U19 World Cup: Subhan, Raza Lead Pakistan to Dominant Win Over New Zealand

Pakistan produced a commanding all-round performance to register a crushing victory over New Zealand in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, bowling their opponents out for just 110 before completing the chase with 32.5 overs to spare in Harare.

Seamers Ali Raza and Abdul Subhan were the chief architects of Pakistan’s bowling dominance, sharing seven wickets between them and climbing the tournament’s wicket-takers’ chart. Their efforts laid the platform for an emphatic win that significantly boosted Pakistan’s net run rate and kept Group 2 of the Super Six stage firmly in contention ahead of the much-anticipated clash against India.

Pakistan struck early, reducing New Zealand to 67 for 7 within just 13.3 overs. Raza made the breakthrough in the third over, trapping Marco William Alpe lbw. New Zealand briefly stabilised through a 48-run stand between Tom Jones and Hugo Bogue, but left-arm seamer Mohammad Sayyam ended the partnership by removing Jones for 10.

The collapse accelerated soon after, as Subhan dismissed Bogue for a top-scoring 39 and then ripped through the middle order. New Zealand’s batters from No. 5 to No. 8 managed only eight runs combined, with Brandon Matzopoulos and Jaskaran Sandhu falling for ducks. A late contribution of 42 runs from the lower order lifted New Zealand to 110, but they were bowled out in 28.3 overs.

In reply, Pakistan lost opener Hamza Zahoor early, but Sameer Minhas once again anchored the innings with a superb unbeaten 76, his second consecutive not-out fifty of the tournament. Minhas dominated a 67-run stand with Usman Khan, who contributed 15, and kept the chase on course with fluent strokeplay, striking ten fours and two sixes.

Minhas then combined with Farhan Yousaf (11*) to finish the match in style, smashing two sixes off the final two balls as Pakistan reached the target with 197 deliveries remaining.

The comprehensive victory underlined Pakistan’s strength heading into their marquee Super Six encounter against India.