India scores morale-boosting win over Pakistan

India drew first blood over arch rival Pakistan by notching a five-wicket victory on the final day of the warm-up matches on Monday ahead of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2016, which starts on Wednesday January 27.

Pakistan were dismissed for 197 in 44.1 overs in a match reduced to 45 overs-a-side due to a delayed start and India overhauled the target in the 34th over for a morale-boosting win.

India’s left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed grabbed five wickets for 30 runs as Pakistan, which was cruising at 75-1 at one stage, lost its last nine wickets for 122 runs.

Big-hitting Sarfaraz Khan sealed India’s comfortable win by smashing 81 off 68 balls with 12 boundaries and a six.

Host Bangladesh trounced England by 97 runs to show it will be a force to reckon with in the tournament.

Shafiul Hayet hit 68 and Mohammad Saifuddin scored an unbeaten 46 as Bangladesh notched up 246 for eight in its 50 overs after electing to take first strike.

Skipper Mehidy Miraz and Mehedi Rana shared six wickets as England was shot out for 149 in 48.1 overs with only Brad Taylor (41) and Callum Taylor (36) making useful contributions.

New Zealand’s spin twins, Aniket Parikh and Rachin Ravindra, took three wickets each to help their side overcome a spirited Afghanistan by 13 runs.

New Zealand was shot out for 212 after electing to bat with Glenn Phillips making 68 and Zahir Khan taking five wickets for 30 runs.

Afghanistan made a brave attempt to overtake the target as Karim Janat made 42, but off-spinner Parikh and left-armer Ravindra did not allow the other batsmen to settle down.

Shammu Ashan shone again with the bat as Sri Lanka downed Nepal by 65 runs. Ashan, who made 66 against New Zealand on Saturday, hit 81 off 74 balls with four sixes and as many boundaries to lift Sri Lanka to 230-9 in 45 overs.

Nepal was shot out for 165 in reply with Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka taking two wickets for 11 runs. Dipendra Airee played a lone hand for Nepal with an unbeaten 33.

Zimbabwe’s leg-spinner Blessing Mavuta claimed six wickets for 18 runs to inspire his side to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Namibia in Chittagong.

Namibia was shot out for 120 with SJ Loftie-Eaton top-scoring with 38. Zimbabwe surpassed the modest total in the 23rd over following an opening stand of 108 between Shaun Snyder (60) and Brendan Sly (48).

Canada captain Abraash Khan hit an unbeaten 93 to lead his team to a four-wicket win over Ireland, which had been bowled out for 197 earlier in the day. Kurt Ramdath took five for 24 for Canada.

The 11th edition of the biennial 16-nation tournament features nine Test-playing nations and seven Associate and Affiliate Members – Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Nepal, Ireland and Scotland.

Teams have been divided into four groups with the top two in each advancing to the Super League quarter-finals and the other two qualifying for the Plate championships.

Scores in brief:

New Zealand beat Afghanistan by 13 runs: New Zealand 212 all out, 48.5 overs (Glenn Phillips 68; Zahir Khan 5-30) Afghanistan 199 all out, 47.3 overs (Karim Janat 42, Aniket Parikh 3-34, Rachin Ravindra 3-32)

Sri Lanka beat Nepal by 65 runs: Sri Lanka 230-9, 45 overs (Shammu Ashan 81) Nepal 165 all out, 42.1 overs (Dipendra Airee 33 not out; Charith Asalanka 2-11)

Canada beat Ireland by 4  wickets: Ireland 197 all out, 45.1 overs (Jack Tector 83, Harry Tector 37; Kurt Ramdath 5-24) Canada 198-6, 45.4 overs (Abraash Khan 93 not out, Tom Stanton 2-46)

India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets: Pakistan 197 all out, 44.1 overs (Mohammad Umar 36, Hasan Mohsin 33; Khaleel Ahmed 5-30)
India 198-5 in 33.4 overs (Sarfaraz Khan 81; Hasan Mohsin 2-23, Shadab Khan 2-56)

Zimbabwe beat Namibia by 8 wickets: Namibia 120 all out, 39.5 overs (SJ Loftie-Eaton 38; Blessing Mavuta 6-18) Zimbabwe 121-2, 22.2 overs (Shaun Snyder 60, Brendan Sly 48)

Bangladesh beat England by 97 runs: Bangladesh 246-8, 50 overs (Shafiul Hayet 68, Mohammad Saifuddin 46 not out; Saqib Mahmood 2-24, Brad Taylor 2-25, Dan Lawrence 2-55) England 149 all out, 48.1 overs (Brad Taylor 41, Callum Taylor 36; Mehidy Miraz 3-12, Mehedi Rana 3-14)

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