India became the most successful team in ICC Under-19 World Cup history after the boys in blue beat Australia by eight wickets in the final to cap a remarkable campaign.
India’s bowlers were on top of their game in the first innings as they restricted the Aussies to 216 in 47.2 overs. Four Indian bowlers chipped in with two wickets each as Jason Sangha’s team never got going despite the top six batsmen getting starts. Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy finished as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 scalps from six games.
India’s batsmen then took over with opening batsman Manjot Kalra steering the chase with a sublime century to secure the fourth ICC Under-19 World Cup title for his team, the most by any side.
Here are the talking points from the final …
SPIN RATTLES AUSSIES
Virat Kohli, Sarfraz Ahmed and Brian Lara among past Under-19 World Cup captains
The spotlight was on India’s fast bowlers Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti going into the final but it was spin that proved to be the game-changer.
Left-arm spinners Shiva Singh (2-36) and Anukul Roy (2-32) not only kept the scoring rate down but also accounted for the Aussie middle order, dismissing top-scorer Jonathan Merlo (76), Param Uppal (34), Nathan McSweeney (23) and Will Sutherland (5). The pitch offered enough assistance to the slower bowlers and Roy and Singh took full advantage.
India spinner’s accounted for Australia’s middle order.
POREL IS SPECIAL
India seamer Ishan Porel hasn’t attracted as much attention as Mavi or Nagarkoti. However, he has something the other two quicks don’t – height. Porel gets the ball to jump off a good length and has surprised batsmen in the semi-final and final. He took four wickets against Pakistan in the semis with three batsmen out fending off deliveries that bounced higher than expected. Against Australia, he accounted for openers Jack Edwards and Max Bryant, with both getting out trying to force Porel through cover.
KALRA THE LEFT-HANDED VIRENDER SEHWAG?
Opening batsmen Kalra comes from the ‘stand and deliver’ school of batting. Keeping footwork to a minimum, Kalra likes to play expansive shots from the crease along the ground and over the infield. That he bats left-handed makes his batting even more pleasing to watch.
In the final, Kalra took charge after ‘star’ players Prithvi Shaw (29) and Shubman Gill (31) got out relatively early. He found the boundary eight times and cleared it on three occasions during his knock of 101 from 102 balls. A certain Virender Sehwag would be very happy to see a youngster bat with such freedom at the top of the order in foreign conditions.
Manjot Kalra hit an unbeaten century.
INDIA’S TOP-ORDER IS TOP NOTCH
Before the final, Aussie captain Jason Sangha had said India’s middle order is not strong and hasn’t been thoroughly tested at the World Cup. In the final, the Aussies had India 131-2 chasing 217 but that is as far as they went.
Wicketkeeper Harvik Desai held his end up to allow Kalra to bat without any pressure. Another wicket or two and the Aussies could have tested India’s middle and lower order. But Kalra and Desai didn’t allow them that opportunity.
