New Delhi: Lloyd Pope’s 8 for 35 ensured Australia’s comfortable entry into the semi-finals of the ongoing U19 Cricket World Cup. The 18-year-old sensation dismantled the England batting line-up who were chasing a paltry total of 128.
After winning the toss, Australia U19 team elected to bat first at Queenstown. They got off to a horrible start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Ethan Bamber, Dillon Pennington and Will Jacks' brilliant run with the ball ensured that the Aussies got bundled out for 127. The trio took 3 wickets each in the match. Jason Sangha (58) played the captain’s knock and saved the Australians from an embarrassing wrap-up.
It seemed like a comfortable win for the English team. The team went off to a flying start. They were cruising at 47-0 after 7 overs. But things turned downhill for England in the eighth over. After going for 6 runs in his first over, Lloyd Pope bounced back by picking up two wickets in his successive overs. After that, there was no turning back for the young sensation. Pope brought down havoc with his leg-spinners. Batsmen looked clueless in front of the leggie. The team eventually surrendered to Pope, getting all-out on 96, thereby losing the match by 31 runs. Only two English batsmen were able to manage scores in double digits.
Llyod’s figure is the best performance ever produced in an Under-19 World Cup. Even in the senior format, Chaminda Vaas from the island nation is the only bowler to have managed 8 wickets in limited over format.
Pope single-handedly ensured Australia’s berth in the semi-finals of the World Cup. He was rightfully awarded Man of the Match award for his exceptional performance.
Australian spin legend Shane Warne too expressed his happiness on social media.