Three batters, two quicks and two spinners who could light up the business end of the Under-19 World Cup
Firdose Moonda30-Jan-2024India, Australia and Pakistan have emerged as frontrunners at the men’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa and are all unbeaten after the group stage. These three teams take maximum points into the Super Sixes (four each), with India boasting the highest net run-rate.The numbers are important for the next phase, where the teams that have advanced will each play two matches against sides who did not finish in the same position as them in the group stage. Essentially this means that, for now, India have avoided a clash with Pakistan and Australia will not have to face hosts South Africa. But there are still some marquee clashes on the cards in the Super Sixes as India take on New Zealand, Australia face off against England, Pakistan play Bangladesh, and South Africa have a showdown against Sri Lanka to determine who will compete in the final four. With new stars being born and the Super Sixes looming, here are seven of the brightest twinklers.Uday Saharan
India’s captain has made the most of his time in South Africa with a century in the pre-tournament triangular series, two half-centuries in two warm-up games and two more in India’s first two matches. He has also been part of two of India’s three match-winning century stands, has used himself briefly – and successfully – as a bowler, took a good running catch at point in the final group-stage match, and has led the side astutely. Saharan’s use of his bowlers, particularly Saumy Pandey in the powerplay, has been impressive and we can expect his all-round ability to be on display as the tournament nears its business end.Related
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Shahzaib Khan
The leading run-scorer from the group stage, Pakistan opener Shahzaib Khan has earned two player of the match performances for his century against Afghanistan and his unbeaten 86-ball 80 against New Zealand. The latter was particularly notable and came in a 10-wicket demolition job in which Pakistan chased 141 inside 26 overs. Shahzaib appears strong on the off side and square of the wicket and has shown the temperament to pace an ODI innings well. His challenge will come from Pakistan moving away from the coastal city of East London and to livelier surfaces in Potchefstroom and Benoni and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts his game.Steve Stolk smashed a 37-ball 86 against Scotland•ICC/Getty ImagesSteve Stolk
At just 17 years old, the strongly-built Steve Stolk has all the makings of a modern white-ball batter, most notably strength. He is South Africa’s second-highest run-scorer so far, with two half-centuries to his name and one significant record. Rishabh Pant’s 18-ball fifty in 2016 was the fastest in this format until Stolk smashed a half-century off 13 balls against Scotland, including 34 off one over to get South Africa off a rollicking start as they went after a table-topping win. They chased 270 in just 27 overs and leapfrogged both West Indies and England in Group B. So far, Stolk has the highest overall tournament strike rate of 158.16, (among batters who have scored more than 50 runs) and has also struck the most sixes with nine.Callum Vidler
Not only is Australia’s leading wicket-taker Callum Vidler quick but he has also found movement on a usually placid Kimberley pitch. Against Namibia, he kept his lengths full, generated late swing, shattered the stumps twice and found the edge to take four. Against Sri Lanka, he extracted good bounce for his three wickets. Having adjusted to conditions at the venue, he will be best placed to exploit them when Australia play their two Super Six matches there and the pace will keep coming. As he said in an interview with the ICC: “My job is to bowl fast and if anyone ever tells me to slow down, I don’t listen to that.”Vishwa Lahiru
Left-arm spinner Vishwa Lahiru has been a consistent threat in the group stage with at least two wickets in each of his matches. He has bowled with good pace and found turn and, with Sri Lanka using him as a wicket-taking option in the powerplay, has taken out top-order players in all three group stage matches. Of spinners who have taken at least seven wickets in the tournament so far, Lahiru’s economy rate of 2.50 is only bettered by Pandey.After he took five wickets, Matt Rowe was called upon to hit the winning runs in a nervy game against Afghanistan•ICC/Getty ImagesMatt Rowe
Another seamer enjoying South African surfaces is New Zealand’s Matt Rowe, who took 5 for 21 against Afghanistan to register one of his country’s three best hauls in the tournament’s history behind Trent Boult and Tim Southee. He also hit the winning runs in what turned into a nailbiter to show some nerve at the end. Overall, his six wickets have come at an average of 15.50 and an economy rate of 4.22. Among seamers who have taken six or more wickets at the tournament so far, only Australia’s Vidler and Mahli Beardman have been more miserly. New Zealand move to Bloemfontein for their Super Six matches where there has been some assistance on offer for the quicks early on and Rowe’s performances there could prove well worth watching.Tazeem Chaudry Ali
The most successful legspinner in the Super Sixes, England’s Tazeem Chaudry Ali has been effective in dismantling middle orders and did so against both South Africa and West Indies. His googly has proved difficult to pick and he has used it well so far. Despite missing his team’s opening match against Scotland, his six wickets make him their leading wicket-taker in the group stage and an economy rate of 3.00 is nothing to scoff at.