HAGLEY OVAL – A fascinating ICC U19 CWC Super League quarter-final is instore at the Hagley Oval as Pakistan and South Africa prepare to lock horns.
Both teams qualified with two victories and a defeat but Pakistan emergedas winners of Group D, edging out Afghanistan on net run rate, while SouthAfrica had to settle for second place in Group A after being beaten by NewZealand.
Form guide
Pakistan made an inauspicious start to the tournament, losing their openingfixture to neighbours Afghanistan by five wickets to leave their hopes ofqualifying for the Super League quarter-finals hanging by a thread. Theycame roaring back against Ireland though, dismissing their opponents for 97and then chasing down their target in just 8.5 overs to give their net runrate a boost. Pakistan then sealed top spot in Group D with a three-wicketvictory over Sri Lanka in a thrilling contest.
By contrast, South Africa came flying out of the blocks but ended theirgroup fixtures with a whimper. The Proteas racked up 341/7 in a thumpingvictory over Kenya before an impressive 76-run win over reigning championsWest Indies. However, with top spot in Group A up for grabs, they werecomfortably beaten by the Black Caps, falling to a 71-run defeat.
Players to watch
Hasan Khan (Pak)
Left-arm paceman Shaheen Afridi has stolen the limelight so far with ninewickets at a very impressive average of 9.22, but keep an eye out for theslow left-arm spinner Hasan Khan. Pakistan’s captain has claimed six scalpsat 17 with a miserly economy rate of 4.25 and also offered crucial runsfrom the middle order. His composed innings of 24 not out from 45deliveries in the narrow victory over Sri Lanka was the difference betweentop spot in Group D and having to settle for a place in the Platequarter-finals.
Hermann Rolfes (SA)
The 18-year-old is a key figure for South Africa, generally taking the newball and batting at No.4. His all-round talent has been on display for allto see so far in the tournament, with Rolfes taking 4/33 in the win overWest Indies and then hitting 108 from 124 balls in a losing cause againstthe Kiwis. He’ll be hoping that his contributions can take his side overthe line this time around.
World Cup history
Pakistan are the third-most successful team in ICC Under 19 Cricket WorldCup history behind only India and Australia, having taken home the titletwice, in 2004 and 2006. They have made the final on a further threeoccasions, including at the first-ever tournament in 1988, with a teamincluding future legends Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed.
This is South Africa’s 11th ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup appearance.After four near-misses – they came third at the 1998 and 2012 events, andwere runners-up in 2002 and 2008 – they finally registered their maidentriumph in 2014, with a team featuring current Test players Aiden Markram,Andile Phehlukwayo and Kagiso Rabada. That was followed by theirjoint-worst performance, as they failed to make the quarter-finals in 2016,finishing 11th in the final analysis.
Head to head
Pakistan and South Africa have had some enthralling tussles at under 19level over the years. They have met in 16 Youth ODIs, with Pakistanclaiming nine victories to South Africa’s seven. However, the Pakistanisare still looking for their first win over South Africa in an ICC U19 CWC,with the Proteas prevailing in their two previous meetings in 2008 and 2014.
Forecast
The weather is set fair in Christchurch, with plenty of sunshine andtemperatures expected to reach as high as 28 degrees.
Squads
Pakistan: Hasan Khan (c), Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Ali Khan, Ammad Alam,Zaid Alam, Ali Zaryab, Arshad Iqbal, Muhammad Mohsin Khan, Muhammad Musa,Saad Khan, Rohail Nazir (wk), Munir Riaz, Suleman Shafqat, Imran Shah,Mohammad Taha
South Africa: Raynard van Tonder (c), Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee,Jade de Klerk, Jean du Plessis, Fraser Jones, Wandile Makwetu, AkhonaMnyaka, Andile Mokgakane, Kgaudisa Molefe, Jason Niemand, Thando Ntini,Jiveshan Pillay, Hermann Rolfes, Kenan Smith. –ICC