Stats: Batsmen who've scored centuries in the U19 World Cup final

In what was a blockbuster U19 World Cup final between India and Australia, opener Manjot Kalra played the starring role and assured a victory for India with his sparkling century. The Indian team had one hand on the trophy by the end of the first innings where the bowlers successfully tamed the Aussies by restricting them to 216 runs on a pitch that was a belter and where 260 was the par score.

It was followed by Kalra and Prithvi Shaw utilizing the power play to the fullest as they scored quick runs in the opening partnership. Shaw was dismissed relatively early, and so was Man of the Series Shubman Gill. However, Kalra was comfortable and even though commentators and analysts kept pointing out his lack of footwork, he made it clear that technique works differently for different players.

In his 101-run knock, Kalra scored eight fours and three sixes, making sure that India’s untested lower middle order didn’t have to bat at all. India scored 220 runs losing only 2 wickets in a matter of 39 overs. He proved that India had a different match-winner in every game. He pulled off today what Unmukt Chand did in the 2012 finals against the same opposition and made it into the list of those who have scored a century in a U19 World Cup final.

Topping the list is the then skipper Unmukt Chand with his 111* against Australia in Queenstown in 2012. There is Brett Williams of Australia second on the list with his 108 against Pakistan in 2008 in Adelaide. Then there is Stephen Peters of England who scored 107 against New Zealand at Johannesburg in 1998. Manjot Kalra is the fourth highest score in the list of those with a century in finals. Australia’s Jarrad Burke’s unbeaten 100 came against South Africa in 2002 at Lincoln. Interestingly, all of these five centuries have come while chasing and in a winning cause.

Here is the list of batsmen who’ve scored centuries in the U19 World Cup final: