DIEGO MARTIN: Aghanistan bowlers showed combined effort to bowl out Papa New Guinea (PNG) for a humiliating 65 after their batters could only set a target of 201 in the 13th match of the ICC Under 19 World Cup.
Batting first, Afghanistan started poorly; losing three wickets for just 40 runs. The skipper Suliman Safi and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai anchored the innings with a valiant 105 runs partnership. Ahmadzai fell short on 45, however, Safi went on to smash a gritty half-century. He scored 62 off 76 deliveries and smoked nine boundaries.
Following a lower-order collapse, Afghanistan got bowled out for 200; setting an achievable target for PNG.
Katenalaki Singi starred with the ball for PNG; taking four wickets, while Rasan Kevau bagged two. Aue Oru, however, claimed two wickets followed by Barnabas Maha who managed to make one scalp.
Set to chase 201, the PNG batting lineup failed completely and had no answers to the Afghan bowling attack. The side was eventually bowled for a mere 65; losing the match by 135 runs. Junior Morea was the highest scorer for the PNG with his 13.
For Afghanistan, Izharulhaq Naveed claimed three wickets, while Nangyalai Khan, Naveed Zadran, and Noor Ahmad bagged two wickets each. Bilal Sami, on the other hand, took one wicket.
In another match of the ongoing U19 World Cup, South Africa crushed Uganda with a massive margin of 121 runs. Proteas bowlers too showed combined effort to dismiss the opposition for a mere 110. For Uganda, Isaac Ategeka could show a little fightback with his 29.
Dewald Brevis, Liam Alder, and Aphiwe Mnyanda dismissed two batters each, while Andile Simeland, Michael Copeland, Kwena Maphaka, and Matthew Boast struck out a batter each.
Batting first, the Proteas batting line also failed, but, Brevis’ heroic century guided the side to a commendable total of 231/9. He scored 104 off 110 deliveries, laced with 12 boundaries including a six. The skipper George Van Heerden also chipped in with his 36.
For Uganda, Juma Miyaji and Pascal Murungi picked three wickets each, while Yunusu Sowobi, Joseph Baguma, and Edwin Nuwagba struck out a batter each.
In the Group A match, England too sealed a thumping victory over Canada; defeating the latter by 106 runs after setting Canada to chase 321 in the allotted 50 overs.
Batting first, George Thomas, Tom Prest, and George Bell scored half-centuries to put the side onto the driving seat. Thomas scored 52 to set the tone, while Bell provided a solid conclusion with his quickfire 57 off just 35 balls; smashing three boundaries and as many sixes as England finished at 320/7 in the quota of 50 overs.
Prest, on the other hand, top-scored with his run-a-ball 93, missing his well deserved century by just seven runs as Kairam Sharma trapped the batter in his legs.
In reply, Canada’s batting line-up struggled throughout the innings and could only score 214, in response to England’s 320. Annop Chima scored 38, followed by the top-scorer for the side – Gurnek Johal Singh, who scored 44.
For England, Joshua Boyden starred with the ball; taking four wickets, while Prest and Jacob Bethell claimed three wickets each.
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