inshallah 
Fawad and Tariq propel Pakistan into final
February 29, 2004
Fawad Alam held his nerve when Pakistan were in a precarious position and his decisive partnership with Tariq Mahmood propelled them into the final of the Under-19 World Cup in Dhaka. India had their batsmen to blame, who could muster only 169 in the face of some very disciplined bowling. Yet India’s bowlers did their bit by picking up early wickets, but the undefeated 88-run partnership between Fawad and Tariq was an ideal lesson in pacing a run-chase.
Fawad and Tariq came together with the score on 83 for 5. Abhishek Sharma was fizzing his legbreaks and Rudra Pratap Singh was zeroing in on the corridor. Scurrying between the wickets, deftly gliding and nudging, they slowly uncorked the pressure valve. And when the target looked within striking range, they did just that. Out came the ballistics and the ball soared like a rocket in all directions.
India needed an exceptional effort if they were to have any hope of defending 169. But Gaurav Dhiman and Rudra Pratap Singh provided them with an ideal start - Dhiman swung the ball both ways and generated some alarming seam movement. He struck in his second over, when Khalid Latif (1) missed a straight ball that pitched on leg stump, deviated towards middle and trapped him right in front (3 for 1). Jahangir Mirza (9) was undone by a swinging yorker, from Rudra Pratap, that crashed into his boots (20 for 2).
But Adnan Zaheer made sure that the scoreboard kept ticking along with some confident shots and he wasn’t prepared to let any bowler settle into his rhythm. He added 28 with Usman Saeed, and while Zaheer was completely in control, the other looked very uncertain in his 63-ball stay. Ironically it was Zaheer who fell first, as a thick edge lobbed up to short third man (48 for 3). Zaheer made 18.
Salman Qadir, although flummoxed by some zipping legbreaks from Sharma, cashed in on the loose deliveries and kept the asking-rate well in control. Usman (19) tried to break the shackles by cutting a straight ball from Sharma and predictably lost his off stump (68 for 4). Qadir (24) showed a few powerful shots, before he tamely prodded at one from Rudra Pratap. Dinesh Kartik, who was captaining the side in the absence of the suspended Ambati Rayudu, completed the simple chance and Pakistan were hobbling at 83 for 5. Over to Fawad and Tariq.
Apart from the brief moment when Kartik called the coin right, India had a poor first session. The Pakistan’s bowlers showed exceptional skill and control and tightened the noose from the first ball. They were also helped by some poor shot selection and weak nerves.
Shikhar Dhawan took strike with 497 runs to his name already at a Bradmanesque average of 99.4. But today he learnt that even Eric Hollies can have his day. Dhawan (8) miscued a pull off Ali Imran and found Latif at mid-on (23 for 1). Just one run later Praful Waghela was back in the hutch for a first-ball duck, trapped in front of the stumps by Riaz Afridi (24 for 2).
Robin Uthappa didn’t take any undue risks and held his end up well, but Rakesh Solanki (21) soon became the next casualty, run out after he played the ball straight into the hands of short third-man and set off for a nonexistent single (73 for 3).
Uthappa departed soon after when he flicked Qadir uppishly to square leg. He made 33 with 3 boundaries. Karthik got out in similar fashion and Suresh Raina was soon out in a freakish manner. He played an extravagant pull off Tariq only to inside-edge the ball towards the keeper. Zulqarnain Haider fumbled the ball, but it lodged in his pad and he was able to claim the catch (113 for 6). Qadir, who is the son of the legendary legspinner Abdul Qadir, ended with 2 for 27 from 10 overs of high quality offspin.
But, the best passage of play came in the 39th over. Mansoor, bowling his legspin with phenomenal control, tempted Sunny Singh into a big drive. The third ball of the over was dispatched to the boundary – the first in 114 balls –and a hint of a smile spread across Sunny’s face. **Two balls later, he had the look of a man who’d seen a ghost. A perfectly flighted delivery enticed him forward. The ball ducked in at the last moment, a googly, turned in just enough to beat the bat and clipped the top of the off stump. It’s hard to imagine how any legspinner could have bowled that ball better. **
The fast bowlers then cleaned up the tail with minimum fuss and India folded for a meagre total. India’s opening bowlers gave them a chance, but they were left as clueless as Sunny was, when the two unbeaten Pakistan batsmen began to turn it on.
:jhanda: Pakistan reach youth final :jhanda:](BBC SPORT | Cricket | Pakistan reach youth final)
Under-19 World Cup semi-final, Dhaka. Pakistan 171-5 beat India 169 by five wickets!!!
:flower1: Match scorecard :flower1:](BBC SPORT | Cricket | Scorecards)
Fawad Alam and Tariq Mahmood batted beautifully as Pakistan successfully chased 170 to beat India in the under-19 World Cup semi-final in Bangladesh.
India’s bowlers contained Pakistan well until Alam and Mahmood put on 88 in 17 overs to take their team to their target of 170 in the 45th over.
India, batting first in the day-night match, could muster just 169 before being bowled out in the 48th over.
Pakistan off-spinner Salman Qadir took 2-27 in his allotted 10 overs.
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Pakistan gave an exemplary performance on the field
Having won the toss, India aimed to set the tone with the bat early on. But it did not happen quite that way.
Ali Imran claimed the early wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, and soon afterwards Praful Waghela looked unfortunate to be given out lbw off the impressive Riaz Afridi.
Robin Uthappa and Rakesh Solanki put on 49 for India’s third wicket and they were helped by Pakistan putting down a chance in the slips and missing a possible run-out.
** "Pakistan are the team of the tournament and they will win it "
From James Milne **
But Salman then produced an inspired spell of bowling that would have made his father, former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, proud.
He removed Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik in quick succession and the innings never recovered momentum, with the highest score Uthappa’s 33 at the top of the order.
But the problems India had faced in batting were replicated by Pakistan, who slumped to 20-2 before the end of the sixth over.
With runs eluding any of the top four, it was left to Salman to begin a fightback, by hitting four fours in a 35-ball effort of 24.
But when he was out the scoreboard read 83-5 and with less than 23 overs remaining, India looked strong favourites.
But Alam was not to be bowed and hit boundaries at regular intervals while the more watchful Mahmood gave him handy support.
Eventually Mahmood also began timing the ball well and profited handsomely through a variety of sweep shots.
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Mansoor Amjad took just one wicket but was economical
Two Mahmood boundaries in the 45th over off Abhishek Sharma gave Pakistan the victory and they will now face either England or West Indies in the final.
Well Done Pakistan! The bowling was excellent, and the batting still needs some work but as long as it can get us wins 
Tariq Mehmood is certainly a player to look out for. His bowling was terrific and he along with Fawad Alam won the match for Pakistan with their beautiful batting. WI or Eng. Here we come!
Whoah...it never looked like a less-interest match at all. If anyone who has watched the match, especially the second inning, you gotta believe it was a thriller.
Bowling of Pakistan was a lil shaky from the start. Riaz Afridi who has been great with his line and length gave, for the first time in the tournament, too many extra runs, however, Ali Imran, from the other hand did take out the dangerous Indian batsman. Overall, good performance by the bowlers.
But the difference has to be Pakistani spinners, Qadir, Tariq and Amjad, who never let Indian batsmen to be on their will, dictate them throughout the inning. It's funny I was expecting some googly action from Salman Qadir but Mansoor Amjad came up with when he clearly bowled Sunny Singh, ball just went through his bat and pad and he had no chance!
The start of Pakistan inning was really bad. Under the lights, there was a ball movement. Khalid and Mirza were caught in the line. Zaheer and Saeed tried to build up a partnership but when Zaheer went, the match hung pretty much in favor of India. Salman Qadir played beautifully but he was, over all, messed up by the spin. Ball was turning really hard as the evening went by.
So, after Salman went, I really thought the match was out of Pakistan's reach. What Pakistani batsmen had to do is to stay on the wickets and then take chances. I never expected Fawad and Tariq to build up a partnership of 88 runs in just under 18 overs, to secure Pakistan's place in the final. I really got intense when both Fawad and Tariq pushed the game, took singles and doubles, and whenever the volley ball cames, they tried to pulled it all off. It was a spectacular performance but really it was a nail-biter match. Something I have missed for a long time. Something Cricket fans from India and Pakistan will be looking forward for upcoming Jeet Lo Dil series.
Whom r they going to play against in the FINAL!?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Ali_R: *
Whom r they going to play against in the FINAL!?
[/QUOTE]
The winner of England V West Indies.
Good to see you back Ali.
This looks like a good year for Pakistan. We won the blind series against India. We beat them under 19 wc semi final ..what is next? ;)
West Indies 249/6
England 155
WI beat England by 94 runs and will meet Pakistan in the finals on friday.
we've beaten the WI once but fools would take them lightly (since we lost to England and they beat them). Should be an interesting game, GO PAKISTAN!
Our bowlers are good but our batting looks patchy. Same old story. I think our spinners will be too much for the Windies on the day though. The Indians had a hard enough time against them on Sunday so can't see the Windies batsmen being able to negotiate them successfully.
bat first, put on 180 plus. dwindle out windies for 110.
bowl first, restrict them to 150 and repeat semi final batting.
The comparisons to Murli are flattering but his action is a bit borderline and might be under scrutiny when gets to the senior level. The commentators hinted that much in the Pak-Ind match unfortunately.
Sachin, Dravid could soon be facing ‘Murali’
SHAMYA DASGUPTA
If any one bowler has impressed enough in this Under-19 World Cup to generate thoughts about future stardom, it has to be Pakistan off-spinner Tariq Mahmood. He has an action like Muttiah Muralitharan, spins the ball all three ways — off to leg, straight and leg to off — bowls with pace as well as flight, and very aptly, is nicknamed ‘‘Murali’’.
The 18-year-old from Wazirabad in the Sialkot region of Pakistan picked it all up on his own and, as if bowling like Muralitharan wasn’t good enough, he’s also developing himself into an all-rounder. And with the powers of Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq on the wane, Pakistan is — as both Under-19 coach Aaqib and manager Sultan Rana told this paper — on the lookout for fresh talent.
‘‘My action has been like this from childhood. I have seen Murali bowl on TV and that has also been an influence, but basically it was something I did on my own on our terrace when I played with my father and brothers. When I first saw him on TV, I realised that our actions are similar and we bowl the same deliveries’’, Mahmood tells The Indian Express in halting Hindi, with teammates Sulaman Qadir and Jahangir Wazir acting as interpreters. ‘‘I also think my googly — the doosra — turns a lot, probably more than his (Murali’s).’’
The shy youngster, currently with Jinnah Sports Club in Wazirabad, doesn’t say much more than that, and it’s Qadir and Wazir who do much of the answering for him. ‘‘Tariq’s already played for the regional side and everyone here including the coach (Aaqib Javed) are really confident of him playing senior cricket in a couple of years. No one reads him easily because he bowls all the deliveries with the same action. Even the Indians, who we were told are good against spin, couldn’t read him’’, Qadir, son of the legendary Abdul and the team’s vice captain, says.
As far as Aaqib is concerned, the precocious talent should move to one of the PCB-run academies to hone his talents properly. Aaqib says, ‘‘Tariq is fantastic. Both he and leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad are people we think should be able to play for Pakistan in the near future. Tariq has fantastic talent and, if he matures quickly, he should definitely go a long way.’’
Tariq has picked up 16 wickets in the tournament so far, of which two were against India when he also scored a match-winning 41 not out. Therefore, for the future, concentrating on his batting is also something Tariq is aiming for. ‘‘Inshallah I’ll continue improving, especially my line and length, so that I can be more consistent. Batting also. I like batting and though my main job is to take wickets, I want to become a better batsman. An all-rounder.’’
Wazir and Qadir also give away the fact that, though opening pacers Riaz Afridi and Ali Imran Pasha have been most successful in the World Cup so far, ‘‘it’s Tariq who is our main bowler. We make our plans around him and Mansoor Amjad’’.
With maturity and control beyond his age, Tariq could well be the answer to Pakistan’s prayers. And with the nation having a history of throwing in youngsters at the deep end, it shouldn’t be a surprise if the Pak Murali is called upon to spin his web around the Indians come mid-March
FINALS - U-19 Cricket World Cup 2004
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March 4 Plate Championship Final: Bangladesh v Australia Day
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March 5 Super League Final: Pakistan v West Indies (D/N)
Pakistan and West Indies played a league match in which Pakistan totally dominated it. See —> Pakistan thrashed West Indies by 163 runs
West Indies must be looking to return the favor. We’ll see what happens, we’ll see if the Bangladesh team give their fans a really hope in Plate Championship match against Aussies.
Riaz afridi :k: :k: :k: :k: :k:
The future of OUR cricket! :k:
Lets hope Pakistan repeats the same kind of performence against WI as they did previously in the group match
Here is an upset if you ever read of one.
Bangladesh beat Australia in the plate final of the tournament.
Bangladesh 257 for 9 (Naeem 66, Nafis 59) beat Australia 249 by eight runs
Bangladesh have won the final of the Under-19 Plate Championship, after edging out the overwhelming favourites Australia by eight runs in a thrilling match
Great achivement for BD.. future is not all that bleak for bangladesh after all...
hell..and I can’t stop laughing! 