Christchurch: India reaffirmed their supremacy in age-group cricket as they walloped arch rivals Pakistan by 203 runs to seal their sixth ICC U-19 cricket World Cup final spot, here Tuesday.
Punjab sensation Subhman Gill (102 n o, 94b, 7×4) held the Indian innings together when twice they looked to have stuttered. Then the lanky Bengal pacer Ishan Porel (4/17) snuffed out Pakistan’s chase by dismissing four of Pakistan’s top five batsmen in an intense spell. It proved too hard for Pakistan as they chasing a winning target of 273, folded for a paltry 69 in 29.3 overs.
Fielding also played an important role in India’s crushing win. While Pakistan dropped four catches and missed three easy run out chances, two brilliant catches by skipper Prithvi Shaw (slip) and Shivam Mani (deep fine-leg) started Pakistan’s collapse as both the openers were back in the hut with the score 13 for two. India will now meet Australia in the final for the title which they had last won in 2012 under Unmukt Chand.
“It was an outstanding performance from the bowlers as well as the batsmen. I am very satisfied with the performance. I am expecting an exciting contest against Australia in the final. I would also like to thank the crowd for their support,” Shaw said after the match.
India started off in brilliant fashion with openers Shaw (41, 42b, 3×4, 1×6) and Manjot Kalra (47, 59b, 7×4) putting on 89 runs in 15.3 overs. But it could have been a different tale had Shaheen Afridi (Shahid Afridi’s nephew) not missed an easy chance to run out Shaw. Off the next ball, Mohammad Zaid Alam put down Kalra. Eight deliveries, Kalra again survived as Zaid once more missed a sitter in the slips.
After, the two fell in quick succession, Gill took over. With the pitch on the slower side, Gill got enough time to play the pull shot both in front and square of the wicket off pacers Arshad Iqbal, Afridi and Musa Khan. There were flowing on-drives, the cheeky ramp shot as he worked on the extra bounce. He also played the slog sweep repeatedly off left-arm spinner Mohammed Taha.
“I rate this innings very highly as it was against Pakistan. The pitch was on the slower side and it was not easy for strokeplay. I am happy to have got the man of the match award,” Gill said after the game.
While defending the total, it was a walk in the park for the Indians as the Pakistanis once again found Mavi (4-3-6-0) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s (5-1-7-0) pace too hot to handle. The pressure created by them enabled Porel to run through the top order. Then the slow bowlers – left-arm spinner Shiva Singh (2/20) and off-break bowler Riyan Parag (2/6) blew away the lower order.
Cash award announced
New Delhi: The BCCI will announce cash awards for the Indian players for reaching the final of the U-19 cricket World Cup and also felicitate them, acting president CK Khanna said here Tuesday. “I would like to congratulate the entire team and coach Rahul Dravid for this performance. The BCCI will announce cash awards and also felicitate the team,” Khanna stated.
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