lanka triumphed over Namibia in another game where low scores dominated. The second half of the match saw Sri Lankan bowlers delivering impressive performances. Earlier, Supun Waduge's calm half-century was crucial in averting a batting collapse for Sri Lanka, even as Namibia continued to showcase their bowling prowess.
Elsewhere, Jewel Andrew once again stood out as West Indies claimed their first points with a significant win against Scotland in Potchefstroom. Following his spectacular century in the opening match, Andrew remained undefeated with another half-century, guiding his team to victory.
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