India to face Bangladesh in quarters
Tauranga, Jan. 20: India will face Bangladesh in the ICC U- 19 World Cup quarterfinals after the neighbouring nation qualified for the Super League following England’s massive 282- run win over Canada in a Group C match on Satruday.
While three- time champions India had qualified for the knockout stage after hammering Papua New Guinea by 10- wickets, Bangladesh’s qualification from Group C depended on the result of the match between England and Canada.
England, champions in 1998, were virtually assured of topping the group before this match owing to their high net run- rate but they did not show any complacency against Canada, notching a huge 383/ 7 after being invited to bat first.
Centuries from Liam Banks ( 120, 114b, 12x4, 1x6) and Will Jacks ( 102, 82b, 11x4), who added 186 runs for the second wicket in just over 30 overs, put them in a position of strength.
Left- hander Jack Davies also chipped in with a brisk 36- ball 57 while medium- fast bowler Faisal Jamkhandi and off- spinner Tiaan Pretorius took three wickets each for Canada.
Canada needed to get to the target in 37.5 overs if they were to edge Bangladesh for a place in the Super League but they barely touched the three- figure mark as left- arm spinner
Prem Sisodiya grabbed 3/ 23 while Adam Finch, Luke Hollman and Roman Walker all finished with two wickets each. Wicketkeeperbatsman Pranav Sharma topscored for Canada with 24.
England, who completed the league with three wins to top the group, will play Australia in the Super League quarter- finals on January 23, while Bangladesh, who defeated Canada and Namibia, will take on India on January 26.
Canada and Namibia will figure in the Plate championship which gets underway on Monday.
In other matches, New Zealand defeated South Africa by 71 runs to top Group A, in which the Windies won their first match as they drubbed Kenya by 222 runs, while Ireland pulled off a thrilling four- run victory to deny Afghanistan a top- place finish in group D.
Liam Banks, who was later declared player of the match, said: "I was a bit nervous but also looking forward to it
( the match). We got a good understanding between us ( with Jacks), we were talking through, trying to get the best out of it. We ( as a team) are in a good place, we could pick anyone from the 15 and challenge anyone in the tournament."
In another match, openers Rachin Ravindra ( 76) and Jakob Bhula ( 44) produced another century partnership after New Zealand elected to bat in a match being played in front of broadcast cameras here.
The duo, who had put on a mammoth 245- run stand against Kenya in their last game, helped the hosts to post a total of 279/ 8. Dale Philips ( 43) and Max Chu ( 35) also chipped in with useful efforts.
South Africa lost some early wickets but a 106- run stand for the fifth wicket
between Hermann Rolfes ( 108) and
Jean du Plessis ( 54) raised hopes.
However, the 2014 champions lost their last six wickets for 26 runs in the face of a high asking rate. Ravindra grabbed 4/ 32 with his leftarm spin to bag the player of the match award.
In the Super League quarterfinals, New Zealand play Afghanistan while South Africa will run into two- time champions Pakistan.
In another match, Afghanistan put Ireland in to bat and restricted them to 225/ 8 in their Group D match. Medium- fast bowler Wafadar Momand grabbed 3/ 50 and left- arm spinner Qais Ahmed took 3/ 32 even as left- hander Graham Kennedy ( 37 not out), captain Harry Tector ( 36), Neil Rock ( 35) and opener Jamie Grassi ( 32) were the main scorers for Ireland.
However, Afghanistan’s batting failed to chase the total as Tector came back to take three wickets with his off- spin bowling.
SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES
23 January: England vs Australia 24 January: Pakistan vs South Africa 25 January: Afghanistan vs New Zealand 26 January: India vs Bangladesh