U19 World Cup: Azam hits ton as Pakistan pummel Scotland

Australia, Sri Lanka and the WI also register massive wins.

KARACHI: Captain Babar Azam struck an unbeaten century as Pakistan trounced Scotland by nine wickets to register their second successive win in the ICC U19 World Cup and move closer to confirming a place in the quarter-finals.

Azam hit an unbeaten 106 as Pakistan eased past their 201-run target in the 37th at the Kev Hackney Oval, Buderim. The Pakistan captain struck 10 fours and two sixes, putting on 163 for the opening wicket with Sami Aslam who scored 78.

Earlier, Mohammad Nawaz took four wickets to help Pakistan restrict their opponents to a modest total. Ehsan Adil took two while Ziaul Haq and Zafar Gohar claimed a wicket apiece. Opener Ross Mclean (59) was the top scorer from Scotland.

The win put Pakistan at the top of Group B. They will now meet New Zealand in their third and final group match on August 16.

In other matches Australia crushed Nepal by 212 runs while West Indies and Sri Lanka also registered huge wins against Papua New Guinea and Namibia respectively.

Australia crush Nepal

In another one-sided encounter, defending champions Australia gave a taste of things to come, thrashing a hapless Nepal side by 212 runs to register their second win in Group A at Townsville.

Big wins for Windies, SL

Meanwhile, the West Indies and Sri Lanka also recorded massive wins to cap a miserable day for the minnows.

West Indies, who secured a crucial win against India on earlier, continued their impressive form to overwhelm Papua New Guinea by nine wickets. Sri Lanka annihilated Namibia by 195 runs in their Group D fixture.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2012.