Resillent Sangha, Rowe deny Afghanistan another victory

Afghanistan U19 was beaten by Australia U19 by 4 wickets off the penultimate ball in a closely contested match between both teams in Potchefstroom. A 72-run partnership between Patrick Rowe and Tanveer Sangha ensured Australia U19 overcame quick breakthroughs in the middle overs by Afghan bowlers to take their team home.

Earlier, having won the toss, Afghanistan opted to bat first and scored 191/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Skipper Farhan Zakhil top-scored with a brilliant unbeaten knock of 91 runs while all-rounder Abdul Rahman scored 24. Australia’s Tanveer Sangha took four wickets for his team while Liam Scott took two.

Skipper Farhan Zakhil remained unbeaten on 91

In response, Australia lost two early wickets in the first 3 overs of the chase to Abdul Rahman and Jamshid Mir Alikhil, who was playing his first match of the tournament. However, a 96-run stand by Lachlan Heame and Sam Fanning stabilized things for the Aussies relatively before Abdul Rahman brought Afghanistan back into the game with two quick wickets accounting for Heame and Oliver Davies.

A few Overs later, quick wickets from Jamshid and Shafiqullah Ghafari turned the tides in Afghanistan’s favor overwhelmingly as the former accounted for the set batsman, Sam Fanning, who got out for 62.

Tanveer Sangha put on an all-round performance for Australia taking 4 wickets and scoring a match-winning 46

Australia were now depending on the duo of Patrick Rowe and all-rounder Tanveer Sangha to take them home and face a tough challenge. Sangha delivered well continuing his great form in the match as he took Australia home with an amazing innings of 46 runs while Rowe remained unbeaten on a great knock of 22.  

Afghanistan will next face South Africa U19 in the tournament’s 7^th Place Play-off at Willowmoore Park, Benoni on 5^th February.