India will aim to build on their dominant showing in the pool stages when they take on an unpredictable Namibian unit in the quarterfinals of the ICC U -19 WC here today.
India went about their job in clinical fashion beating Ireland, New Zealand and Nepal by big margins in Group D. However, they can’t afford to take their quarterfinal opponents likely as Namibia head into the knock-out phase after showing the exit door to South Africa.
On paper, India possess a formidable unit and should have little difficulty in getting past Namibia.
India captain Ishan Kishan would be pleased to get some runs under his belt in the last game against Nepal after failing in the previous two innings.
The opposition will also have to worry about Sarfaraz Khan, who goes into game at the back of two fifties in three games. Madhya Pradesh-born pacer Avesh Khan has been the standout bowler for India with nine wickets at an average of 10.00 and economy rate of 3.21.
Namibians, on other hand, have nothing to lose tomorrow and they can go out and play fearless cricket against their fancied opponents.
They will be high confidence after a sensational win against South Africa, effectively sending them into the quarters. But they would want to put their sorry outing in the last game behind. Bangladesh bulldozed Namibia on Tuesday after dismissing them for 65, eventually winning by 8 wickets.
Wi coach defends ‘Mankad’
West Indies coach Dwain Gill on Friday defended a controversial run-out at the ICC Under-19 World Cup, which sparked a furore on social media, saying the “Mankad” was well within the rules.
Zimbabwe needed only three runs in the final over with one wicket in hand in Tuesday’s game in Chittagong when Keemo Paul ran Richard Ngarava out without entering his delivery stride, scuppering the African minnows’ hopes of a surprise place in the quarter-finals.
The umpires, who initially did not give the decision, asked the West Indies players if they wanted to uphold the appeal and after receiving confirmation, the matter was referred to the third umpire which confirmed that Ngarava’s bat was not behind the line. “I mean, a law is a law, rightIJ” Gill told AFP when asked for a comment on the controversy.
Bangladesh reach maiden sf
Skipper Mehidy Hasan and Zakir Hasan scored unbeaten half-centuries to help Bangladesh defeat a valiant Nepal by six wickets after a tense run-chase and storm into their first-ever semi-final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup here on Friday.
Mehidy and Zakir enabled the hosts to recover from early setbacks and surpass Nepal’s 211 for nine with 10 balls to spare.
Brief scores
Nepal: 211/9 (Raju Rijal 72) lose to Bangladesh: 215/4 (Hasan 75*, Hasan 55*; Dhamala 2/33) by six wickets.