Sport | Cricket
India to meet New Zealand in semifinals
As the first semifinal in the ICC under-19 cricket World Cup between India and New Zealand takes place in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, the race for the Player of the Tournament is also hotting up.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:05 February 27, 2008
Dubai: As the first semifinal in the ICC under-19 cricket World Cup between India and New Zealand takes place in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, the race for the Player of the Tournament is also hotting up.
Pace bowler Tim Southee is out in front and he can extend his lead when the junior Black Caps take on Dav Whatmore's charges at Kinrara Oval.
Southee has been a model of consistency in the tournament so far, having picked up Player of the Tournament points in every match he has played, including his Man-of-the-Match performance against Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal on Monday.
Southee has a total of nine points having been the match officials' second choice in New Zealand's three group games against Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Malaysia, in Johor, as well as that three-point man of the match award in the quarterfinal.
The Northland man is one point clear of his nearest rival, Paras Khadka of top associate team Nepal, who won the Man of the Match award yesterday in his side's Plate Championship semifinal win against Namibia in Johor.
Khadka, in turn, is another point ahead of Sachith Pathirana of Sri Lanka. Lying behind them is a group of three on six points, which includes Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Ali Asad, West Indies vice-captain Steven Jacobs and South Africa's leg-spinner-allrounder Jonathan Vandiar.
Ali and Vandiar will be going head-to-head in the other semifinal as Pakistan and South Africa meet on Friday at Kinrara Oval for a place in Sunday's final.
It is likely that the eventual Player of the Tournament will come from the above collection but it is still possible for those on five points, or even four, to make a late burst and take the title.
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