Australia Clinch Thrilling Victory Over Pakistan to Reach ICC U-19 World Cup Final
Tom Straker's Six-Wicket Haul and Harry Dixon's Fifty Propel Aussies to Final Showdown Against India
Australia defeated Pakistan in the semi-final here on Thursday, thanks in large part to the six wickets taken by Tom Straker and the fifty runs scored by Harry Dixon.
On Sunday, the Australians will play India, the reigning champions, in the ICC U-19 World Cup final. The two teams had previously faced off in the November ODI World Cup final, with Pat Cummins' squad triumphing against Rohit Sharma's squad.
Pakistan struggled against bowler Straker (6/24), making a below-par 179, based on two half-centuries by Arafat Minhas (52) and Azan Awais (52).
The Australians, led by Dixon (50) and Oliver Peake (49), managed to reach 181 for 9 in 49.1 overs to secure the last slot, while facing challenges of their own from the Pakistani bowlers.
The Australians are competing in their sixth final, whilst India will be contesting their ninth championship match. Australia has won three championships, while India has won a record five.
from Australia's victory was anything from easy, as a group of resolute Pakistani bowlers forced them to work for every single score.
Australian openers Dixon and 14-year-old Sam Konstas contributed 33 runs in 6.2 overs, but they also lost four wickets and were put in a precarious situation.
The Australians are one of the few teams who thrive in stressful situations, and they demonstrated this trait here as well.
With the weight of asking rate off their backs, the middle-order for the Australians focused on nudges to gather runs.
Peake and Dixon, who scored his third fifty of the competition, put up 43 runs for the fifth wicket in little over ten overs, keeping the Australians well within striking distance.
However, the partnership was abruptly ended by left-arm spinner Minhas, who castled Dixon with a twisting ball that split the bails off.
However, without taking any unnecessary chances, Peake and Tom Campbell (25), who led the Australians ahead, added 44 runs in little over 11 overs.
But Arafat's moment of absolute wizardry put a stop to the budding stand. Peake was let go a short while after.
With a wicket in hand, Australia needed 16 more runs to win, but in the last over, Callum Vidler (3 not out) and Raf MacMillan (19 not out) helped their side over the finish line.
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