Under-19 World Cup: India thrashes Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets to storm in quarterfinals

Wellington, January 16: Indian cricket team defeated Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets on Tuesday in a low-scoring group B clash and swiftly stormed into the quarterfinals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup cricket. Indian bowler AS Roy picked his maiden five-wicket haul while skipper Prithvi Shaw scored second half-century of the tournament.

 

India won the toss and opted to field first which later proved the right decision as Indian bowlers quickly snatched all ten wickets. Papua New Guinea was bowled out for a paltry 64 in 21.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy claimed a maiden five-wicket haul at Bay Oval here to earn India the win. Roy emerged as the wrecker-in-chief for India as he ran through the opposition, returning with impressive figures of 6.5-2-14-5.

For Papua New Guinea, Ovia Sam and opener Simon Atai were the top- scorers of Papua New Guinea inning. India then returned to overhaul the target, reaching 67 for no loss in 8 overs, riding on Shaw's 39-ball 57 which was studded with 12 boundaries. It was Shaw's second half-century of the tournament, while Roy picked his maiden five-wicket haul in youth ODIs.

In conditions that aided swing and bounce, India fast bowler Shivam Mavi picked up two wickets, while Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Arshdeep Singh snapped one wicket each. India will play their final group game on Friday against Zimbabwe. A win in that game will ensure India's qualification to the last-8 stage. Earlier, India thrashed Australia by 100 runs in their opening group match.