For every cricketer, there are some moments in their career that they look back to and wish could be erased from the world’s memory. For Pakistan’s young pacer Ali Raza, one of those incidents happened on Friday (January 16) during the Under-19 World Cup match against England.
He was at the non-striker’s end in the 47th over as Pakistan needed 38 runs with just one wicket left. His fellow tailender, Momin Qamar, hit the third ball to deep mid-wicket and rushed for a single. Raza reached the striker’s end comfortably but did not tap his bat in immediately. Just as the throw was coming in from the deep, he, for some reason, leaned backwards, as if to allow the ‘keeper to collect the ball.
It seemed like a normal reflex avoid being hit, but much
to Raza’s chagrin, he seemed to have forgotten to get back into his crease. Captain Thomas Rew gleefully grabbed the ball and dislodged the bails, and Raza was short. Pakistan’s last wicket fell in one of the most bizarre ways to hand them a 37-run defeat.
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It was a rain-marred match. England scored 210/10 in the first innings, led by a 66 from Caleb Falconer. Pakistan’s bowling was excellent, and Raza took two wickets, including Falconer’s.
The Boys in Green’s batting let them down. No one crossed 20 apart from captain Farhan Yousaf, who scored 65.
“Felt like we were under par at the halfway stage,” Rew said after the match. “Was a little bit low but have to say a huge thank you to the groundsmen. Getting a game was unreal. A big thing for us was not moving away from the top of the stumps. Backed it up in the field. Some good catches. We took some momentum from those first two warm-up games. We’re in good shape. Great to win our first game.”
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