UNDER 19 WORLD CUP

Merlo, Edwards help Australia seal a place in the final

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Jack Edwards compiled a brilliant hand of 72 © ICC

A clinical performance from the bowlers and Jack Edwards helped Australia swat Afghanistan aside in the first semifinal of the ICC Under-19 World Cup at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Monday (January 29). Set 182, Edwards raced away towards the target and ended with 72 as Australia polished off the chase in 37.3 overs with six wickets in hand.

Afghanistan opted to bat but failed to make good use of the decision. Ikram Ali Khil made 80 off 119 but a collective batting failure meant Afghanistan's chances were dashed pretty badly. The next best score came from Rahmanullah, the opener, who made 20 while Mujeeb Zadran chipped in with 12.

Afghanistan got off to a slow start and soon after lost Ibrahim Zadran in the eighth over. Rahmanullah and Khil helped the team go past 50 and looked set for more but they were separated as Jonathan Merlo dismissed the former in the 17th over. Afghanistan had just 58 on the board then and with two wickets down, the pressure was squarely on them.

Khil kept the Australian bowlers at bay but a flurry of wickets meant there wasn't much he was able to establish. From 80 for 2 in the 23rd over, Afghanistan soon found themselves tottering at 131 for 6. With no lower order resistance happening or no partnerships flourishing at the top, Australia managed to stay on top right throughout and keep their opponents on the mat.

Once the bowlers had done their job, Edwards did just what the team needed. With a small chase ahead of them, and the possibility of a spin attack coming in later, he attacked up front to push Afghanistan on the backfoot.

He got the innings going with three boundaries in the fifth over against

Azmatullah. At 26 for no loss after five, Afghanistan looked desperate for the much-needed early breakthrough. Mujeeb provided them an opening when he had Bryant caught at mid-off.

However, there was very little for the Afghanistan bowlers after that as Edwards continued to make them toil. He raced to his half-century off 40 balls and with Jason Sangha (26) scored 77 for the second wicket to take the team past 100.

There was a wobble in the end when Australia lost Jonathan Merlo and Edwards in the 26th over. However, Australia were just 34 away from a win when Edwards fell and the wickets came in a little too late for Afghanistan.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 181 in 48 overs (Ikram Ali Khil 80; Jonathan Merlo 4-24) lost to Australia182/4 in 37.3 overs (Jack Edwards 72) by six wickets.

© Cricbuzz

TAGS

RELATED STORIES