BOWLERS Josh Hazelwood and Luke Doran ripped through Pakistan’s batting lineup as Australia won their third ICC U19 World Cup at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Christchurch.

Australia set Pakistan a modest 208 win before paceman Hazelwood (4-30) and left-arm spinner Doran (3-32) took control after the Babar Azam and Ahmad Shazhad had made a comfortable start and put on 54 for the second wicket.

Doran took the wickets of Shazhad and Barber before man-of-the-match Hazlewood returned for a second spell and immediately had Hammad Azam caught behind without scoring – his first dismissal in the tournament.

The wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals before Australia cleaned up the tail and took the title in the 47th over.

Pakistan won the toss and their decision to put Australia in to bat seemed to be the right one when Nic Maddison was trapped lbw to Fayyaz Butt from the fifth ball of the day, and Tom Beaton was magnificently caught by Babar Azam off Sarmad Bhatti in the next over.

But Australia’s middle order steadied the ship before eighth in Kane Richardson hit 44 to give his bowlers a modest target to defend. (Eurosport)

Gabon to host 2012 Nations Cup final
LUANDA, Angola (Reuters) – Gabon is to stage the 2012 African Nations Cup final and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea will have the opening game, the Confederation of African Football said on Friday.

Four venues are to be used for the next championship which will again be held in January although precise dates have yet to be finalised.

Officials said Gabon would build a new stadium in Libreville, where the final will be played, and renovate another in Franceville.

Equatorial Guinea have already built new stadiums in the capital Malabo and in Bata.

It will be the second time the tournament is co-hosted after Ghana and Nigeria took over in 2000 when Zimbabwe were behind with preparations and stripped of the right to host the event.