Bulawayo, Jan 27 (NationPress) India has ascended to the top of the Group 2 leaderboard following a dominant victory over Zimbabwe in the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup. Pakistan, on the other hand, also moved closer to the semifinals with a strong win against New Zealand. The latest results in Group 2 have set the stage for a thrilling encounter between India and Pakistan on Sunday.

Pakistan showcased their prowess at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup with a commanding eight-wicket triumph over New Zealand.

In a remarkable all-round performance, Pakistan successfully chased down a modest target of 111 runs in just 17.1 overs. This significant victory keeps Pakistan firmly in contention for a semi-final berth. Currently sitting third in the standings, behind England and India, they boast a solid net run rate of +1.484, which could prove vital if there is a tie at the top of the table.

Choosing to field first, Pakistan's fast bowlers capitalized on the favorable seaming conditions at the Harare Sports Club. Ali Raza initiated the wickets by trapping Marco Alpe leg before wicket. Raza ended with impressive figures of three wickets for 36 runs across seven overs, while Abdul Subhan delivered a match-winning performance with 4/11 from 6.3 overs.

For New Zealand, opener Hugo Bogue scored the highest for his side with a brisk 36 runs, including six fours and two sixes. However, the Pakistan bowling lineup ensured that the Black Caps struggled to form any partnerships.

In the second innings, rising talent Sameer Minhas spearheaded the chase with a second consecutive half-century in the tournament. Minhas scored an unbeaten 76, sealing the victory with an emphatic six.

India, meanwhile, cruised to a resounding 204-run win over Zimbabwe, reclaiming their lead in Group 2.

Batting first, Indian openers Aaron George and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi laid a quick 44-run foundation. Despite George's dismissal, Sooryavanshi maintained the momentum, reaching his half-century.

Zimbabwe managed to regain some control, dismissing the 14-year-old and Vedant Trivedi within five overs.

However, Malhotra and Abhigyan Kundu formed a solid partnership to steer India away from danger, with Malhotra hitting India's first century of the tournament and Kundu contributing a vital 61 off 62 balls. Khilan A. Patel added a quick-fire 30 runs off just 12 deliveries, propelling India to a total of 352/8 from their 50 overs.

In pursuit of a daunting target, Zimbabwe lost their top order quickly, including Nathaniel Hlabangana, Dhruv Patel, and Brendon Senzere. Kian Blignaut and Leeroy Chiwaula tried to stabilize the innings, with Chiwaula scoring a resilient half-century.

However, Ayush Mhatre and Udhav Mohan each took three wickets, ensuring India limited Zimbabwe to just 148 runs after a dramatic lower-order collapse.

This victory leaves only three teams in Group 2, India, England, and Pakistan, vying for the semi-final spots, setting the stage for an exciting clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday.