Afghanistan completed a sensational run chase to deny Bangladesh a place in the quarter-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Fresh from stunning Australia with a 36-run victory in their previous outing, Nasir Ahmadzai’s team sealed a four-wicket triumph over Namibia.
Having restricted their opponents to 192 for nine – Muslim Musa the pick of the bowlers with 3-35 – Afghanistan raced to their victory target in just 25.3 overs to edge out Bangladesh on net run-rate.
Mohammad Mujtaba, the man of the match against Australia, and Hashmatullah Shaidi both struck blistering half-centuries and their efforts were rewarded as Bangladesh collapsed to a 74-run loss against Australia in the other Group B game.
Jake Doran’s unbeaten 99 helped Australia to post 244 for six, but the early result at the Nursery Oval changed the equation at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh knew any total above 230 would have been enough to secure them a place in the quarter-finals.
They were well-set on 128 for two but the departures of Mosaddek Hossain and Shadman Islam – the opener top scoring with 49 – triggered a calamitous collapse to 170 all out.
Matters where somewhat more clear cut in Group A, as top two India and Pakistan rounded off their progression from the round-robin phase with resounding wins.
India recorded the seventh-biggest win in the tournament’s history, trouncing Papua New Guineaby 245 runs. Sanji Samon was the star off the show, smiting eight fours and four sixes in a 48-ball 85.
PNG were unable to collectively match his score, let alone India’s 301 for six, as they subsided to 56 all out in 28.2 overs – left-arm Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav among those to make hay with figures of 4-10.
Imam ul-Haq’s magnificent 133 was at the heart of Pakistan’s 308 for seven against Scotland, who fell to a 146-run defeat as leg-spinner Kamran Ali starred with 5-36.