Shakeel ur Rehman
Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten half-century and Usman Khan’s 4 for 37 helped Pakistan U19 register a thrilling one-wicket win over Afghanistan U19 in the Tri nation series at Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe.
Usman Khan declared player of the match.
Chasing 227 to win, Pakistan U19 reached 230 for nine with three balls to spare, courtesy by a match-winning knock of 68 not out off 51 deliveries by Hamza, who held his nerve in a tense finish.
After being put in to bat, Afghanistan U19 posted 226 all out in their allotted 50 overs. Osman Sadat top-scored for Afghanistan with a patient 75 off 106 balls, which included 4 fours and a six while Mahboob Khan contributed 49 off 77 balls and he hit 2 fours.The other main contributors were faisal shinozada with 31runs and Nooristani with 16 runs.
For Pakistan, Usman Khan was main
Destructive with the ball, grabbing four wickets for 37 runs, while Mohammad Sayyam and Daniyal Ali Khan bagged two wickets apiece to restrict Afghanistan to a manageable total.
Pakistan’s chase got off to a shaky start as they lost early wicket of Sameer minhas on 0 then ali hassan baloch and vice captain usman khan added 38 runs for 2nd wicket but in space of four runs both were back to pavilion,then Captain Farhan Yousaf anchored the innings with a solid 65 off 78 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, before falling in the 31st over with the score on 131.
With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, the responsibility fell on Hamza, who counter-attacked with confidence and maturity and struck eight fours and one six in the process. He found support from Daniyal Ali Khan (8, 13b, 1×4) and Sayyam (7) in brief stands, but Pakistan were left nine wickets down at 201,
Right-handed batter Hamza then added a crucial unbroken 29-run partnership for the last wicket with Niqab Shafiq, who scored one not out to steer Pakistan home in a thrilling finish and seal a memorable one-wicket win.
Pakistan U19 will now take on hosts Zimbabwe in the third fixture of the tri-series today at the Prince Edwards School in Harare.
