PNG’s Chad Soper and India’s Ravikant Singh took five wickets each but the latter walked away with the player of the match award for bowling his side to a 107-run victory in an ICC U-19 World Cup encounter on Thursday. Ravikant’s spell helped India qualify for the Super League quarter-finals.

Soper, a right-arm medium pacer, bowled superbly by ripping through India’s lower-order after having earlier claimed the prized scalp of India captain Unmukt Chand to finish with five for 32. India was bowled out for 204 in 45.1 overs.

Vijay Zol was the best of the Indian batsmen, top scoring with 72 (95b, 8x4).

PNG, in its chase, never threatened India and was bowled out for 97. Chris Kent (27) and Charles Amini (28) were the only players to offer any resistance.

Ravikant Singh was devastating with the ball for India taking five wickets in his nine overs, including two maidens.

Meanwhile, the quarter-final line-up of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 was completed on Thursday with all the Full Members with the exception of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe progressing to the Super League stage. On Thursday, as many as four sides confirmed their berths in the Super League quarter-finals, which will be played in Townsville on 19 and 20 August.

In Group A, England defeated Nepal by 126 runs in front of ESPN STAR Sports’ HD cameras to set up a quarter-final meeting with South Africa, who had qualified for the last eight stage on Wednesday. In Group C, India outsmarted Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 107 runs to book a date with traditional rival Pakistan, who defeated New Zealand by five wickets to remain unbeaten in Group B. Both the England-South Africa and India-Pakistan quarter-final matches will be played at the Tony Ireland Stadium on Sunday and Monday, respectively, and will be covered live by ESPN STAR Sports.

New Zealand’s defeat to Pakistan meant it finished second in Group B and as such, will play its quarter-final against the West Indies on Monday. The West Indies topped Group C after defeating Zimbabwe by six wickets. Thursday’s final qualifier was Bangladesh, who had an easy win over Namibia by seven wickets. Bangladesh will now play defending champion and host Australia on Sunday. Australia had booked its quarter-final berth on Tuesday. The New Zealand-West Indies and Australia-Bangladesh quarter-final matches will be played at Endeavour Park in Townsville.

The two Test nations failing to reach the Super League stage are Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka finished third in Group D after losses to Bangladesh and South Africa, while Zimbabwe’s only victory in Group C came against Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, along with Afghanistan, Ireland, Namibia, Nepal, PNG and Scotland now will regroup in Brisbane and will compete in the Plate Championship, which will also start from Sunday.

Players who stole the limelight on the sixth day of the tournament included England’s Ben Foakes (92) and Shozair Ali (4-37), India’s Vijay Zol (72), Prashant Chopra (58) and Ravikant Singh (5-21), PNG’s Chad Soper (5-32), West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite (70 not out) and Bangladesh’s Liton Das (70 not out).

Bangladesh beat Namibia

Bangladesh locked the door on Asian rival Sri Lanka with a comfortable seven wickets victory over Namibia at Peter Burge Oval in Brisbane.

Namibia won the toss and batted first, hoping to strike the sort of batting form that might lead its opponents into a costly misstep.

But Bangladesh did not let things slip, restricting its opponents to 151 in the final over despite a gutsy 40 (70b, 2x6) from Namibia captain Stephan Baard.  Paceman Abu Jayed was tidy, finishing with three from 29 from eight overs.

Bangladesh opener Liton Das ensured there were no hiccups against the qualifiers, with his composed 70 not out (115b, 5x4) steering his side to 155 for three from 37 overs.


England reach Super League quarter-finals

Another impressive knock by wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes and some hostile pace bowling by Shozair Ali helped England defeat Nepal by 126 runs to finish second behind Australia in Group A.

Foakes missed a century by eight runs but his 92 (84b, 7x4,3x6) was the centre-piece of England’s 274 for seven, which also featured a half-century from Ben Duckett (55, 33b, 6x4, 1x6).

Despite a half-century from Nepal opener Subhash Khakurel, Nepal’s run-chase was never allowed to flourish as Ali and fellow new ball partner Reece Topley rattled through the line-up to dismiss the Nepal for 148.

Ali, a Warwickshire quick bowler, finished with four for 37 from 10 overs while the rangy Topley was also eye-catching with three for 10 from seven overs.

Pakistan top Group B

A clinical performance by Pakistan provided it with an ideal preparation for its quarter-final clash with traditional rival India.

New Zealand, batting first, stuttered to 152 for eight with Robert O’Donnell (29) and Henry Walsh (33) netting 51 runs for the fourth wicket. For Pakistan, wickets were shared between all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz (two for 32), right-arm fast bowler Ehsan Adil (two for 21) and 17-year-old left-arm quick Zia-ul-Haq (two for 27).

When Pakistan batted, Nawaz followed up his two for 32 with a 23 not out (20b, 1x4, 2x6) to not only win the player of the match award but also for ensuring his side’s five-wicket win with more than 18 overs to spare.

Pakistan captain Baba Azam praised the composure of his team. “We were confident we would go well and I was very pleased with the way we worked together as a unit today. We have enjoyed our cricket so far and now we are into the quarter-finals, I think we can continue to improve,” he said.

West Indies relegate Zimbabwe to Plate Championship

Zimbabwe needed a convincing win over the West Indies to give itself a chance of qualifying for the Super League quarter-final. However, at Endeavour Park, Zimbabwe lost by six wickets and will now have to compete in the Plate Championship.

West Indies’ Test opener and captain Kraigg Brathwaite struck form at the right time as he returned unbeaten on 70, even as his side achieved the modest victory target of 149 with six wickets and almost 15 overs to spare.

Brathwaite said it was good to get some runs on the board today.

“I was looking for a hundred actually but I was just taking my time and getting into it. I am really pleased with our fast bowlers, they are really hitting their straps and backing themselves and looking to bowl fast which is a good sign for us,” he said.

Scores in brief:

Group A - England beat Nepal by 126 runs, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
England 274 for seven, 50 overs (Ben Foakes 92, Ben Duckett 55, Alex Davies 45; Rahul Vishvakarma 3-62, Avinash Karn 2-60)
Nepal 148 all out, 46 overs (Subash Khakurel 55, Hasim Ansari 35; Shozair Ali 4-37, Reece Topley 3-10)
Player of the match – Ben Foakes (England)

Group B - Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets, Kev Hackney Oval, Sunshine Coast
New Zealand 152 for eight, 50 overs (Henry Walsh 33; Ehsan Ali 2-21, Zia-ul-Haq 2-27, Mohammad Nawaz 2-32)
Pakistan 153 for five, 31.2 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 40, Saad Ali 32; Theo van Woerkom 2-43)
Player of the match – Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)

Group C - India beat PNG by 107 runs, Endeavour Park 1, Townsville
India 204 all out, 45.1 overs (Vijay Zol 72, Prashant Chopra 58, Smit Patel 30; Chand Soper 5-32, Toua Tom 2-26)
PNG 97 all out, 31.5 overs (Charles Amini 28, Chris Kent 27; Ravikant Singh 5-21, Baba Aparajith 2-16, Kamal Passi 2-18)
Player of the match – Ravikant Singh (India)

Group C - West Indies beat Zimbabwe by six wickets, Endeavour Park 2, Townsville
Zimbabwe 148 for eight, 50 overs (Malcolm Lake 31, Nyasha Mayavo 30; Akeal Hosein 2-16, Justin Greaves 2-28, Jerome Jones 2-40)
West Indies 150 for four, 35.1 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 70 not out, Kyle Mayers 30 not out; Kieran Geyle 2-28)
Player of the match - Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies)

Group D - Bangladesh beat Namibia by seven wickets, Peter Burge Oval, Brisbane
Namibia 151 all out, 49.4 overs (Stephan Baard 40; Abu Jayed 3-29, Naeem Islam Jnr 2-19, Taskin Ahmed 2-29)
Bangladesh 155 for three, 37 overs (Liton Das 70 not out, Anamul Haque 32)
Player of the match – Liton Das (Bangladesh)

Quarter-finals line-up
Super League
*Sun 19 Aug – South Africa v England, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
Sun 19 Aug – Australia v Bangladesh, Endeavour Park 2, Townsville
*Mon 20 Aug – Pakistan v India, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
Mon 20 Aug –West Indies v New Zealand, Endeavour Park 1, Townsville

Plate Championship
Sun 19 Aug – Afghanistan v PNG, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Sun 19 Aug – Zimbabwe v Scotland, Peter Burge Oval, Brisbane
Mon 20 Aug – Sri Lanka v Nepal, Peter Burge Oval, Brisbane
Mon 20 Aug – Ireland v Namibia, WEP Harris Oval, Brisbane