Townsville, Australia: Two-time champions Pakistan are heading for their worst finish in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup after a 16-run loss to the West Indies at Endeavour Park here Wednesday.
Meanwhile, India were set to take on New Zealand in the second semi-final in the early hours of Thursday, with the winner meeting Australia in the final on Sunday. Australia beat South Africa in the first semi on Tuesday.
Chasing a modest 183-run target, Pakistan collapsed from 71 for two to 166 all out in 48.3 overs. The defeat means Pakistan will play Bangladesh Friday in the seventh-eighth position play-off, while the West Indies will take on England for the fifth-sixth positions.
Pakistan, the only side so far to win back-to-back titles (in 2004 and 2006), had not previously finished below fourth. They finished fourth in 1998 in South Africa, lost in the semi-finals in 2000 and 2008, and appeared in the finals of the 1988 and 2010 events.
For the West Indies, Wednesday’s win was sweet revenge for their defeat in the semi-finals of the 2010 event in Lincoln, New Zealand, where Pakistan won by four wickets.
Pakistan looked like winning again Wednesday when left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza took three for 44 and wrist spinner Usman Qadir bagged two for 22 to dismiss the West Indies for 182 after being put into bat. For the West Indies, Test opener and captain Kraigg Brathwaite was the top scorer with 39 while Stephen Katwatoo scored 35.
In turn, West Indies’ fast bowlers Derone Davis and Jerome Jones shared five wickets between them as Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for 95 runs. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 166 in 48.3 overs.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Sandun Weerkkody stroked an elegant century and right-arm fast bowler Lahiru Madushanka recorded the tournament’s best bowling figures to help their side defeat Ireland in a Plate Championship play-off match.
Weerkkody hit an unbeaten 112 to help Sri Lanka score 258 all out before Madushanka returned figures of 7.5-0-24-6 as Ireland were dismissed for 149 in under 38 overs.
Sri Lanka will now take on Afghanistan Friday in the Plate Championship final, which will also decide ninth and 10th positions, at the Allan Border Field, while Ireland will play European rivals Scotland for the 11th-12th positions, also Friday at WEP Harris Oval.
India play New Zealand in the second semifinal Thursday.
Scores in Brief:
Super League (play-off)
West Indies beat Pakistan by 16 runs at Endeavour Park 1, Townsville
West Indies 182 all out, 49 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 39, Stephen Katwaroo 35; Mir Hamza 3-44, Usman Qadir 2-22), Pakistan 166 all out, 48.3 overs (Babar Azam 38, Umar Waheed 31, Mohammad Nawaz 28; Derone Davis 3-20, Jerome Jones 2-29).
Plate Championship (play-offs)
Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 109 runs at Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Sri Lanka 258, 49.3 overs (Sandun Weerakkody 112 not out, Angelo Jayasinghe 55, Niroshan Dickwella 35; George Dockrell 3-39, Graeme McCarter 2-34), Ireland 149 all out, 37.5 overs (Shane Getkate 46; Lahiru Madushanka 6-24) Player of the match - Lahiru Madushanka (Sri Lanka).
