Men’s Under-19 World Cup: India lost to Australia in the final
benoni (Uttam Hindu News): India failed to win the sixth title in the Under-19 ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup played at Willowmoor Park here on Sunday, losing to Australia Under-19 team by 79 runs in the final. Had to face.
This is India’s third consecutive defeat to an Australian team in a premier tournament organized by the ICC after the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
This is Australia’s fourth title at the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup, adding to their previous titles in 1988, 2002 and 2010. Five-time winners India finished runner-up for the fourth time in their ninth appearance in the final.
Fast bowler Mahali Beardman and off-break bowler Rafe McMillan took three wickets each for 15 and 43 runs respectively, while Callum Vidler took two wickets for 35 runs from 10, as India chased down the target of 254 runs in 43.5 overs. Was out on 174 runs. Lost their first match at the event.
Australia dominated in all three departments of the game and recovered from a poor start to post 253/7 in 50 overs with Harjas Singh top-scoring with 55, while Wiebgen, Harry Dixon and Ollie Peake contributed vital 40 runs apiece.
Chasing the target, India had a very poor start and lost four batsmen within the first 20 overs.
Those dismissed included Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas, their top three run-scorers in the tournament. Australia scored runs continuously and took four more wickets between overs 21–32. Despite a late charge from Abhishek Murugan (42 off 46), Australia’s victory was a mere formality, and they sealed the game in the 44th over.
Chasing the target, India suffered a setback early on when Arshin Kulkarni hit a single from behind the wicket. Adarsh Singh (47 off 77 balls) and Mushir Khan, the leading run-scorer in the event with two centuries, then proceeded cautiously. Only two fours came in the first powerplay. After the first 10 overs, Musheer (22) started playing more adventurous strokes. However, he scored 22 runs off the bowling of Mahali Beardman.
Beardman suffered another major blow when he dismissed Indian captain Uday Saharan for 8 runs. The batsman tried to push the ball from offside, but found his opposite number Wiebgen at backward point. India’s hopes took another blow when Sachin Dhaas (8) bowled Raf McMillan behind the stumps.
Soon Priyanshu Moliya and Aravelly Avneesh were out without adding much to the total. When Adarsh Singh, who fought back with a strong score of 47, was dismissed by Beardman, the writing was on the wall for India. Abhishek Murugan scored a strong 42 runs, but it was too late for his team.
Earlier, fast bowlers Raj Limbani and Naman Tiwary combined for five wickets each as India Under-19 restricted Australia to 253/7 despite a fighting half-century from middle-order batsman Harjas Singh.
Harjas scored 55 runs in 64 balls and half-centuries from opener Harry Dixon (42), captain Hugh Wiebgen (48) and Oliver Peak (46 not out) helped Australia U19 reach 253/7 in 50 overs. Helped, which is the highest score so far in the U19 World Cup final. Limbani took 3-38 for India, while Naman Tiwary took 3-63 as India broke the Australian innings at opportune times.
Harry Dixon started aggressively and scored 15 runs in the first over of Tiwari. However, Limbani provided the first blow to India, swinging one and dismissing Sam Konstas in the third over. India soon turned to spin and managed to contain the scoring rate in the first powerplay.
Dixon and Wiebgen were alert against the spinners at the start of the middle overs, while also calmly scoring runs to keep the scoreboard ticking. Australia scored 42 runs in overs 11–20, with boundaries becoming easier towards the end of that period. The return to pace yielded immediate results in the 21st over, as Tiwary dismissed Wiebgen for 48.
The left-handed batsman struck again in his next over and this time got the better of Dixon. The slower ball outfoxed the southpaw, and he edged it to Abhishek Murugan – Australia were 99/3 in the 23rd over.
After this, Harjas Singh and Ryan Hicks patiently made a comeback for Australia. Harjas, who had scored only 49 runs so far in the tournament, opened his arms by hitting a six and a four against the spin of Priyanshu Molia in the 28th over. After this they hit a flurry of fours and both added 66 runs for the fourth wicket.
Hicks was eventually out LBW to Limbani on 20, but Australia were moving at a good run rate. Harjas completed his first half-century in the Under-19 World Cup by punching a full toss off Tiwary in the 37th over – achieving the feat while hitting three fours and as many maximum sixes in 59 balls.
Soumya Pandey soon made a comeback for India by dismissing Harjas. The batsman tried to sweep Pandey towards the on-side, but missed and was out LBW.
Ollie Peake’s positive intent helped Australia take their total past 200, while India’s bowlers continued to score runs. Ultimately Australia added 66 runs in the last 10 overs.
Brief Score:
Australia U19 253/7 in 50 overs (Harjas Singh 55, Hugh Wiebgen 48, Oliver Peak 46 not out, Harry Dixon 42; Raj Limbani 3-38, Naman Tiwari 2-63) defeated India by 174 runs in 43.5 overs.
