Pakistan U19 players celebrate after taking a wicket against Sri Lanka U19 during the Under-19 World Cup 2022 match
Two-time champions Pakistan and South Africa both signed off on their Under-19 World Cup campaigns with opposite victories.
Pakistan overtook Sri Lanka in the fifth-place playoff after both sides’ chances of lifting the trophy in the quarterfinal stage last week ended.
While elsewhere in Antigua, South Africa are seventh after a two-wicket win over Bangladesh.
Captain Akram shines for Pakistan
Pakistan’s command was closed at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, with openers Muhammad Shehzad and Haseebullah Khan (136) dominating Sri Lanka’s attack.
The pair took Pakistan for 100 for no loss, with Shahzad eventually scoring 73 before he was dismissed by Raveen de Silva.
But Khan was joined at the crease by impressive captain Qasim Akram (135 off 80) and the duo took the game away from Sri Lanka on scintillating stands.
The two scored centuries and took Pakistan past 350, before Khan was eventually trapped by Mathisha Pathirana.
Akram remained unbeaten and his side closed at 365-3.
Sri Lanka’s reaction turned sour after just two overs with Akram wreaking havoc with the new ball.
The talented all-rounder removed openers Chamindu Wickremesinghe and Pawan Pathiraja for just one on aggregate, with Chevon Daniels also coming between the two.
Ranuda Somarathana also went for a duck with Akram to beat Sri Lanka 4-15.
Since then Sri Lanka were batting for the glory.
Their captain Dunith Velález did not go without a fight and scored a valiant 40, which included five fours.
Vinuja Ranpul likewise was in the mood to score an unbeaten 53 and hit only two sixes of his team’s match.
But that was not enough and Pakistan cleaned up a 238-run victory when Travin Mathew was hit on the pads by a full delivery from Zeeshan Zameer, leaving Sri Lanka for 127 in 35 overs and finishing fifth. have done.
Brilliant Brevis helps South Africa cut short playoff win
Over at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, South Africa were also aiming to end their time in the Caribbean on a high, taking Bangladesh into the playoffs in 7th place.
Electing to bat, Bangladesh got off to a strong 50 for no loss, Mahfizul Islam falling to Liam Elder in the 10th over.
But the fourth man in Ariful Islam kept the maximum pressure on the South African attack, hitting 102 off 103 balls and finding boundaries on 12 separate occasions.
The 17-year-old Bangladeshi seemed untouchable for the innings, right up to the 47th over when Matthew Bost found a fine line and Islam pulled his shot to South Africa captain George Van Heerden.
Bangladesh eventually reached a strong total of 293-8 at the end of their 50 overs.
In reply, South Africa lost Jade Smith in the sixth over, dismissing Musfiq Hasan.
But Dewald Brevis, who scored 97 in the quarter-final against England, offered some hope for his team with a century on 138 off 130 balls.
The other end was less reliable, with both van Heerden and Gerhardus Marie going cheap, however, Matthew Bost’s 41 for 22 kept them on track.
In a nervous finale, it looked like Andile Simelane would take South Africa over the line but was run out after a good fielding from Ripon Mondol.
But eventually, they got the win, and finished seventh, in fine style, when Elder hit a big drive down the leg side that went for six, securing a two-wicket victory in the process.