PORT-OF-SPAIN, May 2: Pakistan will lock horns with hosts West Indies in the International U-15 Championship final after both teams recorded big wins in their respective semi-final matches on Thursday.

After electing to bat first, Malaysia reached a solid position at one stage as Zubair Asyraf (39) and Keithan Goonasagaran (33) guided them to 82 for 1. But their innings then collapsed as the man-of-the-match Kaverm Hodge (4-33) and Derone Davis (2-23) dismissed Malaysia for 160 with one ball remaining.

The West Indies reached the victory target in 24.5 overs with Ramon Senior leading the charge with an unbeaten 69 while Kraigg Brathwaite making 52, his fifth half-century in seven innings.

In the other pre-final, a repeat of the knockout semi-final, Pakistan cruised to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

After choosing to bat first, Bangladesh lost three early wickets to Kumail Abbas who was later declared the man-of-the-match, slipping to 13 for 3, and despite a plucky 66 from Didar Hossain they were bowled out for 126.

Pakistan’s openers Mohammad Babar (64) and Mohammad Naeem (36) put on 89. Though they experienced a mini collapse, Pakistan eased home in 31.4 overs.

Pakistan had edged out the West Indies by two runs in the knockout tournament final played last week.

Summarised scores:

MALAYSIA U-15 160 in 49.5 overs (Zubair Asyraf 39, Keithan Goonasagaran 33, Ahmed Zahid 30 not out; Kaverm Hodge 4-33, Derone Davis 2-23); WEST INDIES U-15 166 for 2 in 24.5 overs (Ramon Senior 69 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 52, S. Ambris 35 not out).

BANGLADESH U-15 126 in 47.5 overs (Didar Hossain 66; Kumail Abbas 3-22, Usman Qadir 2-26, Zafar Gohar 2-12); PAKISTAN U-15 130 for 4 in 31.4 overs (Babar Azam 64, Mohammad Naeem 36; Nasum Ahmed 3-13).—Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

Taking cover
09 Jan, 2025

Taking cover

IT is unfortunate that, instead of taking ownership of important decisions, our officials usually seem keener to ...
A living hell
09 Jan, 2025

A living hell

WHAT Donald Trump does domestically when he enters the White House in just under two weeks is frankly the American...
A right denied
09 Jan, 2025

A right denied

DESPITE citizens possessing the constitutional and legal right to access it, federal ministries are failing to...
Closed doors
Updated 08 Jan, 2025

Closed doors

The nation’s fate has been decided through secret deals for too long, with the result that the citizenry has become increasingly alienated from the state.
Debt burden
08 Jan, 2025

Debt burden

THE federal government’s total debt stock soared by above 11pc year-over-year to Rs70.4tr at the end of November,...
GB power crisis
08 Jan, 2025

GB power crisis

MASS protests are not a novelty in Pakistan, and when the state refuses to listen through the available channels —...