ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup quarter finals: Preview

We have reached the business end of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. It’s time for the beginning of the knockout stages with the quarterfinals. It's the very stage where one can’t simply afford to commit any mistake.

Any small mistake could potentially end the World Cup campaign of a team. Entering the knockout stages, it won’t matter how well the teams have performed in group stages as the teams will have to start from scratch.

Defending champions, West Indies have already been knocked out of the tournament. Last edition’s semi-finalist, Sri Lanka have also made a shocking exit.

The surprise element of the 2018 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup has been Afghanistan with them having qualified for the quarterfinals after four years.

Let’s look at the Quarter-Finals lineup:

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#1 England vs Australia (23rd January)

Skipper Harry Brook will look to carry his form into the knockouts

The senior England team has made a comeback of sorts in the ODI series after the Ashes thrashing and the U19 England team will look to carry their senior team's momentum when they meet Australia on Tuesday.

England has had it relatively easy in the group stages. They topped their group and didn’t face any stiff opposition. On the other hand, Australia didn’t have the best of starts in the tournament.

Australia lost their first match against India by a huge margin of 100 runs. However, they managed to put the disappointment behind and dominated their next two matches against Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea.

Australia will bank on their opener Nathan McSweeney who scored a blistering 156 runs in the last match against PNG to give them a good start. Their captain, Jason Sangha has also recently found his form in the last game with 88 runs. In the bowling department, Jason Ralston and Xavier Bartlett will have to put in important contributions.

For England, Will Jacks will be their key player along with the captain, Harry Brook. Harry Brook was never dismissed during the group stage scoring a cumulative of 173 runs. Will Jacks, on the other hand, has smashed 183 runs at an impressive strike rate of 134.5.

What to expect

It should be a riveting contest between the arch-rivals. Given the current form, one can’t tell the difference between the two sides.

#2 South Africa vs Pakistan (24th January)

Raynard Van Tonder has been key for South Africa

After a humiliating loss against Afghanistan in the tournament opener, Pakistan has managed to qualify for the Super League by winning their remaining two games. On one day, they have been simply brilliant, on the other just the opposite.

The batting also has left a lot to be desired for. Chasing 189 runs against Sri Lanka, they huffed and puffed their way to the target and qualified for the quarterfinals.

Left-arm pacer-Shaheen Afridi has taken 9 wickets during the group stage which includes a 6 wicket haul against Ireland. Pakistan will look at him to provide early breakthroughs.

If you take a look at the leading scorers' list or the leading wicket-takers list, you will have to scroll down a bit until you find a South African name.

Hermann Rolfes, Raynard van Tonder, Makwetu and J Pillay have all got relatively decent averages with the bat. Rolfes has led the charge in the bowling department as well with 5 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 3.85.

What to Expect

It should be a cracking encounter given the unpredictability and an element of surprise which Pakistan side brings into the contest.

#3 New Zealand vs Afghanistan (25th January)

Jakob Bhula is in terrific form

U19 Afghanistan team will look to better their 2014 performance when they square off against the hosts New Zealand in their quarter-final match on Thursday.

If you look at the highest run-getters list of this U19 World Cup, three New Zealand players feature in the top 4. Jakob Bhula who smashed 180 against Kenya leads the chart with 307 runs. He is followed by his teammate, Finn Allen.

Bhula’s opening partner Rachin Ravindra is not too far behind in fourth place. It helps the team when someone from the top order can contribute with the ball as well. Ravindra has done that job perfectly. He has taken 9 wickets and is fourth on the leading wicket-takers list.

Afghanistan started the tournament with a win over their neighbours, Pakistan. Afghanistan then showed that it was not just a one-off victory or upset when they beat Sri Lanka in their second game.

In their last group match, they lost against Ireland by a meagre margin of 4 runs. Darwish Rasooli has been their leading run scorer. Bowlers have done well for Afghanistan. But batsmen haven’t been able to convert the starts into something big.

What to Expect:

New Zealand looks to be the firm favourites to win this match. However, one should expect Afghanistan to give them a tough fight.

#4 India vs Bangladesh (26th January)

Prithvi Shaw has done well for India

This clash looks like a complete mismatch. Bangladesh had it easier in the group stages. Apart from the game against England which they lost comprehensively, they faced the lesser fancied teams like Canada and Namibia.

Indians have not put a foot wrong ever since they started the tournament with a bang by beating Aussies in their first match. They have looked the team to beat and are certainly favourites to win the World Cup.

Openers Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra have done a terrific job. Shubman Gill, when asked to open against Zimbabwe, showed his prowess at the top of the order with a scintillating inning.

However, it is their bowling that has attracted everyone’s attention. Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi have consistently clocked in the mid 140s kph range and troubled the batsmen. Spinners Anukul Roy, Abhishek Sharma have strangled the opposition in the middle overs.

If Bangladesh needs to make a match of this, then all the departments will have to fire in unison. Bangladesh openers have not been consistent. The middle order has shown some promise.

Towhid Hridoy has already got a hundred against Canada; Saif Hassan scored a quickfire 84 against Namibia. Afif Hossain too has done well. In the game against England, Bangladesh was reduced to 27/4. It was Afif Hossain’s 63 that took them to a total of 175 runs.

Afghanistan's new ball bowlers, Onik and Mahmud have provided their early breakthroughs. They will have their task cut out against an opposition whose openers have given them starts at 180, 65*and 155*.

What to expect

India happen to be the favourites to qualify for the semi-finals. If Bangladesh wants to qualify, they will need to quickly get rid of the Indian openers as the middle order has been untested and perhaps it will be their only chance for victory.