Afghanistan, New Zealand emerge impressive winners

Number three batsman Finn Allen, a second-timer at the U19 CWC, was the star for the hosts with an unbeaten 115 in Tauranga while Darwish Rasool’s 76 anchored Afghanistan’s victory in Whangarei after a fine bowling effort by the Asia Cup champions.

On a day which saw four matches being played across three cities, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe also notched wins, though their matches in Christchurch were reduced to 20 overs per side owing to rain. Bangladesh defeated Namibia by 87 runs and Zimbabwe beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets.

New Zealand v Windies

The Windies had taken the early initiative after being put in to bat in the opening Group A match as Keagan Simmons compiled an unbeaten 92 and put on 123 runs with opening partner Kimani Melius (78). However, they were restricted by some tight bowling later on and could only manage 233 for eight.

In what was the first of 20 matches in this tournament being broadcast live by ICC TV, pace bowler Matthew Fisher grabbed three for 61 and spinners Rachin Ravindra (three for 30) and Felix Murray (two for 37) kept the Windies side on a tight leash.

New Zealand coasted home with more than 10 overs to spare with Jakob Bhula also knocking up 83, leaving Windies captain Emmanuel Stewart disappointed.

“I thought the effort of the opening batsmen was not supplemented. I also thought we did not use the new ball well enough because we needed some early wickets,” Stewart said.

Afghanistan v Pakistan

For Afghanistan, captain Naveen-ul-Haq struck with the new ball to reduce Pakistan to 23 for two after the two-time champions elected to bat in the Group D match. An 88-run third-wicket partnership between opener Rohail Nazir (81 off 105 balls) and Ali Zaryab (30 off 58 balls) steadied the ship but the 2004 and 2006 champions could not consolidate on the stand.

Medium-pace bowler Azmatulllah Omarzai and spinner Qais Ahmad grabbed three wickets each as Afghanistan showed that they are capable of upsetting leading sides and the team to watch from Group D, which also has Sri Lanka and Ireland.

Pakistan captain Hassan Khan praised the Afghanistan team, which has now beaten them three consecutive times after having also got the better of them two times in the Asia Cup in November, including in the final.

“They bowled and batted really well. They outclassed us in every department, especially in the first innings. The pitch was pretty good to bat on but the way they bowled was tough for us,” Hassan said.

Naveen-ul-Haq did not lend much importance to their third win over Pakistan.

“We have prepared well. We aren’t thinking of anything like we have beaten them thrice. It was just another game of cricket. We restricted them to under 200, so it was a good total for us to chase down.”

Bangladesh v Namibia

Bangladesh started with a comprehensive win in their bid to better their third-place finish as hosts last time, defeating Namibia by 87 runs in a Group C match reduced to 20 overs per side owing to rain.

Captain Mohammad Saif Hassan smashed 84 off 48 balls with three fours and five sixes to help post a huge 190 for four. Naim Sheikh also chipped in with 60 and the opposition were buried under the pressure of a huge target even though all-rounder Eben van Wyk got a half-century.

PNG v Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe scored a 10-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in another match that was reduced to 20 overs a side.

They restricted Papua New Guinea to 95 in the opening Group B match and then got to the target with six overs to spare. Wesseley Madevere grabbed three for 19 with his off-spin bowling and then made a brisk 53 not out to be named player of the match. His opening partner Gregory Dollar remained not out on 48.

Scores in brief:

Afghanistan beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in a Group D match at Cobham Oval, Whangarei

Pakistan 188, 47.4 overs (Rohail Nazir 81, Ali Zaryab 30, Azmatullah Omarzai 3-34, Qais Ahmad 3-38, Naveen-ul-Haq 2-30)

Afghanistan 194-5, 47.3 overs (Darwish Rasool 76 not out, Ikram Ali 46, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 31, Hassan Khan 2-45)

Player of the match: Darwish Rasool

Bangladesh beat Namibia by 87 runs in a Group C match at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln, Christchurch (20 overs per side)

Bangladesh 190-4, 20 Overs (Mohammad Saif Hassan 84, Naim Sheikh 60)

Namibia 103-6, 20 Overs (Eben van Wyk 55 not out, Hasan Mahmud 2-12, Qazi Onik 2-14)

Player of the match: Mohammad Saif Hassan

New Zealand beat Windies by eight wickets in a Group A match at Bay Oval, Tauranga

Windies 233-8, 50 overs (Keagan Simmons 92 not out, Kimani Melius 78, Rachin Ravindra 3-30, Matthew Fisher 3-61, Felix Murray 2-37)

New Zealand 234-2, 39.3 overs (Finn Allen 115 not out, Jakob Bhula 83).

Player of the match: Finn Allen

Zimbabwe beat Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in a Group B match at Lincoln No 3, Christchurch (20 overs per side)

Papua New Guinea 95 all out, 20 Overs (Igo Mahuru 26, Wesseley Madevere 3-19, Milton Shumba 2-19)

Zimbabwe 98 for no loss (Wesseley Madevere 53 not out, Gregory Dollar 48 not out)

Player of the match: Wesseley Madevere

Sunday’s fixtures:

Australia v India, Bay Oval, Tauranga (Group B, day-night broadcast match)

Ireland v Sri Lanka, Cobham Oval, Whangarei (Group D)

Kenya v South Africa, Lincoln No. 3, Christchurch (Group A)

Image: ICC website