Talal keeps Pakistan in semis contention: U-15 World Challenge

Karachi, July 31: Paceman Talal Zia kept Pakistan in contention for a place in the Under-15 World Challenge semi-finals when he bowled his team to a 36-run victory over Asian champions Sri Lanka at Wellington College ground, according to information available on the website.

Talal captured four wickets for 24 runs from 10 overs as Sri Lanka, chasing 150 for victory, were bowled out for 113 in 45.1 overs in a low scoring match.

The victory left Pakistan with the last league match against lowly placed and winless Zimbabwe. A win in the final match is likely to give them second place in League B behind South Africa who play Sri Lanka in their final game on Wednesday. If both Pakistan and Sri Lanka win their respective games, net run-rate would determine the qualifiers for the semis to be played on Saturday and Tuesday.

Only two Sri Lankan batsmen crossed the 20-mark with skipper G.D Gunawardena top scoring with 23 and opener M.A.S Sandaruwan scoring 20. Both fell to Talal who added the scalps of M.F Maharoof (13) and G.T de Silva (3).

Subtain Raza and Sharyar Khan were also amongst wicket-takers equally sharing four wickets between them conceding 10 and 17 runs respectively.

Earlier, Pakistan batting first, lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs to be bundled out for 149 in 42 overs.

All the five frontline batsmen got good starts but failed to capitalize from them. Shahid Yousuf followed up his yesterday's half century with another top score of 39 from 47 balls. He hit five boundaries.

Opener Mohammad Naeem (23) and Zulqarnain (21) were the other prominent run-getters.

For Sri Lanka, R.Nishan, who had figures of 6.5-1-8-7 on Sunday, picked up three wickets for 39 runs from eight over.

South Africa in semis: South Africa were assured of a place in the semi-finals after they defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets.

The South Africans, who failed to qualify for the knock-out stage in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka without playing a ball, dismissed Zimbabwe for 107 in 33.5 overs with extras being joint top scorer along with opener B.Taylor (30) who added 58 runs for the first wicket with S.Marillier (22).

A.Penzhorn broke the back of Zimbabwe's innings when he captured five wickets for 11 runs from 9.5 overs. K.Africa picked up three wickets for 26 runs.

The winners achieved victory in 31.2 overs with G.Lewis remaining unbeaten on 50. D.van Wyk (28 not out) and S.Silwana (20) were the other notable scorers.

India stay alive: Defending champions India kept their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive when they beat minnows Netherlands by 10 wickets.

The Dutch boys scored 110 in 48.4 overs. India reached victory in 20.3 overs.

England in semis: Hosts England reached the semi-finals when they defeated the West Indies by six wickets to leave the losers battle with India for the remaining slot from Group A.

The West Indies were dismissed for 131 in 46.5 overs with T. Bresnan claiming three wickets for 30 runs. D.Broadbent, J. Beaumont and S.Patel equally shared six wickets between them conceding 13, 20 and 20 runs respectively.

England, in their turn, achieved victory in 40.5 overs with opener J.Hildreth finishing as the top scorer with an 86-ball 42. A.Cook (33) and S.Patel (28) were the other main run-getters.

Wednesday's fixtures: England v Holland; West Indies v India (both Group A matches); Sri Lanka v South Africa; Pakistan v Zimbabwe (both Group B matches)

Tabulated under matches played won lost points:

Group A

England 2 2 0 4 West Indies 2 1 1 2 India 2 1 1 2 Holland 2 0 2 0

Group B

South Africa 2 2 0 4 Pakistan 2 1 1 2 Sri Lanka 2 1 1 2 Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0