Nepal vs Pakistan Highlights, U19 World Cup 2024: Azan Awais Stars As PAK Beat NEP By 5 Wickets

Right then Pakistan Under-19 have defeated Nepal Under-19 by 5 wickets and remain undefeated in the tournament so far. The next game of the tournament will be between India Under19 and Ireland Under 19 to be played on 25th January. The game will be live from 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT) but you can join us an hour early for the build-up. Till then cheers!

The winning skipper of Pakistan Under-19 Saad Baig says that he is happy with the performance overall and the spinners bowled well on a slow track. Says that it was not that difficult to bat. The partnership between Ahmad Hassan and Azan Awais helped them to cruise to the victory line. Adds that he saw the pitch in the morning and rated it as a slow track. Adds that they have a good match on Saturday against New Zealand and is looking forward for a good game.

The losing skipper of Nepal Under-19 Dev Khanal is up for a quick chat and says they were 15-20 runs first and the bowlers of Pakistan Under-19 did well. Adds that he is happy with the performance of the side but needs to improve a lot. Mentions that they lacked rotation of strike in the middle phase and they will look forward to improving on it. Credits the pace attack and mentions that Aakash Chand did well and they will be looking to build up on that.

Azan Awais is the player of the match for his fantastic knock of 63 under pressure. He is up for a quick chat and says that they lost four wickets and his target was to hold onto one end and rotate the strike. Adds that the pitch was hard to bat in the second innings and he planned to create a partnership with Ahmad Hassan. Concludes by saying that he is happy to contribute to his country and will keep doing so in the coming games.

Earlier in the day, after opting to bat first Nepal Under-19 managed to score 197 and were bowled out on the last delivery of their innings. The side started well and were positive in the powerplay but lost their way ever since spin was introduced. A few batters did get in but couldn't go big and departed right when it was needed for them to change gears. Bipin Rawal was the top scorer for the side with 39 runs to his name while Deepak Dumre, Deepak Dumre and Subash Bhandari played good knocks in their 20s. The bowling was really good by the spinners but the pacers were a bit off the mark. Arafat Minhas was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets to his name while others chipped in with wickets as well.

The bowlers of Nepal Under-19 were good to start with and were bang on the money with the line and lengths through the first powerplay. A fierce spell from Aakash Chand saw him take 3 wickets in the middle phase and pulled things back for Nepal Under-19 but that wasn't enough as the target set for a strong batting unit to chase was not big enough. Aakash Tripathi and Dipesh Kandel took a wicket each as well.

Chasing down a decent total, Pakistan Under-19 started a bit watchfully and were too cautious in the powerplay. The openers scored 33 together in the first powerplay. The duo went on to add a few more as they put up a partnership of 80 runs for the first wicket. Pakistan Under-19 lost a few in a flurry and that tensed their dugout for a bit but Azan Awais and Ahmad Hassan did well to stabilize the ship and shut down any chances of a collapse. The duo aded 64 runs for the 5th wicket partnership. The 6th wicket partnership of 33 runs between Azan Awais and Haroon Arshad sealed the deal for Pakistan Under-19. Azan Awais was the top scorer for the side with 63 runs while Shamyl Hussain, Shahzaib Khan and Ahmad Hassan chipped in with important runs as well.

Pakistan Under-19 goes 2 from 2 as Azan Awais finishes it off with a boundary. A clinical performance from the youngsters of Pakistan Under-19 sees them through against a spirited Nepal Under-19 side as they win this game by 5 wickets.

FOUR! There's the winning hit! PAKISTAN WIN BY 5 WICKETS. Serves a juicy full-toss on the middle stump line, Azan Awais simply gets under it and picks it up over mid on for a boundary and hits the winning runs for Pakistan. What a scintillating innings from him. Pakistan Under-19, with this win, jump to the top of the points table in Pool D.

Flatter and quicker outside off, Azan Awais rocks back and cuts it straight to point.

Fuller and outside off, Azan Awais drives to covers.

Full and on the middle stump line, Azan Awais blocks it to the leg side.

Short again and on the bodyline, Azan Awais pulls it off the back foot towards deep backward square leg for a single. SCORES ARE LEVEL!

On a hard length and around off, Haroon Arshad punches it off the back foot to the off side to take a single. Just a couple of runs away now.

Drama! Appeal for a caught behind but turned down. Bowls on a shorter length and outside off, Haroon Arshad hangs on the bounce to cut it across the angle and takes the leading edge through to the keeper. The fielders appeal for caught behind but the umpire is unmoved. They send it upstairs to confirm. The replays show up and it asserts that the ball has just fallen short ahead of the keeper's glove before carrying into the glove. He survives.

Short and into the bodyline of the southpaw, Haroon Arshad looks to pull but wears on his body. That must have stung him.

On the back of a length outside off, Azan Awais punches it off the back foot to deep backward point for one. Only 3 away from the win now.

Tap and run. On a harder length outside off, Haroon Arshad taps it on the front foot to short point and runs a quick single.

Overpitched outside off, Haroon Arshad covers his off stump and drives it ahead of mid off and sneaks another quick single. Just 5 more needed to win.

Sneaking into the right-hander on a fuller length from off, Haroon Arshad gets beaten on the outside edge.