Pakistan book spot in U19 quarters

Imamul Haq’s century ensures easy 146 run win over Scotland.

Pakistan ensured a place in the quarter-finals of the International Cricket Council (ICC) U19 World Cup by defeating minnows Scotland in a one-sided encounter played in Dubai.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq moved to the top of leading run-getters to date (260 runs) with an attractive 133 that was punctuated with 13 fours and a six from 137 balls.

Imam, nephew of former Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq, added 161 runs for the second wicket with Hasan Raza (57) and 69 runs for the third wicket with Saud Shakeel (40) as Pakistan posted a colossal 308 for seven in 50 overs.

Leg-spinner Karamat Ali then produced the best bowling performance of the tournament to date when he returned figures of 7.5-0-36-5 as Scotland was spun out for 162 with only opener Andrew Umeed with 65 offering some resistance.

Three-time former champion and last tournament’s losing finalist Australia and dark horse Afghanistan progressed from Group B to the next round of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup UAE 2014 on the final day of the first round matches Wednesday.

Jake Doran scored 99 not out as Australia defeated Bangladesh by 74 runs after the Asian side was set a victory target of 245 runs, but required 231 runs to move to the next round ahead of Australia on a better net run-rate, while Afghanistan scored 130 runs in boundaries as it sprinted to the 192-run target in under 26 overs to beat Namibia by four wickets at Abu Dhabi Oval 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2014.

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