Abu Dhabi: Afghanistan caused a major upset in the ICC Under-19 World Cup when they defeated three-time champions and 2012's runners-up Australia by 36 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 2 here Monday.
Half-centuries by Mohammad Mujtaba, Ihsanullah and Hashmatullah Shaidi helped Afghanistan post a respectable 253 in 49.2 overs before fast bowler Abdullah Adil and left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf shared seven wickets between them to bowl Australia out for 217.
Mujtaba (75, 102b, 5x4, 2x6) and Ihsanullah (63, 78b, 8x4) added 126 runs for the second wicket and later Hashmatullah (57, 64b, 7x4) provided a late impetus to Afghanistan's innings after they had elected to bat first.
In turn, Australia managed just one partnership of note when for the fourth wicket, Jake Doran (45) and Damien Mortimer (43) put on 70 runs as they were bowled out for 217 in 48 overs with James Bazley top scoring with 54 not out. Abdullah returned figures of 9-0-45-4 while Sharafuddin had figures of 9-1-55-3.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 253 all out in 49.2 overs (Mohammad Mujtaba 75, Ihsanullah 63, Hashmatullah Shaidi 57; Cameron Valente 3/59, James Bazley 3/69) beat Australia 217 all out in 48 overs (James Bazley 54 not out, Jaron Morgan 47, Jake Doran 45; Abdullah Adil 4/45, Sharafuddin Ashraf 3/55).
