Potchefstroom: Cricket world is all set for the grand finale of ICC Under-19 World Cup that will be played between India and Bangladesh on February 9 here at Senwes Park. While Indian colts will take the field to defend their title Bangladesh will look to make the best use of the opportunity as the first time finalists. The big question is if the world will get a new champion or India will win the mega tournament for the fifth time, it will be known on Sunday.
But today, we will discuss those matches which went down the wire.
Top 5 matches that went down the wire in ICC U-19 World Cup history. Here are the top five thrilling encounters that are worth remembering before Sunday's ICC U-19 World Cup final between India and Bangladesh.
When Afghanistan make Australia crawl
This match, played between Afghanistan and Australia played on February 2, took an exciting turn when Australia had to struggle a lot to complete a hard-earned victory. Even before the start of this match, Australia were considered outright favourites, but when the actual battle started the Aussies found themselves in murky water.
After winning the toss, Afghan boys piled on 191 runs in allotted 50 overs. Though the target looked rather easy, Australia lost their first wicket in the very second over of their chase.
Henceforth, Afghanistan ensured that the pressure they built on the Aussies didn't get released easily. For Australia 191 started looking like an imposing target when they lost the wicket of McKenzie Harvey who played six balls and went back to the pavilion for nought.
However, Australia managed to effect a turnaround in the game and eventually won the match by four wickets with one ball remaining.
India beat archrivals Pakistan by 1 wicket
In the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup quarterfinal, archrivals India and Pakistan faced each other. The match turned into a thriller which Indian colts won by one wicket. After winning the toss, Pakistan posted paltry 137 runs in 50 overs, thanks to Babar Azam's gritty fifty.
As it looked, the target was not difficult to chase down but Pakistani bowlers made lives of Indian batsmen hell until Baba Aparajith appeared in the scene. Aparajith pulled India out of the muddle as he scored a fifty. In the end, Harmeet Singh and Sandeep Sharma completed the remaining work to earn India a one-wicket win.
When victorious New Zealand show why cricket is still gentlemen's game
In the 2020 World Cup, an exciting match was played between New Zealand and the Windies. Winning the toss, the Windies scored 235 runs in 47.5 overs. In this match, Kirk McKenzie, who stood like a rock in the middle as Windies' only hope in the game, struggling to walk on his long way back to the pavilion after getting dismissed for 99.
As he hobbled, New Zealand boys came in his aid as they lifted him on their shoulders to help him reach the pavilion. Although the target was not too big New Zealand had to struggle to fathom it. In the end, the Black Caps achieved the target with two balls remaining.
Last Ball Thriller
The ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup has also witnessed a last-ball thriller, one of the exciting elements in the spectrum of cricket.
The match was played between England and Australia. England scored 252 runs batting first. When Australia came to bat it appeared to be a battle of temperament. Throughout the match, it was difficult to predict who could be the ultimate winner.
The match went down to the wire as the Aussies required 1 run from 1 ball and they held the nerves to win the game.
A low scoring affair turns into a remarkable game
This match between Australia and England was part of the ICC U-19 World Cup 2018. In this match, the English bowlers restricted Australian batsmen to 127 runs and then the Australian bowlers rattled the English batting attack bowling them out for 96.
Though it was a low scoring game, these young boys once again showed why cricket is called the game of uncertainty.
