Shakeel ur Rehman
England Under-19 secured a dramatic 10-run victory over Pakistan Under-19 in the only four-day Youth Test at Arundel Castle Cricket Club, bringing an exciting contest to a thrilling conclusion on the final day.
Pakistan, chasing a challenging target set by England, fought hard throughout the final day but were eventually bowled out for 295, falling just 10 runs short of the victory target. England had earlier posted 333 all out in their first innings.
Pakistan’s young batters showed tremendous courage under pressure, keeping the match alive until the closing stages. The visitors’ resistance was led by Hasnain Abbas Dar, who produced an impressive half-century and played a crucial role in Pakistan’s fightback. His determined innings gave Pakistan genuine hope of completing a memorable chase.
England’s bowlers, however, maintained their discipline during the tense final stages. They kept creating pressure and eventually secured the final wickets to complete a narrow victory.
The match proved to be a highly competitive battle between two talented Under-19 sides. England’s strong first-innings total provided them with an important advantage, while Pakistan’s response showed the character and fighting spirit of the young Shaheens.
Despite the defeat, Pakistan Under-19 produced several encouraging performances during the match. Their young players gained valuable experience of playing red-ball cricket in English conditions, which will be important as they continue their development at international youth level.
Final Result: England U19 beat Pakistan U19 by 10 runs,
The narrow margin of victory underlined just how closely contested the Youth Test was, with England eventually holding their nerve in a dramatic finish.
