Pakistani bowlers put up a stupendous show to clinch a six-wicket victory against Australia and storm into the semifinals of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup here on Monday.
The win meant that Pakistan are on course of clinching a hat-trick of titles in the biennial tournament.
Pace spearhead Ail Raza took three for 26 while Azhar Attari, skipper Imad Wasim and Umar Akmal scalped two each to help Pakistan skittle out Australia for 129 in 47.2 overs after Wasim put them in to bat at the Kinrara Oval.
The sub-continent giants, who are the favourites and have won the 2004 and 2006 editions of the tournament, dominated the proceedings from the start and refused to relent and chased down the target in 27.5 overs for the loss of four wickets.
In another last-eight stage match of the day, New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka by 80 runs at Royal Selangor Club to set up the semifinal against India on Wednesday. Pakistan will play South Africa in the other semifinal on Friday.
Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Asad Ali top-scored with his unbeaten 63 off 70 balls after the top order batsmen struggled to be 32 for three at one stage.
Asad also was involved in a 95-run partnership with Ahmed Shezad for the fourth-wicket.
Earlier, fast-bowlers Adil Raza and Azhar Attari did not let the Australian batsmen settle, claiming wickets at regular intervals and allowing the highest partnership of only 31 runs. Raza struck twice in the first over of the innings, removing opener Philip Hughes and MP Stonis to leave Australia at one for two. In the 27th over also, Pakistan jolted the Aussies by claiming two wickets — Steven Smith and James Faulkner — to reduce them to 71 for 7. James Pattinson, coming in at number eight, top-scored for Australia with 33 to take the total past 100.
Brief scores: Australia: 127 all out in 47.1 overs (James Pattinson 34; Adil Raza 3-26, Umar Akmal 2-20, Imad Wasim 2-21, Azhar Attari 2-23) lt to Pakistan: 130/4 in 37.5 overs (Ahmad Shahzad 40, Ali Asad 63 n.o.; Josh Hazlewood 2-28).
New Zealand: 213 all out in 49.5 overs (George Worker 48, Fraser Colson 39, Kane Williamson 34; Umesh Karunarathna 3-38, Roshane Silva 3-39) bt Sri Lanka: 133 all out in 42.1 overs (Sachith Pathirana 42; Nick Beard 3-15, Tim Southee 3-25, Anurag Verma 2-22).
