Pakistan wraps up U16 series 5-1 with nailbiting win

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Updated: January 20, 2017

AUSTRALIA’S Under 16s have fallen agonisingly short of victory in the final game of their six-match series against Pakistan Under 16s in Dubai.

The touring side fell four runs short of victory in the T20 match, with Pakistan wrapping up a 5-1 series victory across three one-day and three T20 matches at the ICC Academy.

In the final match of the series, Pakistan won the toss and batted first.

Two early wickets saw the hosts in early trouble, before Ruhail Nazir (57 off 47 balls) and Zainbin Farooq (36 off 23) batted strongly through the middle overs.

However, Nazir and Farooq fell in quick succession, with Farooq’s wicket sparking a collapse of 6-9 which saw Pakistan all out for 136 inside the 19th over.

Connor Sully finished with outstanding figures of 4-8 from just 2.5 overs, while Liam Marshall also chipped in with two wickets.

In response, Australia’s chase started in promising fashion, as Connor Smith (14), Mackenzie Harvey (32) and Zane Keighran (22) all got starts.

But Pakistan picked up wickets at regular intervals, as the visitors were left requiring close to 40 runs off the final five overs, with six wickets in hand.

Ollie Davies (33 off 25) and Liam Scott (15) played important roles, however, the Australians lost three wickets in the final over to finish their 20 overs at 8-132.

Mohammad Taha was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, finishing with 4-26 off his four overs.