Pakistan will face Australia in the second semi-final of the ongoing ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. Both teams remain unbeaten thus far.
Saad Baig's Pakistan secured their spot in the last four by finishing as runners-up in Super Six Group 1, while Hugh Weibgen's Australia reached the knockout stage as winners of Group 2.
Therefore, the stage is set for the two sides that have been in excellent form to clash in a challenging encounter for a chance to advance to the final. The winner of the second semifinal will meet India in the final.
Speaking of the Green Shirts, the team has displayed consistency and dominance in their group-stage matches against Afghanistan, Nepal, and New Zealand. They continued their successful run against Ireland and Bangladesh, although the latter provided a scare in their last match.
On the other hand, Australia topped their group with three consecutive victories against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Subsequently, the 'Men in Yellow' defeated England by 110 runs in the Super Six stage, securing their place in the semi-final with a no-result against West Indies.
Pitch Report
Willowmoore Park has proven to be one of the most demanding pitches at the U19 World Cup this year. In the first semi-final, the pacers experienced additional bounce. Therefore, in the forthcoming match, the batters must exhibit resilience and thoughtful play before attempting expansive shots. Regarding the spinners, the ball doesn't consistently come onto the bat as anticipated.
Head-to-Head
The head-to-head record between Australia and Pakistan reflects a competitive history. Over the course of 35 matches played between them, Pakistan U19 has emerged victorious on 19 occasions, while Australia U19 has secured triumph in 14 matches.
Also, there has been an instance of a match ending with no result and one tied game, underscoring the closely contested encounters between these two youth teams.
The first encounter in this series took place on 4th February 1982, marking the inception of their competitive clashes. The most recent match was contested on 8th January 2022.
Probable lineups
Australia: Harry Dixon, Harjas Singh, Sam Konstas, Hugh Weibgen (C), Oliver Peake, Lachlan Aitken (wk), Raf MacMillan, Harkirat Bajwa, Tom Straker, Mahli Beardman, Callum Vidler
Pakistan: Shamyl Hussain, Shahzaib Khan, Azan Awais, Saad Baig (C/Wk), Ahmad Hassan, Haroon Arshad, Arafat Minhas, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Zeeshan, Ali Asfand, Ali Raza