Afghanistan stun Australia for first win
AFGHANISTAN Under-19s pulled off a major upset by defeating Australia Under-19s by 36 runs in Abu Dhabi. Afghanistan’s top order were at the forefront of the victory, as Mohammad Mujtaba (75), Ihsanullah (63) and Hashmatullah Shaidi (57) all scored half-centuries to propel the team to 253.The team had lost Usman Ghani in the first over of the innings, but Ihsanullah and Mujtaba steadied the innings with a second-wicket stand worth 126 that gave Afghanistan a solid platform to build on. For Australia, James Bazley and Cameron Valente picked up three wickets each.
Australia’s captain Jaron Morgan scored 47 to give the team a decent start, but fell in the 20th over after being caught by Shaidi off his own bowling. Jake Doran and Damian Mortimer added 70 for the fourth wicket, but from 143 for 3 in the 37th over, the team were bowled out for 217 by the 48th.
James Bazley blasted a 36-ball 54, but received little by way of support at the other end. Abdullah Adil was the pick of Afghanistan’s bowlers, finishing with 4 for 45, while Sharafuddin Ashraf snared three scalps.
The victory was Afghanistan’s first of the tournament, after they had opened with a loss to Bangladesh Under-19s on Saturday. Afghanistan and Australia are both tied in Group B with two points each, with Australia slightly ahead by virtue of a better net run-rate.
“I am very proud of our team, they played so well today,” Nasir Jamal, the Afghanistan captain, said, “I don’t think many people expected us to defeat Australia but we did it and we did it convincingly.
“We hope the people at home are enjoying the victory as much as we are – we play for our country and our people and we love to make them happy and proud. Now we have to put our heads down and try to achieve as much as we possibly can in this competition.
In the other matches of the day, India’s left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav became his country’s first bowler and second overall to record a hat-trick in the history of the tournament as the defending champions survived a scare to beat Scotland by five wickets in front of Star Sports cameras at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh defeated Namibia by 52 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 1 and two-time former champions Pakistan recorded a comfortable 145-run victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG).
After yesterday’s results, India have qualified for the quarter-finals from Group A while the second quarter-finalists will be confirmed after tomorrow’s matches between India and PNG, and Pakistan and Scotland. At present, both Pakistan and Scotland sit with one win apiece.
In Group B, the situation has become extremely exciting following Australia’s defeat.. Tomorrow, Bangladesh will play Australia and Afghanistan will take on Namibia.
If Afghanistan and Australia win their matches then there will be a three-way tie between Afghanistan, Australia and Bangladesh with net run-rate to decide which two sides advance from this stage.
At present, Bangladesh have a net run-rate of +0.924, Australia +0.650 and Afghanistan -0.031.

Scores in brief:
In Group A, India beat Scotland by five wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Scotland 88 all out, 29.4 overs (Andrew Umeed 44; Aamir Gani 4-28, Kuldeep Yadav 4-28)
India 92-5, 22.3 overs (Sarfaraz Khan 45 not out, Deepak Hooda 24 not out; Chayank Gosain 3-31)
Man-of-the-match – Kuldeep Yadav (India)
In Group A, Pakistan beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 145 runs at ICC Academy 1
Pakistan 283-8, 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 88, Sami Aslam 62, Hasan Raza 44; Kabua Morea 3-45, Alei Nao 2-55, Riley Hekure 2-57)
PNG 138 all out, 29.2 overs (Kiplin Doriga 51; Zafar Gohar 4-35, Zia-ul-Haq 2-26)
Man-of-the-match – Imam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
In Group B, Australia beat Afghanistan by 36 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 2
Afghanistan 253 all out, 49.2 overs (Mohammad Mujtaba 75, Ihsanullah 63, Hashmatullah Shaidi 57; Cameron Valente 3-59, James Bazley 3-69)
Australia 217 all out, 48 overs (James Bazley 54 not out, Jaron Morgan 47, Jake Doran 45, Damien Mortimer 43; Abdullah Adil 4-45 ; Sharafuddin Ashraf 3-55)
Man-of-the-match – Mohammad Mujtaba (Afghanistan)
In Group B, Bangladesh best Namibia by 52 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 1
Bangladesh 233-5, 50 overs (Mosaddek Hossain 70 not out, Shadman Islam 65, Litton Das 31, Joyraz Sheik 22, Nazmul Hossain Shanto 22; Jano Coetzee 2-29)
Namibia 181 all out, 49 overs (Xander Pitchers 40, Gerhard Erasmus 37, Jaen Kotza 35; Mustafizur Rahman 3-24, Mossadek Hossain 3-29, Nihaduzzaman 2-37)
Man-of-the-match – Mossadek Hossain (Bangladesh)