In a heart-stopping encounter that showcased the future of cricket, Pakistan's Under-19 team snatched a dramatic one-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat against their Afghan counterparts. The thrilling tri-series match, played at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, went down to the final over, with Pakistan chasing a target of 227 with just three balls remaining.
Afghanistan Sets a Competitive Target
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Afghanistan U19 posted a total of 226 all out in their 50 overs. Their innings was anchored by a composed knock from Osman Sadat, who top-scored with 75 runs from 106 deliveries. He found solid support in Mahboob Khan, who contributed a valuable 49, helping the team recover from early setbacks.
The Pakistani bowling attack was led effectively by vice-captain Usman Khan, who claimed impressive figures of 4 for 37. He received crucial support from M Sayyam and Daniyal Ali Khan, each of whom picked up two wickets to restrict the Afghan batting lineup.
A Chase of Nerve and Fluctuating Fortunes
Pakistan's reply began shakily, losing early wickets and putting immense pressure on the middle order. Captain Farhan Yousaf stepped up with a responsible and fluent 65 off 78 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes to steady the ship. However, his dismissal in the 31st over with the score at 131 triggered a collapse, swinging the momentum back in Afghanistan's favour.
With wickets tumbling regularly, Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble at 201 for 9, still requiring 26 runs for victory with only the last-wicket pair at the crease.
Hamza Zahoor's Heroic Finish
Amidst the mounting tension, Hamza Zahoor emerged as the definitive hero for Pakistan. Displaying remarkable composure for his age, the right-handed batsman crafted a match-winning, unbeaten half-century. He finished on 68 not out from just 51 balls, an innings decorated with eight boundaries and a six.
His most critical partnership came with last man Niqab Shafiq. Together, they forged an unbroken and vital 29-run stand for the final wicket. While Shafiq doggedly held one end for his single run, Hamza expertly farmed the strike and found the gaps, ultimately sealing a memorable one-wicket win for his team.
This victory underlines the resilience and growing maturity of the Pakistan U19 squad as they continue their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s U19 World Cup. The team is next scheduled to face hosts Zimbabwe on Monday.
Brief Scores:
Afghanistan U19: 226 all out in 50 overs (Osman Sadat 75, Mahboob Khan 49; Usman Khan 4-37).
Pakistan U19: 230-9 in 49.3 overs (Hamza Zahoor 68*, Farhan Yousaf 65; Salam Khan 4-44).
Result: Pakistan U19 won by one wicket.
