India lifted a record fourth U-19 World Cup trophy after an eight-wicket rout of Australia in the final yesterday, underlining their dominant run in the tournament and giving Rahul Dravid the biggest success of his coaching career.
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Anukul Roy, who finished with most wickets in the U-19 World Cup, is also in the ICC’s team with young speedster Kamlesh Nagarkoti being the fifth Indian player.
Australia, choosing to bat after winning the toss, was all out for 216 in 47.2 overs at Bay Oval, Tauranga. They are defending champions Australia, world champions England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and ICC Women’s World Twenty20 winners Windies. Australia had made the final five times, winning the tournament three times.
This is the second time that India have defeated Australia in the final.
Aussies were cruising at 183 for four before the Indian spinners engineered the collapse with Jason Sangha-led side losing its last six wickets for 33 runs.
The opener struck an unbeaten 101 from 102 balls with eight fours and three sixes as Dravid’s men reached their target with more than 11 overs to spare.
Jonathan Merlo from Australia played well against India and scored 76 runs alone from his team.
Manjot Kalra grabbed the opportunity with both the hands to steal the show with the bat. He was the leading run scorer having scored 372 runs. “The way they have played and executed in pressure, these kinds of things give you happiness”, the former Indian cricketer said. Kalra also became the 2nd Indian and 5th overall to score a hundred in the U-19 World Cup final.
They had a mixed start to their innings, with openers Jack Edwards and Max Bryant being caught off the bowling of Ishan Porel for 28 and 14 runs respectively.
Merlo and Param Uppal (34) were involved in a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket before the innings’ top-scorer shared 49-runs with Nathan McSweeney (23) to set the platform for a competitive total.
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The track at the Bay Oval had grass covering on it and with the wind blowing across the ground, the Indian bowlers made it hard for Australian batsmen to score runs freely. As a player, at the senior level, his best was runner-up finish at 2003 edition in South Africa were India lost to Australia.
