Afghanistan stun Aussies in Under-19 World Cup

ABU DHABI: Qualifiers Afghanistan stunned Australia in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup yesterday, beating the three-times champions by 36 runs.

Afghanistan, who qualified for the tournament by winning the Asian Cricket Council’s U19 Elite Cup, batted first after winning the toss and compiled a decent total of 253 before being bowled out in the last of their 50 overs.

In reply, Australia could only muster 217 before they were bowled out in exactly 48 overs.

It was Afghanistan’s first win in the tournament after losing their opening match to Bangladesh by 10 wickets on Saturday and they are now tied with Australia on two points in group B.

They next take on minnows Namibia tomorrow while Australia, who have a better run rate, take on Bangladesh in a virtual knock-out encounter on the same day.

Afghanistan’s proud captain, Nasir Jamal, said: “I don’t think many people expected us to defeat Australia but we did it and we did it convincingly.

“We hope the people at home are enjoying the victory as much as we are. We play for our country and our people and we love to make them happy and proud.”

Afghanistan’s innings was built around three half-centuries – Mohammad Mujtaba’s 75, which included five fours and two sixes, Ihsanullah’s 63 and Hashmatullah Shaidi’s 57.

After losing opener Usman Ghani with just two runs on the board, man-of-the-match Mujtaba added 126 runs for the second wicket with Ihsanullah. Shaidi then anchored the innings and was the ninth batsman to be dismissed in the 50th over. – Sapa-AFP