U19 World Cup 2018: Day 2- Round up

Day two of the U19 World Cup had three games lined up at Whangarei, Lincoln and Mount Maunganui. However, all three games turned out to be one-sided affairs as Sri Lanka, South Africa and India romped home with ease in their respective encounters.

Sri Lanka was clinical in their approach and brushed aside Kenya in their opening game of the tournament at Whangarei. Ireland started well with Jamie Grassi and Mark Donegan stitching a partnership of 73 runs. However, Kamindu Mendis, the ambidextrous spinner, nipped out three vital wickets to restrict Ireland to 207/8.

The target turned out to be a cakewalk for the sub-continent team as they won by seven wickets and 75 balls to spare. Dhananjaya Lakshan notched a well-compiled 101 runs off 120 balls, which fetched him the Player of the Match award. Kamindu Mendis, the Lankan skipper, provided him apt support with a breezy knock of 74 runs off 73 balls.

South Africa also smashed their opponent, Kenya, by a mammoth 169 runs. The Proteas piled 341 runs for the loss of seven wickets courtesy Raynard van Tonder’s masterful and stupendous knock of 143 runs off 121 balls. Some useful hands by their lower order including a cameo of 36 runs off 14 balls by Gerald Coetzee propelled their score.

Kenya lost wickets at regular intervals and hardly challenged the South African attack. Jasraj Kundi top-scored for them with a knock of 41 runs while Ankit Hirani contributed 35 runs, but no other batsmen challenged the might of the Proteas attack. Nevertheless, South Africa would be disappointed that they couldn’t bowl the Kenyans out as they finished with seven wickets.

India and Australia faced each other in today’s marquee clash at the Mount Maunganui. The game turned out to be a one-sided affair as India thrashed their opponents by 100 runs. India, courtesy masterful performances by Prithvi Shaw, Manjot Kalra and Shubman Gill racked up a daunting 328 runs for Australia to trace down. Shaw was eventually declared the Player of the Match for his 94 runs.

Australia, during their chase, faltered alarmingly and hardly injected momentum into their run-chase. They kept losing wickets and simultaneously the required-rate climbed up. Jack Edwards played a well for his 73 runs, but no other batsman was able anything substantial to challenge India’s total. The likes of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti bowled with ferocity and never allowed the momentum to shift.

Brief Scores

Ireland vs Sri Lanka

Ireland 207/8 in 48 overs; Jamie Grassi 75, Mark Donegan 36; Kamindu Mendis 3/35, Jehan Daniel 1/38

Sri Lanka 208/3 in 37.3 overs; Dhananjaya Lakshan 101*, Kamindu Mendis 74*; Aaron Cawley 2/26, Max Neville 1/51

Sri Lanka beat Ireland by seven wickets

Man of the Match: Dhananjaya Lakshan

South Africa vs Kenya

South Africa 341/7 in 50 overs; Raynard van Tonder 143, Gerald Coetzee 36*; Jayant Mepani 1/60, Jasraj Kundi 2/49

Kenya 172/7 in 50 overs; Jasraj Kundi 41, Ankit Hirani 35*; Akhona Mnyaka 2/9, Kenan Smith 2/36

South Africa beat Kenya by 169 runs

Man of the Match: Raynard van Tonder

India vs Australia

India 328/7 in 50 overs; Prithvi Shaw 94, Manjot Kalra 86; Jack Edwards 4/64, Param Uppal 1/35

Australia all out in 42.5 overs; Jack Edwards 73, Baxter Holt 39; Kamlesh Nagarkoti 3/29, Shivam Mavi 3/45

India beat Australia by 100 runs

Man of the Match: Prithvi Shaw