After Akash Gill’s brilliant century guided Canada to their biggest-ever total in ICC Under-19 World Cup, the bowlers did a fine job by dismissing Papua New Guinea for just 185 to help the North American side qualify for the plate semi-final.

Gill’s century helped Canada recover from 82/4 to post 265/8. PNG had won the toss and elected to bowl which looked spot on early on. Canada lost both openers within nine overs with just 35 runs on the board. Emanuel Khokar was the first to depart after being castled by James Tau before Pranav Sharma chipped one to cover point.

A 46-run stand between Arslan Khan and Akash Gill steadied the ship for a while before PNG took command of the proceedings after taking two wickets in quick succession.

Khan was dismissed for 35 while one run later, Kevin Singh was run for a duck as Canada found themselves reeling at 82 for 4. But before PNG could make further inroads in the game, Gill and Ashtan Deosammy laid the platform for a good total by adding 104 runs for the fifth wicket.

Barring Aran Pathmanathan’s 23, the lower-order batsmen could not score much, but Gill held firm from one end to take his side to a good total. His 120-run knock, which was studded with 12 fours and a couple of sixes, was ended by Daure Agia.

In reply, PNG were off to a solid start with their openers Simon Atai and Igo Mahuru adding 68 runs for the first wicket to lay the foundation for the total. However, once Mahuru was dismissed, PNG lost their way before being eventually all out for 185. Atai top-scored for them, scoring 81 while Pathmanathan and Jamkhandi took three wickets apiece.

Brief score:

Canada 265/8 (Gill 120) beat Papua New Guinea 185 (Atai 81; Pathmanathan 3/23, Jamkhandi 3/42) by 80 runs