England v Pakistan, U19 World Cup, Fatullah

England's win sets up a semi-final date with West Indies

Wisden Cricinfo staff

February 27, 2004

England 196 (Cook 87, Davies 53, Riaz Afridi 5-42) beat Pakistan 191 (Zulqarnain Haider 44) by five runs
Scorecard

Riaz Afridi bowls David Stiff © Getty Images

England ensured they finished top of Group Two with a five-run victory against Pakistan, to set up a semi-final against West Indies.

Alastair Cook continued his good form with 87, and he added 124 with Steven Davies before the last nine wickets collapsed for just 65 runs. Riaz Afridi, who took the big wicket of Cook, finished with 5 for 42 as England's middle and lower order failed to make an impact.

However, their under-par total of 196 proved to be enough - just. Tim Bresnan, Liam Plunkett and Adam Harrison made early inroads to reduce Pakistan to 56 for 4. But Salman Hadir and Fawad Alam posted a recovery with a stand of 52 to put their side back in the game.

Mark Lawson picked up both their wickets to peg Pakistan back again, but Zulqarnain Haider provided a final flourish with a quick 44 off 41 balls in a late victory bid. He added 67 with Mansoor Amjad, but England's bowlers held their nerve to dismiss Pakistan for 191 from 47.4 overs, to scrape home by five runs.

"I was very happy to get in the runs again today and it was a good day all round," said Cook afterwards. "We didn't get as many runs as a team as we would have liked, but we bowled well and fielded well and it is great to be in the semi-finals."

Pakistan will now play India in the first semi-final, to be played under lights at Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday (Feb 29). England will face West Indies in another floodlit game at the Bangabandhu on Tuesday (March 2).

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Players/Umpires

Alastair Cook

Riaz Afridi

Teams

England

Pakistan