Three-time champion India stormed into the ICC U-19 World Cup quarterfinals after registering a thumping 10-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in a low-scoring Group ‘B’ match on Tuesday.
Skipper Prithvi Shaw slammed a strokeful fifty while spinner Anukul Roy claimed a maiden five-wicket haul to emerge as the architects of India’s victory.
Roy was the wrecker-in-chief as he ran through the opposition, returning with impressive figures of 6.5-2-14-5 after skipper Shaw elected to field first under overcast conditions.
PNG, which last appeared in the World Cup in 2014 in the United Arab Emirates, looked clueless and folded for 64 in 21.5 over, the tournament’s lowest score so far.
India, which had inflicted a 100-run defeat on Australia in its first match, easily overhauled the target, reaching 67 for no loss in 8 overs, riding on Shaw’s unconquered 57 (39b, 12x4).
India will take on Zimbabwe next on January 19 in its last preliminary clash.
In a Group ‘D’ match, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi scalped six for 15 to skittle out Ireland for 97 in 28.5 overs. Pakistan overhauled the small target in just 8.5 overs.
The scores: Papua New Guinea 67 in 21.5 overs (Anukul Roy five for 14) lost to India 67 for no loss in eight overs (Prithvi Shaw 57 n.o.).
Ireland 97 in 28.5 overs (Shaheen Afridi six for 15, Hasan Khan three for 16) lost to Pakistan 98 for one in 8.5 overs (Zaid Alam 43 n.o., Hasan Khan 27 n.o.) .
