A brilliant century by Manjot Kalra, backed up by able bowling performances by Ishan Porel, Shiva Singh, Ankul Roy and Kamlesh Nagarkoti sealed the deal for the Indian side in the ICC U-19 World Cup final at the Bay Oval on Saturday.
Even with a short rain-delay during the Indian innings, the Rahul Dravid-coached team did not lose their momentum. P.P. Shaw, Shubman Gill and H.M. Desai, with the steadying force of Kalra on the other end of the wicket, slowly chipped away at the 217 total the Australians had set for them.
Shaw fell early to Sutherland in the 11th over, bowled out. Gill was bowled out by Param Uppal at the 21st over.
Earlier, Australia, who got off to a good start after skipper Jason Sangha won the toss, was all out for 216 in 47.2 overs. The openers were dispatched back to the pavillion fairly quickly by Ishan Porel and save for Jonathan Merlo's solid 76, the Australian side fell like a house of cards. Merlo's was the highest score in the side.
The Indian bowling side functioned brilliantly, with Porel, Shiva Singh, Roy and Kamlesh Nagarkoti taking two wickets apiece. Singh, who was the only bowler to bowl his full 10 overs, was the most economical, with a run rate of 3.6.
Gill was awarded Man of the Tournament, while Kalra was Man of the Match.
Teams:
India U-19: Prithvi Shaw (captain), Manjot Kalra, Shubman Gill, Harvik Desai(wk), Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Anukul Roy, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Shiva Singh, Ishan Porel
Australia U-19: Jack Edwards, Max Bryant, Jason Sangha(captain), Jonathan Merlo, Param Uppal, Nathan McSweeney, Will Sutherland, Baxter J Holt(wk), Zak Evans, Ryan Hadley, Lloyd Pope
(With inputs from IANS)
