ICC U19 World Cup 2020: Day 17 - Round Up

England were crowned ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Plate Trophy winners after beating Sri Lanka by 152 runs at Willowmore Park, Benoni. Player of the Match Dan Mousley scored a century as England posted a competitive 279 for seven from their 50 overs before Lewis Goldsworthy picked up a five-wicket haul to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 127.

England dominated from the outset with the perfectly-paced ton from Mousley that was aided by sparkling half-centuries from Jack Haynes (68) and Joey Evison (59). Evison’s 45-ball knock contained four boundaries and three maximum blows for six.

Seamers Dilum Thilakarathna (two for 39) and Dilshan Madushanka (two for 41) were the pick of the Sri Lankan bowling. In chasing the target, the Asian nation scored quickly but lost wickets at regular interval with most of the top order back in the hut by the 14th over and the score 79 for five.

Other than 66 from Ravindu Rashantha – now the tournament’s leading run scorer with 286 – the next best score came from Kamil Mishara with 15. Goldsworthy, the off-spinner, was chief destroyer with five for 21 as England finished with a flourish to win the Plate and end the competition in ninth overall.

Super League Semi-Finals take centre stage

Tuesday will see the first of the Super League Semi-Finals take place with an eagerly-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the JB Marks Oval. The two countries are no strangers to each other at all levels of cricket, previously meeting in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Final 14 years ago, when Pakistan prevailed by 38 runs in Colombo.

That saw them become the first back-to-back winners of the competition but India have been the dominant side since, with no country bettering the four titles they have won to date. Both teams are yet to lose in the competition with India winning three from three in Group A while Pakistan had to settle for second place in Group C following a washout with Bangladesh.

That gave Rohail Nazir’s side a tough task against Afghanistan in the Quarter Final but they delivered with aplomb to reach the next stage. India, meanwhile, had to overcome Australia to keep their title defence alive, prevailing by 74 runs to set up the JB Marks Oval clash.

Super League Semi Final 2 will also be a match-up between sides progressing from Groups A and C. New Zealand lost out to India in the first stage but still did enough to progress as the second-best team, before producing yet another superb comeback to beat West Indies in a last-over thriller.

Bangladesh have yet to lose a match at South Africa 2020 with their latest success seeing them overcome the hosts by 104 runs, and are now set to face the Junior Black Caps on February 6.