5 Reasons Why Pakistan Lost Semi-final U19 World Cup: Pakistan experienced heartbreak as their young stars were in tears after losing a thrilling semifinal match against Australia.
Australia defeated Pakistan by one wicket in the second semifinal of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, South Africa. Pakistan, batting first, were bowled out for 179 runs as they suffered an early batting collapse. Despite this, Azan Awais and Arafat Minhas contributed half-centuries to aid in their recovery. Tom Straker, the right-arm medium pacer for Australia, was the standout performer in the first innings, taking 6-24.
Australia managed to secure victory with just five balls to spare despite Pakistan’s strong comeback with the ball. Ali Raza, a 15-year-old, impressed with figures of 4-34, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win for Pakistan. Australia will now face off against their opponent from the ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup final in December in Sunday’s U19 World Cup final.
Saad Baig the captain of U19 Pakistan team said, ‘’Difficult to be the losing team, but we were short by 20-30 runs. We put in 100 percent effort. They played well. Boys fought really well. The way Ali Raza bowled was brilliant. Throughout the tournament, our bowling was good in the tournament.’’
5 Reasons Why Pakistan Lost Semi-final U19 World Cup
Batting Collapse
After losing toss, Pakistan batted very decently, wickets are lost at regular intervals. All the batsmen except Azan Awais and Arafat Minhas fail to score runs and get out in quick succession, leading to a rapid deterioration of the team’s batting lineup.
Poor Fielding
Pakistan team’s inadequate performance in the fielding with dropped catches, misfields, overthrows, and fumbles while attempting to stop the ball. Pakistan’s poor fielding can significantly impact a team’s performance, as it allows Australia to score runs and can lead to missed opportunities to dismiss batsmen.
Australia is an excellent team
When discussing the opposition, the Australians present a formidable challenge. Australia’s sporting tradition characterized by relentless determination and fighting spirit. This tradition of giving their all in every aspect of the game sets the stage for an intense final.
They showcased their prowess, particularly in fielding, where they took crucial catches that shifted the game’s momentum. Additionally, their strategic placement of fielders created pressure on the Pakistan batsmen. They excelled in all facets of the game, displaying strong bowling and fielding skills. Their thorough understanding of the conditions in Benoni allowed them to capitalize on their strengths effectively.
The Law of Averages
Pakistan’s impressive winning streak of 5 matches was undoubtedly a remarkable achievement, but it also carried a certain level of risk. In major tournaments such as the World Cup, it’s essential to encounter at least one fiercely competitive match where your ability to perform under pressure is truly tested.
Unfortunately, Pakistan did not have the opportunity to face such a challenge, and this was not due to any fault of the team. They displayed outstanding performance throughout the tournament; however, it was simply a matter of the law of averages catching up with them. While the loss was indeed heartbreaking, it was not a disgraceful one.
The conditions and the pitch
The conditions during the semi-final match posed significant challenges for both teams, with the toss playing a crucial role in determining the outcome. Despite the tricky conditions, the Australians displayed great courage by choosing to bowl first after winning the toss. The pitch proved to be unfriendly for batting being dry and slow. Consequently, the Pakistan team struggled to score boundaries during the middle overs, finding it difficult to execute their usual shots.
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