Shafiqullah Ghafari spun Afghanistan to the next stages of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup after their 160-run victory over the United Arab Emirates at the North West University Oval, Potchefstroom.
The leg-spinner, the tournament find who has now picked up 11 wickets from two matches, took a five-wicket haul as UAE were bowled out for 105 chasing Afghanistan’s total of 265 for six.
The result means that the winner of South Africa’s match with UAE – who both sit on two points – on Saturday will progress through from Group D to the Super League stages alongside Afghanistan.
Batting first, Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmanullah (81) and Ishaq Shirzad (35 not out) anchored the innings for the Afghans as they scrapped their way to a competitive target.
For the UAE, only captain Aryan Lakra (28) and fellow opener Vriitya Aravind (19) were able to show any resistance at the top of the innings before the collapse after they were dismissed.
“The wicket was good for spin bowling, there was a bit of turn. I just kept at it and eventually, I got the rewards,” said Ghafari.
Afghanistan captain Farhan Zakhil concluded, saying: “I would like to thank all the players and staff for ensuring that we manage to qualify through to the next round.”


Haris heroics take 
Pakistan to next round
Pakistan sealed their passage into the next phase of the U19 World Cup after defeating a plucky Zimbabwe side by 38 runs in Potchefstroom.
Man of the Match Mohammed Haris clattered 81 from just 48 balls, featuring four sixes and six boundaries, to help his side notch 294 for nine.
“It was a great game for me. The coach just told me to relax and play my natural game, and that is what I did,” Haris said after his swashbuckling knock.
“The coach told me that if I can bat to the end (of the overs), then we will get big runs. That is what I tried to do.”
Around Haris, there were good contributions from Fahad Munir (53) and Qasim Akram (54 from 50 balls), and that ensured that the runs kept flowing, despite regular strikes from the Southern Africans. Dylan Grant returned figures of three for 46, while off-spinner Wesley Madhevere held his own against good players of slow bowling, with a tidy spell of ten overs for 42 runs.
Chasing 295 to stay in the competition, Zimbabwe certainly gave it a good go.
Madhevere, a product of St Charles College in South Africa, showed his prowess with the bat, too, starting the innings positively, with a 55-ball 53. He clubbed one six, and sprayed six other boundaries around the park, to give Zimbabwe hope.
Milton Shumba (58 from 82 balls) and skipper Dion Myers (39 from 50 balls) kept it going, but once they fell, the Zimbabwean spirit started to wilt.
Tahir Hussain finished the tail off with the ball, with figures of three for 42, while Abbas Afridi was more expensive (three for 55), but also helped himself to key wickets in the middle overs. 


Parsons’ superb century gives hosts first win
Captain Bryce Parsons led from the front as his superb century proved the catalyst for South Africa’s convincing 150-run victory over Canada in Potchefstroom. The talented all-rounder dispatched 15 fours and three sixes on his way to a Youth One-Day International (ODI) career-best score of 121 off 91 balls as the Junior Proteas posted 349 for eight.
This was before Merrick Brett (two for 32), Jack Lees (two for 39) and Tiaan van Vuuren (two for 24) shared the wickets to help dismiss the North Americans for 199 all out with 8.5 overs remaining.
In their chase, Canada took the expansive approach in their innings to score at more than five runs per over as they were aided by loose deliveries from the South Africans, before crucial inroads from Brett and Lees during the middle period.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the Canadians were anchored by Ben Calitz, before his undefeated 62 off 77 balls (6 fours) ended in vain as his side were eventually dismissed just shy of 200.
Kiwis leave it very late but prevail over Lanka
New Zealand’s Kristian Clarke struck a six off the penultimate ball of the match to help his country to a dramatic three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Group A. Clarke arrived at the crease with his side seven down, and after Sri Lanka had taken two wickets in the 49th over, including that of Beckham Wheeler-Greenall, run out for a crucial 80 off 111 balls.
He was followed a ball later by Quinn Sunde, as New Zealand suddenly looked like falling short of their testing 243-run target with 12 needed from the last over, bowled by Dilshan Madushanka.
That equation became from six from two balls when Clarke cleared his head and the ropes to spark huge celebrations from the side in black.


Scores in Brief
Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by 160 runs
Afghanistan 265-6, 50 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 87, Rahmanullah 81; Karthik Meiyappan 2-49)
UAE 105 all out, 32.4 overs (Aryan Lakra 28; Shafiqullah Ghafari 5-23, Noor Ahmad 3-30)
South Africa beat Canada by 150 runs
South Africa 349-8, 50 overs (Bryce Parsons 121, Tyrese Karelse 60 not out; Akhil Kumar 4-56)
Canada 199 all out, 41.1 overs (Benjamin Calitz 62 not out; Tiaan van Vuuren 2-24, Merrick Brett 2-32)
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by three wickets
Sri Lanka 242-9, 50 overs (Ahan Sanchitha 64; Adithya Ashok 3-38, Kristian Clarke 2-36)
New Zealand 243-7, 49.5 overs (Rhys Mariu 86, Beckham Wheeler-Greenall 80; Dilum Sudheera Thilakarathna 2-52)
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 39 runs
Pakistan 294-9, 50 overs (Mohamed Haris 81, Qasim Akram 54; Dylan Grant 3-46)
Zimbabwe 255 all out, 46.3 overs (Milton Shumba 58, Wesley Madhevere 53; Tahir Hussain 3-42)