Pakistan clinches warm-up series with three-wicket win

A run-a-ball 76 from Pakistan Under-19 opener Ahmad Shahzad set his side up for a three-wicket win over New Zealand to clinch their three-match series ahead of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup.

The two sides had a win apiece going into today’s decider in Blenheim, which proved a much closer affair than the earlier encounters – with fortunes swinging both ways during the course of the game.

In the end it was a solid middle-order batting performance from Pakistan, building on Ahmad’s belligerent knock and assisted by some wayward New Zealand bowling, that saw the visitors through to a well-earned victory.

New Zealand, batting first, was rattled from the outset by the Pakistan attack. Left-arm opening bowler Kaleem Sana took three early wickets and although Corey Anderson (46) put up some resistance, after 30 overs New Zealand were in trouble at six down for 116.

Captain Craig Cachopa then led a spirited recovery, scoring 70 and putting on 77 for the seventh wicket with Logan van Beek (34). Doug Bracewell added a quick-fire 22 from 11 balls at the end of the innings to boost the side’s tally to 232 for nine.

Kaleem, with three wickets for 21, had the best bowling figures, well supported by slow left-armer Raza Hassan with three for 45. Usman Qadir continued his impressive run of form during the series, taking two for 34.

Pakistan also lost a couple of early wickets in their run chase but Ahmad’s 74-run partnership with captain Azeem Ghumman (31) for the third wicket set a solid platform. Mohammed Naeem contributed 46 while there were useful contributions from Hammad Azam (27) and Usman (22 n.o.).

The Pakistan side stuttered towards the end, losing three wickets in the space of just six runs, but with wickets in hand they had paced themselves well and ticked off the winning runs in the 49th over.

For New Zealand Logan van Beek took two wickets, while two dismissals came from run outs.

New Zealand team manager Kevin Pulley said while the series loss was disappointing, it had been a valuable build-up for the side.

“Unlike some other teams we have not played together before so this has been excellent preparation,” he said. “All 15 in our squad have now had a run and we’re starting to come together as a team.”

New Zealand now go on to face Bangladesh and England in the official U19 CWC warm-up games in Christchurch next week. Pakistan will meet Zimbabwe and South Africa in their warm-ups.

Score summary

New Zealand U19s v Pakistan U19s
At Blenheim

New Zealand Under-19s: 232-9 in 50 overs (Cachopa 70, Anderson 46, van Beek 34, M Bracewell 27, D Bracewell 22 n.o.; Sana 3-21, Raza 3-45, Usman 2-34)

Pakistan Under-19s: 233-7 in 48.5 overs (Ahmad 76, Naeem 46, Azeem 31, Hammad 27, Usman 22 n.o.; van Beek 2-43)

Pakistan Under-19s won by 3 wickets.