Cricket
Report for Semi-final 2 Australias thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan set up a senior World Cup final repeat.

By Kajal Sharma - 09 Feb 2024 05:53 PM
Australia will play India in the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 final after the former defeated Pakistan in an exciting match in Benoni.If India's tight win over South Africa in the first semi-final was not enough, Benoni gave witness to another nail-biter as Australia beat Pakistan by one wicket to join India in the competition final.Pakistan, needing to chase 180 runs, was down to nine wickets with 16 runs remaining, and they were already in the championship game. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as Australia's last-wicket combination retained their composure and defied the odds to win the match with just five balls left.With the victory, India, the reigning U19 World Cup champions, will take on Australia in a rematch of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 final.In Benoni, Australia defeated Pakistan by one wicket. Australia defeated Pakistan 179 (48.5 overs) to 181/9. 49.1 overs In the pivotal 2024 ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup semi-final, Australia's captain, Hugh Weibgen, won the toss and chose to put Pakistan in to bat, unleashing his fast bowlers on a new surface.Mahli Beardman and Callum Vidler's new ball was met with caution by Pakistan's openers, Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan. But Australia's victory came right away when Tom Straker was brought in as the first change bowler.Shamyl Hussain, who attempted an audacious pull shot but top-edged it to Oliver Peake, who took a great catch at mid-on, was removed by Straker in just his second over. Shahzaib miscued a drive off Vidler to Hugh Weibgen at backward point, who held onto a magnificent low catch, shortly after, ending his watchful innings.Australia took a commanding lead in the semi-final after both openers were out of the game during the Powerplay. Both Saad Baig and Azan Awais attempted to rebuild for Pakistan, with the former being spared by Harry Dixon's missed opportunity to first slip off Straker.But Straker had the last laugh in the following over, so Baig's luck was short lived. Once more, the seamer discovered the left-hander's edge, and Dixon managed to hold onto the catch at slip, bringing Pakistan down to 43 for three.After 16 overs of pace-driven bowling, Weibgen brought spin to the attack. In response to his captain's call, Raf MacMillan dismissed Ahmad Hassan by trapping him in front of the stumps with a well-pitched delivery.MacMillan was on the verge of taking another wicket when Haroon Arshad just about avoided being stumped. But Beardman's comeback to attack paid off, as he removed Arshad with a ball that skidded off the field and unsettled the off-stump. Together, Arafat Minhas and Azan Awais restored Pakistan's innings by a consistent partnership. Between overs 31 and 40, Awais scored at a steady clip as he hit his half-century off 83 balls.But Straker broke up their partnership when he got Awais for 52 when the wicketkeeper caught him behind. After Awais left, Pakistan was 133 for six, a vulnerable position that needed a big contribution from the lower order. Minhas continued unfazed, pulling out the square cut against the spinner and knocking Vidler off his back foot with a powerful draw. After cutting Tom Campbell in front of square for a boundary to achieve his half-century off 60 balls, he fell on the following ball as he tried a loft over cover and sliced it to the deep fielder. In order to finish with six wickets, as many as possible, Straker went through the tailenders, cleaning up the final two off consecutive deliveries.But Straker broke up their partnership when he got Awais for 52 when the wicketkeeper caught him behind. After Awais left, Pakistan was 133 for six, a vulnerable position that needed a big contribution from the lower order.
Minhas continued unfazed, pulling out the square cut against the spinner and knocking Vidler off his back foot with a powerful draw. After cutting Tom Campbell in front of square for a boundary to achieve his half-century off 60 balls, he fell on the following ball as he tried a loft over cover and sliced it to the deep fielder. In order to finish with six wickets, as many as possible, Straker went through the tailenders, cleaning up the final two off consecutive deliveries.After the Powerplay overs, Pakistan pulled off a stunning comeback, while Australia got off to a cautious but consistent start thanks to Harry Dixon and Sam Konstas. Ali Raza, who is fifteen years old, dismissed Konstas with a delivery that struck the stumps with a crisp backswing. Weibgen took Naveed Khan for four with a full toss that was straight to short cover, and Dixon was removed due to a huge mix-up with Harjas Singh. Baig resorted to strike bowler Ubaid Shah when three wickets fell rapidly, and the strategy was successful. Australia dropped to a precarious 59 for 4, bowled off an inside edge for a golden duck by the dangerous Ryan Hicks. Ollie Peake, a left-handed batsman who has only ever had to bat once, joined Dixon.Meanwhile, Minhas carried on with his bowling unaltered, and the left-arm spinner struck once again in his eighth over. An arm ball that skidded on with the angle and struck the stumps undid Campbell. Pakistan was once again in the running after breaking another dangerous stand. Australia had four wickets remaining and were still 34 runs behind. The very next over, Raza found MacMillan's edge as the slip fielder dove to take a catch near the ground. However, as the ball was over waist height and hence a no-ball, there was no requirement for confirmation of a clean catch. Peake persisted in his construction, unfazed by the mayhem all around him, then on 49, he stole an innocuous Raza delivery and went down the leg-side, through