Lincoln: Pacer Josh Hazlewood scalped four Pakistani wickets to help Australia won U-19 World Cup final by 25 runs. Australia have won this tournament for the third time.
Pakistan were favourties coming into this tournament, and at 69 for 1, it seemed they were on their way to another title. But the introduction of Doran into the attack turned the game, and Hazlewood returned to inflict further damage and shut Pakistan out.
A close encounter nevertheless, quite unlike what their senior teams have managed Down Under. The wicket of Hammad Azam, of course, was critical.
Earlier, Pakistan's Under-19 players have given themselves a strong chance to do something the senior team hasn't managed recently after limiting Australia to 207 for 9 in the World Cup final.
After winning the toss and choose to bowl first, the Pakistani openers struck some key blows before the spinners suffocated the middle order. Kane Richardson muscled a run-a-ball 44 and Tim Armstrong compiled 37 as they were able to escape towards the end of the innings to post a respectable total.
Richardson, who was called in to play instead of Nick Buchanan, showed his power with two sixes and three fours, including 16 off five balls from Hammad Azam, before he holed out to long-on. Sarmad Bhatti followed up by bowling Armstrong next ball, missing the hat-trick but picking up 3 for 33.
Under sunny skies, Australia fell to 23 for 3 on a brown surface and were relieved when Jason Floros and Alex Keath combined for 57, but those two departed quickly to leave the side at 82 for 5.
The legspinners Usman Qadir, who had 10-0-35-0, and Ahmed Shehzad (7-0-22-0) added to the confusion before the offspiner Babar Azam was brought on.
Babar picked up Tom Triffitt (21) with an edge from an attempted cut, dropping Australia to 127 for 6, but gave up 12 in the last of his six overs when taken for a six and a four by Richardson. In all the slow men delivered 33 overs for 112 runs.
Josh Hazlewood is the Man of the Match for his four-for.
Brief scores
Australia U-19s: 207 for 9 (Richardson 44, Armstrong 37, Sarmad Bhatti 3-33)
Pakistan U-19s: 182 (Azeem Ghumman 41, Ahmed Shehzad 36, Hazlewood 4-30, Doran 3-32)
Result: Australia Under-19 won by 25-runs and U-19 World Cup 2010
MOM: JR Hazlewood (Australia Under-19s)