Pakistan National Under-19 Cricket Team Vs Australia National Under-19 Cricket Team Timeline: If you thought the semifinal was tense, this one went even further to test everything the players had. Not to forget the spectators who could barely watch in those dying moments. It could’ve so easily gone either way. The quality of both bowling attacks stood out – Tom Straker was the highlight for Australia, and Ali Raza was the best for Pakistan. What a spell that was from Raza, troubling batters with pace and bounce at 15 years of age. Surely has a big future in the game. That’s it for now. Will meet again for the final on Sunday. Until then, it’s goodbye from Sagar Chawla on behalf of Harish and Abhinand Raghavendran.
Weibgen, Australia captain
Never in doubt, I had full faith in Vids and Raf to get the job done (laughs). A lot of emotions in the dressing room. I still don’t know what happened. Tough to leave out Anderson, but Tom Straker bowled unbelievably today. We felt like we were well-prepared coming into this fixture. We fought so hard that every time we thought we were on top, we lost a wicket. 17-year-old Peake has such composure and maturity in the middle. India are a class team. We’ll love that challenge.
Saad Baig, Pakistan captain
Difficult to be the losing team, but we were short by 20-30 runs. We put in 100 percent effort. They played well. The boys fought really well. The way Ali Raza bowled was brilliant. Throughout the tournament, our bowling was good. One team has to win, and one has to lose; that’s the game.
Tom Straker | Player of the Match
We got it closer than we would have wanted. After I got out, no one was moving; everyone was sitting in their seats, and it was pretty intense out there. (On his bowling) I’m pretty proud, especially those last two wickets. I could finish it off early. Credit to us, the bowlers, for bowling them out for under 180; it was a pretty good effort today. (On bettering Ra Bada’s best bowling figures in the U-19 WC final/semifinal) I didn’t know that, and I’ll take that one. (Extra belief because of this win?) Probably not. We had pretty good confidence throughout the whole tournament and leading up to it. So, it’s pretty similar.
Remarkable scenes in Benoni
Almost every Pakistan player is kneeling while the two batters roar in celebration. The rest of their teammates soon join them. Spare a thought for Pakistan, for their 15-year-old superstar Ali Raza, who gave it everything and was outstanding again with the ball. They had just 179 on the board to defend, and they not only made a match out of it but almost pulled it off. There was just one wicket in it. But it’s Australia that prevails and will face India for the trophy on Sunday. Tom Straker was the star with the ball for them, returning with figures of 6/24, while Harry Dixon scored his third fifty of the tournament to steady the innings after being 56/4. Oliver Peake also showed great calmness for his 49, which might’ve been done by a rough call. In the end, there wasn’t much in it as the last-wicket partnership of 17 saw Australia home in the final over.