U-19 WC: Pakistan top Group B after beating Sri Lanka

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Mirpur (Bangladesh), Feb 3: Pakistan rode on a fine all-round performance by Hasan Mohsin to defeat Sri Lanka by 23 runs in the last league match and top Group B in the ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup here on Wednesday.

Pakistan's total was built around Mohsin's attractive run-a-ball innings which was studded with eight hits to the fence and a six. They were struggling at 96/4 after being sent in to bat on a hazy morning when Mohsin stepped in to stem the rot with a 61-run stand for the fifth wicket with Salman Fayyaz (33).

Mohsin, who was on 61 at the fall of the seventh wicket, smashed 23 runs in the 47th over bowled by seamer Asitha Fernando which included five runs for an overthrow. Moshin was bowled in the next over, trying to reverse sweep left-arm spinner Damitha Silva, who finished with 2/41.

Thilan Nimesh and Wanidu Hasaranga also claimed two wickets each but ambidextrous 17-year-old Kamindu Mendis caught the eye with his rare talent to bowl both right-arm off-breaks and left-arm spin. Mendis gave away 21 runs in four wicketless overs.

Mohsin, who was later named man-of-the-match, stung early in Sri Lanka's reply, grabbing the first two wickets by the sixth over with his medium-pace bowling. Sri Lanka were reduced to 63/4 before Mendis, who bats left-handed, scored 68 and Vishad Randika made 46 while adding 84 for the fifth wicket.

Pakistan kept the pressure on the batsmen to clinch victory in the 47th over as leg-spinner Shadab Khan finished with 3/31. Sameen Gul, Mohsin and Ahmad Shafiq shared six wickets between them.

IANS