• Afghanistan youngsters secure 36-run victory in Abu Dhabi
• Results puts Australia's quarter-final spot at risk
Finally, after months of Baggy Green dominance, Australian cricket has proven fallible, with their under-19 team stunned by Afghanistan at the World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan had already lost their opening game heavily to Bangladesh, whereas the Aussies – who included Jake Doran, a 17-year-old who played and impressed against England in Alice Springs during the Ashes tour – had thrashed Namibia.
But now Australia are in real danger of failing to qualify for the quarter-finals even if they win their last group match against Bangladesh, as Afghanistan could seal their place with a big win against Namibia.
Afghanistan's famous win was set up by Mohammad Mujtaba, who scored 75 from 102 balls in a total of 253. Australia seemed to be on course at 143 for three despite losing Ben McDermott, the son of the former Test bowler and current bowling coach Craig, for a duck. But after the dismissal of Doran for 45 they crumbled to 188 for eight and ended up losing by 36 runs, with Afghanistan's pace bowlers Abdullah Adil and Sharafuddin Ashraf doing most of the damage.
The result represents another step forward in Afghanistan's development, ahead of the senior team's appearance at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next month – in which they must knock out the hosts to secure their place in the tournament proper – and then in the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year.
They are in the same group as England, Scotland and Australia, and will hope that the under-19s result is an omen for their higher profile game against the co-hosts in Perth.
Scotland's under-19s threatened to pull off an even bigger shock when they had India 22 for five after being skittled for 88, but were denied by an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 70. England need to win their last group game against New Zealand on Tuesday to secure their place in the quarter-finals after losing to Sri Lanka at the weekend. Reported by guardian.co.uk 1 day ago.
• Results puts Australia's quarter-final spot at risk
Finally, after months of Baggy Green dominance, Australian cricket has proven fallible, with their under-19 team stunned by Afghanistan at the World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan had already lost their opening game heavily to Bangladesh, whereas the Aussies – who included Jake Doran, a 17-year-old who played and impressed against England in Alice Springs during the Ashes tour – had thrashed Namibia.
But now Australia are in real danger of failing to qualify for the quarter-finals even if they win their last group match against Bangladesh, as Afghanistan could seal their place with a big win against Namibia.
Afghanistan's famous win was set up by Mohammad Mujtaba, who scored 75 from 102 balls in a total of 253. Australia seemed to be on course at 143 for three despite losing Ben McDermott, the son of the former Test bowler and current bowling coach Craig, for a duck. But after the dismissal of Doran for 45 they crumbled to 188 for eight and ended up losing by 36 runs, with Afghanistan's pace bowlers Abdullah Adil and Sharafuddin Ashraf doing most of the damage.
The result represents another step forward in Afghanistan's development, ahead of the senior team's appearance at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next month – in which they must knock out the hosts to secure their place in the tournament proper – and then in the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year.
They are in the same group as England, Scotland and Australia, and will hope that the under-19s result is an omen for their higher profile game against the co-hosts in Perth.
Scotland's under-19s threatened to pull off an even bigger shock when they had India 22 for five after being skittled for 88, but were denied by an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 70. England need to win their last group game against New Zealand on Tuesday to secure their place in the quarter-finals after losing to Sri Lanka at the weekend. Reported by guardian.co.uk 1 day ago.