Australia crash to humiliating defeat

[Hasan]

Group A Zimbabwe U19 74 for 3 beat Australia U19 73 (Panyangara 6-31, Chingumbura 4-17) by seven wickets




The Under-19 World Cup produced its first major shock when Australia were routed by Zimbabwe after being bowled out for 73 in front of a capacity 15,000 crowd at the Bogra District Stadium. To add insult to injury, it was Australia's lowest score in the tournament.

Australia won the toss and batted, and Tim Paine (19) and Theo Doropoulos (26) gave them a solid start as they reached 50 for 1 after 10 overs. But then the wheels came off as right-arm fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara ripped through their top and middle order. In a devastating nine-over spell he grabbed 6 for 31, the second-best bowling figures in the tournament's history. Four of his victims were caught by wicketkeeper Brendon Taylor.

Elton Chingumbura picked up the remaining four wickets for 17 runs as Australia succumbed in 19 overs.

Australia briefly harboured hopes of snatching a remarkable victory when Zimbabwe lost two wickets in the first three overs, but that was as god as it got and Zimbabwe coasted to a seven-wicket win with 32 overs to spare.

Australia must now beat Sri Lanka at Rajshahi on Friday 20 February to keep alive their hopes of retaining their U19 title.

Source: Cricinfo