The Pakistan U-19 cricket team delivered an outstanding performance in a crucial match of the tri-nation series, defeating the Afghanistan U-19 team by 133 runs and securing their place in the final.
Winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat first and managed to score 238 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Middle-order batsman Sami Minhas played a key role, contributing 56 runs and helping to set a strong total for the team. Openers Usman Khan and Ali Hassan Baloch provided solid support, with Khan scoring 43 runs off 59 balls and Baloch adding 39 runs off 68 balls. For Afghanistan, Salam Khan and Zaitullah Shaheen took two wickets each.
In response, Afghanistan’s U-19 team struggled against the Pakistani fast bowlers and was bowled out for just 105 runs in 30.2 overs. Right-arm fast bowler Umar Zeb led the charge with an impressive 5 wickets for 31 runs, making the match one-sided. Ahmed Hussain also had a stellar performance, taking 2 wickets for just 2 runs, while Momin Qamar claimed 2 wickets for 26 runs. Umar Zeb was named the player of the match for his exceptional bowling.
With this victory, the Pakistan U-19 team has confirmed their place in the final. They will play their final league match against Zimbabwe U-19 on January 4, with the tournament final scheduled for January 6.
