England and the West Indies advanced to the quarter-finals of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2014 following comfortable victories in their decisive Group C and D matches on Tuesday.
England overcame Sunday’s heart-breaking loss to Sri Lanka by bouncing back to defeat New Zealand by 115 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while 2004 runners-up West Indies beat Canada by 63 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 1.
In the other matches on the fifth day of the 16-day competition, two-time runners-up South Africa scored an easy seven-wicket victory over its African neighbour Zimbabwe at the Zayed Cricket Stadium and 2000 finalist Sri Lanka defeated hosts United Arab Emirates by eight wickets at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Tuesday’s results mean that from Group C, South Africa and the West Indies progressed to the Super League quarter-finals while Canada and Zimbabwe will feature in the Plate Championship, and from Group D, Sri Lanka and England will appear in the Super League quarter-finals while New Zealand and the UAE will play in the Plate Championship.
On Wednesday, the winner of the Pakistan-Scotland match will join defending champion India in the Super League quarter-finals from Group A, whereas any of the two teams from Afghanistan, Australia and Bangladesh can qualify for the Super League quarter-finals from Group B.
The feature of Tuesday’s matches were magnificent unbeaten centuries from
Fast bowler Brett Randell was one of the star bowlers of the day, returning figures of three for 57, but ended up on the losing side as England defeated New Zealand by 115 runs.
Electing to bat first, England were restricted to 229 for eight after Ryan Higgins scored a watchful but attractive 83 that came from 123 balls, with five fours and two sixes. He featured in two half-century partnerships, when for the second wicket he put on 57 runs with Harry Finch (30) and added another 64 runs for the sixth wicket with Joe Clarke (33).
England were extremely severe in the last 10 overs, which yielded 100 runs, including 57 off the final five overs.
In its chase, New Zealand were rocked by fast bowlers Matthew Fisher and Jack Winslade, and spinners Rob Sayer and Rob Jones as they were was bundled out for 114 in 36.1 overs.
Fisher was the pick of England bowlers, finishing with three for 18, while Winslade picked wickets off successive deliveries to end up with two for 23.
Sayer, with his off-spinners, bagged two for 21 and wrist-spinner Jones claimed two for 33.
Markram was in a punishing mood as he clobbered 13 fours and a six in a 119-ball 120 not out as South Africa achieved a modest 199-run target in 39 overs to beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets.
Markman added 145 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket partnership with Valli whose 84-ball 53 included three fours.
Earlier, fast bowler Justin Dill captured four for 35 as Zimbabwe was bowled out for 198. Luke Jongwe with 55 was main run-scorer, while Kieran Geyle scored 39.
Dumindu was in sublime form, striking 11 fours and a six in a 118-ball 113 not out as Sri Lanka overwhelmed the UAE by eight wickets.
Chasing 206 runs for victory, Sri Lanka reached the target in 43.1 overs after Dumindu and Hashen Ramanayake (34 not out) put on 88 runs for the unbroken third wicket.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, son of West Indies star Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was run-out without facing a ball in the tournament opener against South Africa, hit his second successive half-century as the Caribbean side beat Canada by 63 runs.
Chanderpaul followed up his 84 against Zimbabwe with a 127-ball 93 that included five fours and a six. He added 62 runs for the first wicket with Shimron Hetmyer (39), 95 runs for the second wicket with Jeremy Solozano (50) and 77 for the fourth wicket with Nicolas Pooran (67 not out) as the West Indies scored 289 for four in 50 overs.
Canada, in its chase, lost its last seven wickets for 29 runs to slip from 197 for three for 226 all out in 49.3 overs. Nikhil Dutta scored 62 and captain Nitish Kumar contributed 50, while wickets were evenly shared between Ramaal Lewis (two for 44), Ray Jordan (two for 44) and Jerome Jones (two for 57).
Brief scores:
Group C: West Indies beat Canada by 63 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 1
West Indies: 289-4, 50 overs (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 93, Nicolas Pooran 67 not out, Jeremy Solozano 50, Shimron Hetmyer 39; Keenan Tinto 2-64)
Canada: 226 all out, 49.3 overs (Nikhil Dutta 62, Nitish Kumar 50, Talha Shaikh 45, Sudeepta Aurka 23; Ramaal Lewis 2-44, Ray Jordan 2-44, Jerome Jones 2-57)
Man of the match - Tagenarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
Group C: South Africa beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Zimbabwe: 198 all out, 50 overs (Luke Jongwe 55, Kieran Geyle 39, Malcolm Lake 22; Justin Dill 4-35, Kagiso Rabada 2-47)
South Africa: 199-3, 39 overs (Aiden Markram 120 not out; Yaseen Valli 53 not out)
Man of the match – Aiden Markram (South Africa)
Group D: England beat New Zealand by 115 runs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium
England: 229-8, 50 overs (Ryan Higgins 83, Joe Clarke 33, Will Rhodes 31, Harry Finch 30; Brett Randell 3-57)
New Zealand: 114 all out, 36.1 overs (Raki Weerasundara 41, Shawn Hicks 21; Matthew Fisher 3-18; Jack Winslade 2-23; Rob Sayer 2-21; Rob Jones 2-33)
Man of the match – Matthew Fisher (England)
Group D: Sri Lanka beat the UAE by eight wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE: 205 all out, 47.5 overs (Shorye Chopra 69, Chirag Suri 24, Shivank Vijayakumar 24, Dan D’Souza 23, Shiv Mehra 22, Moaaz Qazi 20; Binura Fernando 2-38, Harsha Rajapaksha 2-40, Anuk Fernando 2-43)
Sri Lanka: 206-2, 43.1 overs (Hashan Dumindu 113 not out, Kusal Mendis 45, Hashen Ramanayake 34 not out)
Man of the match - Hashan Dumindu (Sri Lanka)
Image: South Africa captain Aiden Markram celebrates after scoring a hundred
Photograph: 2014 © IDI/Getty Images
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