U-19 World Cup: Aussies pip Afghans for 3rd spot

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan made the Aussies struggle for winning third spot in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup on Friday.

Australia, surviving the fear of losing the match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, managed to beat Afghanistan by two wickets.

Nivethan Radhakrishnan’s superb all-round performance saw the Aussies dry and home in the final over. The ambidextrous all-rounder claimed three wickets to restrict Afghanistan to 201.

Batting first, Afghanistan took a shaky start and lost two early wickets, reported an Indian TV channel.

William Salzmann sent Nangyalai Kharoti and Allah Noor back to the pavilion, with 15 on the board.

Mohammad Ishaq (34) and Suleman Shafi (37) put on a 70-run stand before Radhakrishnan dismissed both three balls apart, NDTV said.

As wickets kept falling around him, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai chipped in with 81 before Salzmann removed him. Afghanistan were wrapped up for 201.

Australia had to sweat, though their openers forged a fifty-run partnership. It was on the first delivery of the last over that the Aussies romped home for the loss of eight wickets.

Noor Ahmad removed both Kellaway and Connolly in quick succession before Isaac Higgins and Radhakrishnan joined in a 40-run partnership.

However, both of them departed at a time when the Australians still needed 35. At this point, the Afghans appeared to make a match of it.

Although Lachlan Shaw and Corey Miller took Australia to the brink, the fall of three quick wickets left the encounter evenly-poised.

On the first ball of the final over, Joshua Garner (four not out) handed the Aussies a hard-fought win — a heartbreak for the Afghans.

PAN Monitor/mud

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