Pakistan came out on top by 23 runs against Sri Lanka in the 24th match of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Mirpur stadium today to secure top spot in Group B and a place in the quarterfinals against West Indies on February 8.

Pakistan defended the below-par total of 212 runs as their bowlers rose to the occasion and broke the back of Sri Lanka with wickets at decisive moments of the match.

Shadab Khan was the most successful bowler for Pakistan with three wickets for 31 runs in 8.4 overs. Sameen Gul, Hasan Mohsin and Ahmad Shafiq took two wickets each.

For Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis was the linchpin in their batting line-up, and kept his side in the match with 68 runs when wickets fell around him. Vishad Randika contributed with 46 runs.

Sri Lanka lost their final wicket in the 47th over when Shadab ripped a legbreak from outside off to take Fernando’s edge to slip. Celebrations begin in the Pakistan camp…

Nimesh was dismissed for four runs in the 47th over by Shadab to bring Pakistan to the cusp of victory.

Daniel was the eighth man down for Sri Lanka when Gul got his man in the 44th over. Sri Lanka reeling at 178 for 8

Randika contributed to his team’s cause, and was the seventh wicket to fall for Sri Lanka. He scored 46 from 71 balls with five fours.

Wanidu fell for eight runs in the 37th over when he skewed his shot and was safely caught at long-off.

When chips were down, Pakistan struck at the right time to break the fifth-wicket resistance of Sri Lanka in the 35th over.

Arsal Sheikh gave Pakistan the big wicket of Mendis, when the Sri Lankan batter fell to a soft dismissal. Mendis decided to take on the long-on fielder, but ended up lifting the ball straight into the hands of Umar.

Mendis was the mainstay of his side’s chase, scored 68 runs from 104 balls with five fours to his name. He was instrumental in the 84-run 5th wicket stand in 19.4 overs that took Sri Lanka close to their target.

Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis stabilized the innings after the early jitters, and with Randika managed to fight back during the fifth wicket stand.

Mendis gave his side the confidence to win, and reached his fifty after playing 77 balls. Together with Randika, Mendis kept the Pakistani bowlers at bay with sensible cricket.

The fifth wicket unbroken partnership of 74 runs in 16.2 overs allowed Sri Lanka to fancy their chances of a victory.

Pakistan were on top after they took the fourth Sri Lankan wicket inside the 15th over, and the bowlers responded with disciplined spells from both ends.

Shadab Khan’s googly was too good for Ashan, who pulled the shortish delivery straight into the lap of square leg. It was a long-hop, but Ashan picked up the fielder after getting off the mark.

After the third-wicket stand stabilized the Sri Lankan innings, Pakistan struck in the 14th over to dismiss Asalanka for 13.

Asalanka faced 21 balls, and looked to consolidate but his sweep shot found the fielder at fine leg. Poor shot from the Sri Lankan batter!

Pakistan new ball bowler Hasan Mohsin gave his side a great start when he took two early wickets to rock Sri lanka early.

Sri Lanka lost their second wicket in the sixth over, when a superb delivery from Mohsin took the edge of Bandara’s bat. Bandara tried to steer the ball to third man. He scored 14 from 18 balls with three hits to the fence.

Pakistan strike early…Hasan Mohsin gave the first breakthrough in the second over. Fernando went to a spectacular slip catch after he scored only two runs.

Replays showed the fielder had his fingers cleanly under the ball, and the third umpire ruled in favour of the bowler.

Earlier, Pakistan were restricted to a below-par total of 212 by Sri Lanka in the 24th match of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Mirpur stadium today.

Sri Lankan bowlers took wickets at key junctures of the match to throw a spanner in Pakistan’s works. They kept on coming hard at the opposing batters, and their in-your-face style of cricket paid rich dividends.

Hasan was the topscorer for Pakistan with 86. Sri Lanka’s Nimesh, Silva and de Silva took two wickets each.

Ahmad Shafiq was the last man to be out for Pakistan in the 49th over when his partner left him high and dry in an attempt to take a run.

Hasan Mohsin, who held fort and steered Pakistan’s innings to a position of relative safety departed in the 49th over to signal the end of his team’s resistance.

Hasan went for the reverse sweep, but the bowler saw it coming and delivered a flatter ball that knocked over the leg stump. Pakistan batter scored 86 valuable runs, faced 86 balls and smashed eight fours and a six during his 106-minute stay at the crease.

Pakistan were eight down in the 48th over after Silva clean bowled Sameen Gul for one run. The batsman went for a wild slog sweep, missed the good length ball and was back in the dressing room.

Sri Lanka’s Nimesh got his second wicket of the day after dismissing Hasan earlier when he got the better of Shadab Khan in the 46th over.

Shadab played for the turn, offered a gap between bat and pad, while the ball sneaked in and crashed on to the stumps.

Sri Lanka were tightening the noose around Pakistan with crucial wickets late in the innings.

Pakistan slid further with Hasan’s wicket in the 43 rd over. Hasan came down the track, got under the ball well enough but lacked the power to clear the fence. He went for five.

After Pakistan pulled things back with their fourth-wicket stand, Sri Lanka struck in the 41st over to dent their opponents’ hopes of a challenging total.

Salman Fayyaz was dismissed for a well-made 33. He contributed significantly to the 61-run stand for the 4th wicket, and needed to stay at the wicket for the death overs.

The Pakistan batter played 49 balls, struck three fours and a six in his knock.

Pakistan were reeling after the 27th over, with Umair Masood running himself out. A direct throw from the deep, and the batsman miles out…pointless cricket, a wicket thrown away.

Umair managed 10 runs from 18 balls before poor running between the wicket sent him back to the pavilion.

Sri Lanka found themselves in the driver’s seat with the wicket of Mohammad Umar in the 20th over. Pakistan were under the pump at 70 for 3.

Silva got one to turn big, and Umar went for the charge, but the batsman missed and the wicketkeeper did the rest. Umar scored 26 from 54 balls, got his eye in but failed to carry on.

Sri Lankan bowlers get their reward for persistence…good overs result in a timely wicket. Pakistan lost their second wicket, that of Saif Badar in the 19th over.

Saif lunged forward and across to block the ball bowled flatter from de Silva, but ended up with an inside edge to the stumps. He looked settled at the crease, faced 42 balls, scored 24 with three hits to the fence.

Sri Lanka got their first breakthrough after a wayward start from their seamers, and Zeeshan Malik was the batsman to fall in the fifth over.

Fernando’s prolonged appeal was followed by the umpire responding in his favour, and the Hawkeye showed the ball would have clipped the wicket.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss, and decided to field first against Pakistan with the overhead conditions in mind.

With qualification for the quarter-finals ensured for both teams, Pakistan and Sri Lanka came out to face each other in the 24th match of the ICC U19 CWC to determine which side would finish on top on Group B.

Pakistan batsman plays a shot during the ICC U19 CWC 2016 in Bangladesh. File Photo: ICC

Teams

Pakistan: Gohar Hafeez (capt), Muhammad Asad, Saif Ali, Saif Badar, Sameen Gul, Salman Fayyaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Khan, Irfan Liaqat, Hasan Mohsin, Umair Masood, Zeeshan Malik, Arsal Sheikh, Ahmad Shafiq. Mohammad Umar.

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (capt), Sammu Ashan, Kaveen Bandara, Jehan Daniel, Avishka Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Charana Nanayakkara, Thilan Nimesh, Vishard Randika, Lahiru Samarakoon, Damitha Silva.