Proud! Opener Manjout Kalra’s spectacular century guides Indian team to clinch Under-19 World Cup title
Mount Maunganui, February 3: Young Indian team performed incredibly well against Australia in the summit clash of ICC U-19 World Cup and clinched the trophy and made the whole country proud. Notably, Unbeaten Indian team registered a commanding victory over three-time winners Australia on Saturday after achieving a target of 217 runs by losing only two wickets in just 38.5 overs in the finals that was played at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui in New Zealand.
Dashing opener Manjot Kalra scored a spectacular century in the finals and led Indian team from the front to lift the World Cup title. He scored 101 runs and remained not out till the end, while wicketkeeper-batsman Harvik Desai scored 47 runs. Indian team coached by Rahul Dravid has made the whole country proud.
Indian skipper Prithvi Shaw gave a concrete start to the innings with Manjot Kalra but lost his wicket after scoring 29 runs. Inform batsman Shubman Gill comprehensively scored 31 runs before getting out to Australian bowler Param Uppal. For Australia, Will Sutherland and Param Uppal took 1 wickets each.
Earlier, Australia opted to bat first after winning the toss and set a target of 217 runs after losing all its 10 wickets in the big final of the Under-19 World Cup. The Indian bowlers staged a terrific comeback to dismiss Australians as Ishan Porel, Shiva Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Anukul Roy claimed two wickets each while Shivam Mavi clinched one wicket.
The Australian openers started off pretty well and scored 32 runs in just two overs with Jack Edwards and Max Bryant collecting boundaries frequently between them. The breakthrough was provided by Ishan Porel, once again getting into the thick of things and removing both openers in a span of four overs. Skipper Jason Sangha played few good shots but went hard after a ball outside off and slashed it for Harvik Desai, who had dropped a chance earlier, to take a fabulous catch.
India getting on top after clinching three wickets, spinners Shiva Singh and Abhishek Sharma showed a magnificent bowling performance and put the pressure on Australian bowlers. Merlo and Uppal played a beautiful knock to control Australian innings and led half-century partnership. The promising stand was broken by Anukul Roy. Uppal, having battled hard for 34, trying to flick one to the on-side offered a leading edge and a return catch to the left-armer.
Later, Merlo who scored 76 runs got out after lofting a reverse sweep for Shiva to give the catch in the deep and make Anukul the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Then, Baxter Holt was run out thanks to a beautiful piece of work in the field by Shiva and then Desai, Nagarkoti and Mavi returned to wipe out the tail.