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Australia’s Under-19 team defeated Pakistan in a thrilling thriller to win by the slimmest of margins in the second semi-final of the 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup on Thursday (February 8).
Chasing a target of 180, Australia’s batsmen faced a stiff challenge from a spirited Pakistan bowling line-up when they were nine runs down.
After being put into bat, Pakistan faced early setbacks with the loss of their openers in the innings, but the efforts of top-order batsman Azan Awais and middle-order batsman Arafat Minhas, who both scored half-centuries, ensured their team posted a respectable total.
In a sensational display of bowling, Australian U19 cricket team’s rising star Tom Straker etched his name into the history books by producing the all-time best bowling figures in the history of the U19 World Cup, breaking the current South’s all-time record. African bowling star Kagiso Rabada.
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With a stunning haul of 6 wickets for just 24 runs in 9.5 overs, Staker wreaked havoc on Pakistan’s batting line-up with his destructive bowling.
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Opener Harry Dixon (50 off 75 balls), Oliver Peake (49 off 75) and Tom Campbell (25 off 42 balls) emerged as the top performers in the Australian chase. Despite a valiant effort by Pakistan, the team fell short.
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Amidst their disappointment, however, credit went to their 15-year-old standout Ali Raza, who once again produced an exceptional performance with the ball. He returned with sensational figures of 4/34 from his quota of 10 overs, which also had two first overs.
Straker was awarded man of the match for his fighting effort.
