A moment of sheer bewilderment sealed Pakistan's fate against England in their Under-19 World Cup opener in Harare on Friday. In a dramatic finish, Pakistan's Ali Raza was run out in a bizarre fashion, handing England a 37-run victory.
Pakistan, entering the tournament as reigning Asian Champions after a dominant win over India in the Asia Cup final, were considered favorites. They had restricted England to a modest 210, but a batting collapse and an inexplicable final dismissal resulted in a disappointing start to their World Cup campaign.
The incident occurred in the 47th over. With Pakistan at 173/9 and chasing 211, Raza, facing Manny Lumsden, let the ball pass to the keeper. In a moment of lost concentration, the tailender wandered out of his crease, perhaps assuming the ball was dead. England's wicketkeeper and captain, Thomas Rew, reacted swiftly, whipping off the bails and catching Raza well short of his ground.
Replays confirmed Raza's error, triggering disbelief among commentators and fans. The dismissal, described as "comical" and a "brain fade" moment, immediately went viral on social media. Many likened it to the Alex Carey-Jonny Bairstow incident in the Ashes, serving as a harsh lesson for young cricketers to remain grounded until the umpire signals the end of the play.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan's captain, Farhan Yousaf, won the toss and chose to bowl first. The decision initially paid off, with Pakistan's pace attack keeping the English batters in check. England's innings never gained momentum, as they lost wickets regularly and struggled to form substantial partnerships. Caleb Falconer, who was named Player of the Match, steadied the innings with a crucial 66 off 73 balls, supported by Ralphie Albert. Ahmed Hussain led Pakistan's bowling attack with 3 for 38, while Ali Raza, Abdul Subhan, and Momin Qamar each took two wickets.
In response, Pakistan's chase began with promise, primarily due to a composed 65 from captain Farhan Yousaf. Yousaf anchored the innings as wickets fell around him, keeping Pakistan within reach of the target. However, after Yousaf's dismissal in the 41st over, the momentum shifted in England's favor. A 48-run partnership between Yousaf and Abdul Subhan briefly revived Pakistan's hopes, but a mix-up led to Subhan's run-out.
England's Alex Green and James Minto took two wickets each, while Ralphie Albert also contributed with a couple of wickets. Manny Lumsden's late wicket and sharp fielding further solidified England's victory.
With this win, England starts their World Cup campaign on a positive note. Pakistan will face Scotland in their next match, seeking to recover from this disappointing defeat. England will face Zimbabwe in their next match on January 18.
