Pakistan finish unbeaten; West Indies eliminated: Under-19 World Cup
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Imad Wasim’s side as they stumbled to 90-6 having won the toss and electing to bat first.
But a fine knock of 76 not out from wicket-keeper Ali Asad managed to bring the defending champions to a respectable, but far from dominant, total of 174 all out and some good bowling by Pakistan ensured Zimbabwe were unable to cause an upset.
The Africans were eventually all out for 86 with Mohammad Rameez (3-26) and Ahmed Shahzad (2-9) the pick of the Pakistan bowlers. The reigning champions, who are seeking their third title in a row, will now face Australia in the quarter-finals at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Meanwhile, India captain Virat Kohli struck a century on a day dominated by bowlers to eliminate the West Indies from the tournament.
Kohli struck a breezy 100 with 10 boundaries and four sixes and Taruwar Kohli and Tanmay Srivastava hit half-centuries as India piled up 265-5 after being sent in to bat at the Kinrara Oval.
The West Indies, who needed a win to force a three-way tie at the top of Group ‘B’, were bowled out for 215 in the 48th over to lose the crucial match by 50 runs.
Darren Bravo top-scored with 43 and Devon Thomas made 32 but India were never in danger of losing their grip on the match with wickets at regular intervals.
Siddarth Kaul was the pick of the bowlers with 3-37, while Ravindra Jadeja and Ajitesh Argal claimed two wickets each.
India and South Africa took the two quarter-final places from the group as the line-ups were finalised for the next round.
India take on England in Sunday’s quarter-final, while South Africa meet Group ‘D’ champions Bangladesh the same day.
In the remaining quarter-final on Monday, Group ‘C’ winners Sri Lanka face New Zealand, who finished second in Group ‘A’.
Sri Lanka topped Group C with a fluent five-wicket win over fellow-qualifiers Australia in Penang.
Bangladesh stunned England by 13 runs to finish ahead in Group ‘D’, giving all four South Asian Test nations a place in the quarter-finals.
Sri Lanka’s five-man spin attack, led by left-armer Navin Kavikara (3-20), bowled out Australia for 172 with only captain Michael Hill (34) and Steve Smith (36) making useful contributions.
The Islanders passed the modest target in the 38th over with Dilshan Munaweera, Kusal Perera and captain Ashan Subasinghe making identical scores of 43.
Bangladesh, sent in to bat in overcast conditions, slipped to 27-6 against England before captain Sohrawardi Shuvro hit an unbeaten 56 batting at number eight to lift his team to 149.
The total was far from adequate but England messed up their chase with three run outs and were bowled out for 136 in the 48th over to hand Bangladesh their third win.
Daniel Redfern top-scored for England with 26 while Nasir Hossain and Mahmudul Hasan claimed two wickets apiece.
All knock-out matches will be played in three venues in the Malaysian capital.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN:
Umar Akmal c Gaisford b Jarvis 2
Ahmed Shahzad c Jaure b Jarvis 8
Umar Amin c Mashonganyika b Masvaure 5
Shan Masood c Chitongo b Masvaure 0
Umair Mir b Matsika 20
Ali Asad not out 76
Usman Salahuddin c Jaure b Matsika 1
Imad Wasim lbw b Jarvis 22
Mohammad Rameez run out 17
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-2, W-19) 22
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 173
FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-20, 3-20, 4-21, 5-85, 6-90, 7-140, 8-173.
DID NOT BAT: Adil Raza, Azhar Attari.
BOWLING: Jarvis 9-0-40-3 (5w); Masvaure 10-3-53-2 (5w); Jaure 10-5-19-0; Landman 10-2-24-0 (4w); Matsika 10-1-27-2 (3w); Chitongo 1-0-7-0.
ZIMBABWE:
H. Dinembira b Adil 0
T. Mashonganyika lbw b Adil 1
P.J. Moor c Ahmed b Rameez 12
J.W.M. Gaisford b Imad 18
P. Masvaure lbw b Rameez 9
T. Chimbambo c Ali Asad b Azhar 8
D.B. Landman b Imad 0
S. Matsika c Ali Asad b Azhar 4
T. Chitongo not out 5
E.S. Jaure c Rameez b Ahmed 17
K.M. Jarvis lbw b Ahmed 0
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-11) 12
TOTAL (all out, 29 overs) 86
FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-17, 3-19, 4-38, 5-49, 6-54, 7-63, 8-63, 9-86.
BOWLING: Adil Raza 6-0-21-2 (5w); Mohammad Rameez 7-0-26-3 (3w); Azhar Attari 6-1-11-1 (2w); Imad Wasim 7-1-18-2 (1w); Ahmed Shahzad 3-0-9-2.
RESULT: Pakistan won by 87 runs.
UMPIRES: C.R. Duncan (West Indies) and L. Oala (Papua New Guinea).
MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ali Asad.
Summarised scores of other matches:
Group B
India beat West Indies by 50 runs in Kuala Lumpur
INDIA 265-5 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 100, Taruwar Kohli 50, Tanmay Srivastava 51); West Indies 215 in 47.5 overs (Darren Bravo 43, Devon Thomas 32; Siddarth Kaul 3-37, Ravindra Jadeja 2-28, Ajitesh Argal 2-45).
Group C
Sri Lanka beat Australia by five wickets in Penang
AUSTRALIA 172 in 49.3 overs (Steven Smith 36, Michael Hill 34; Navin Kavikara 3-20); SRI LANKA 175-5 in 37.3 overs (Dilshan Munaweera 43, Kusal Perera 43, Ashan Subasinghe 43).
Group D
Bangladesh beat England by 13 runs in Kuala Lumpur
BANGLADESH 149 in 42 overs (Sohrawardi Shuvo 56 not out; James Harris 5-29); ENGLAND 136 in 47.4 overs (Daniel Redfern 26; Nasir Hossain 2-20, Mahmudul Hasan 2-16).—AFP
Final league standings
(Tabulated under played, won, lost, points):
Group A
Pakistan 3 3 0 6
New Zealand 3 2 1 4
Malaysia 3 1 2 2
Zimbabwe 3 0 3 0
Group B
India 3 3 0 6
South Africa 3 2 1 4
West Indies 3 1 2 2
Papua New Guinea 3 0 3 0
Group C
Sri Lanka 3 3 0 6
Australia 3 2 1 4
Nepal 3 1 2 2
Namibia 3 0 3 0
Group D
Bangladesh 3 3 0 6
England 3 2 1 4
Bermuda 3 1 2 2
Ireland 3 0 3 0
Quarter-final line-ups:
Sunday: India v England; Bangladesh v South Africa.
Monday: Sri Lanka v New Zealand; Pakistan v Australia.