ICC U-19 WC: Pak, SA square off in quarterfinals

Two-time champion Pakistan will lock horns with in-form South Africa in the quarterfinal of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup on Wednesday.

Pakistan bowlers will be tested to the hilt against South Africa's batsmen.

Two-time champion Pakistan will lock horns with in-form South Africa in the quarterfinal of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup on Wednesday.

Pakistan was handed a humiliating defeat by Afghanistan in its tournament opener. However, it gave a good account of itself in an impressive nine-wicket win over minnow Ireland.

Left-arm medium pacer Shaheen Afridi - nine wickets from three games - starred with the ball snapping up six wickets to restrict Ireland to a paltry total of 97.

However, batting seems to be its Achilles Heel, with wicketkeeper-batsman Rohail Nazir topping the batting chart for the team with just 99 runs at 33.33.

Meanwhile, South Africa, which lifted the world title in 2014, has been spurred by the raging form of skipper Raynard van Tonder.  Raynard's 143 against Kenya got the Proteas off to a winning start.

Wicket-keeper batsman Wandile Makwetu and all-rounder Hermann Rolfes have added valuable runs with the bat. Rolfes tops the bowling chart with five wickets and his recent innings of  108 runs - despite coming in a losing cause against New Zealand - will have South Africa feeling good about its chances ahead of the knockout encounter.