Stage set for Super Six round of the U19 World Cup 2024

The quest for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 title is now down to 12 teams who’ll partake in a two-group Super Six clash.

The top three teams from four groups in the U19 Cricket World Cup move to the next stage of the competition. The bottom-placed sides will also remain in the competition, featuring in position place-offs. 

We recap the tournament, look at the upcoming fixtures, note key performers to date, and mark out mouth-watering contests in the Super Six.

The Format

The best performers from the preliminary stage have moved ahead to the Super Six. 

The top three teams from Groups A and D are combined in one group, while the top three teams from Groups B and C form the other group. Each team carries forward the points and NRR they earned against fellow Super Six-qualifying teams.

The sides will play only against those opponents who finished at a different position in the corresponding group. So, for instance, South Africa the toppers of Group B, will only face off against Sri Lanka (second in Group C) and Zimbabwe (third in Group C), and not Australia, the table toppers of Group C. Similarly, Nepal (third in Group D) will play against India (toppers of Group A) and Bangladesh (second position in Group A) and not Ireland, who are placed third in Group A.

Tournament Recap

Having both seen high-scoring contests and low-scoring thrillers, the tournament has seen both batters and bowlers flourish.

Group A saw India reach the summit with three wins from three in their kitty. The Tigers of Bangladesh overcame their loss to India with back-to-back wins, while Ireland qualified as the third side, based on a confident win over USA.

Group B saw several enthralling contests. The tournament hosts overcame West Indies in the opener, lost to England, and then defeated Scotland heavily to top the group. England’s chance of topping the group was ruined by a brilliant effort from the West Indies. The sides finished at second and third place respectively.

Group C had Australia, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe enter into the Super Six. The young Australians were undefeated, though they did suffer hiccups against Namibia, and faced a trying chase against Sri Lanka. The young Lions and Chevrons came at number two and three respectively.

Group D threw up the most exciting finishes of the tournament, with two contests that were decided by a margin of one wicket. Pakistan were the easy toppers, but New Zealand and Nepal had to overcome Afghanistan in one-wicket wins to seal their spot for the next stage. 

Pakistan’s duo of Shahzaib Khan and Ubaid Shah have stood out in the runs and wickets column respectively.

Shahzaib has been the lynchpin of Pakistan’s batting, and is the highest run-getter thus far. He’s followed by Jewel Andrew (196) and Musheer Khan (194)

The opener has scored 223 runs at an average of 111.5. An anchor at the top, Shahzaib gets his eye in before unleashing a vast array of strokes. He was the Player of the Match in two games for Pakistan.

Ubaid has been the new ball champion for the men in green. He’s the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, followed by Saumy Pandey, Naman Tiwari, Aakash Chand, and Khalil Ahmed. The bowlers are joint-second with eight wickets each.

His nine wickets have come at an average of 11.55. With an ability to produce prodigious movement, the bowler has been a handy operator against Afghanistan, Nepal, and New Zealand.

Watch out for

Jewel Andrew

There’s something about the West Indies and their rising stars. While Shamar Joseph made his impact felt for the senior side in Australia, the 17-year-old wicketkeeper Jewel Andrew has stood out in South Africa. He single-handedly kept West Indies alive in their tournament opener against the hosts. The team were 73/5 in a chase of 286, when Andrew’s blazing 130 from 96, inclusive of 14 fours and three sixes, meaning his team were on the brink of an improbable win. 

West Indies failed to win the game, but Andrew kept striving for better outcomes. This bore results in the next game, where his unbeaten 64* pulled the side out of trouble once more, and helped them to a five-wicket win over Scotland. Australia and Sri Lanka bowlers will have their work cut out against Jewel Andrew.

Ubaid Shah

Ubaid’s control and movement have helped Pakistan wreak havoc with the ball. Ubaid has stood out in one of the best bowling units in the tournament. As stated, he’s already the highest wicket-taker in the tournament and would look to multiply those scalps in the upcoming Super Six encounters.

The bowler has contributed in each of his three games.

He began by blowing away the Afghanistan batting line-up with his 4/26. He went on to star with a 2/48 on a slow wicket against Nepal. Finally, under overcast conditions, he got the ball to jag around and ripped apart New Zealand’s top order in Pakistan’s final group game. Ubaid’s performance was crucial to Pakistan’s success in the tournament.  

Major upcoming clashes

India v New Zealand in Bloemfontein

While the defending champions would look to continue their march towards the World Cup title, New Zealand cannot be taken lightly despite their loss to Pakistan.

The young Black Caps are brimming with exceptional talent, especially in their pace department. The likes of Matt Rowe and Mason Clarke can trouble India’s top-order, who take their time to get off the mark.

However, Bloemfontein has been India’s fortress in the tournament. Their bowling line-up has made a major impact at the venue. The likes of Saumy Pandey, Raj Limbani, and Naman Tiwari could prove to be a handful on their day.

This clash on the opening day of the Super Six stage has all the makings of a thriller.

Australia v England in Kimberley

This meeting of the youth teams of the Ashes rivals will be a face-off between two competent and familiar line-ups.

Australia U19s had recently toured England in August-September 2023. The sides played engaging cricket, with the likes of Harry Dixon, Hamza Shaikh, Callum Vidler, and Hugh Weibgen among the standout players. 

Having played their group encounters in Kimberley, Australia have greater familiarity with the conditions. However, the vibrant England side has played positive cricket throughout the tournament and can prove to be a handful if they get things right.

Fixtures

30 January

India v New Zealand in Bloemfontein

Sri Lanka v West Indies in Kimberley

Pakistan v Ireland in Potchefstroom

31 January

Nepal v Bangladesh in Bloemfontein

Australia v England in KimberleyZimbabwe v South Africa in PotchefstroomUSA v Afghanistan in Benoni (16th place play-off)

01 February

Scotland v Namibia in Benoni (16th place play-off)

02 February

India v Nepal in Bloemfontein

West Indies v Australia in Kimberley

South Africa v Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom

03 February

Pakistan v Bangladesh in Benoni

New Zealand v Ireland in Bloemfontein 

England v Zimbabwe in Potchefstroom