U19 World Cup 2018: India vs Australia - 5 Talking Points

Australia and India locked horns in the day’s most anticipated contest at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Both teams looked in good shape ahead of the tournament and the contest was expected to be a thriller. However, the game turned out to be a one-sided affair as India humbled the Aussies by 100 runs.

India posted a massive score courtesy impressive performances by their top and middle order. Their bowlers followed it up by dismantling the Kangaroos for 228 runs and started India’s campaign on a grand note. In our article, we take you through five talking points from the Day/Night encounter.

#1 Prithvi Shaw rides his luck, but missed century

Prithvi Shaw’s campaign in the World Cup started on a scratchy, yet impressive note as he played a decent hand of 94 runs in 100 balls. He was no mood to grind as he laid into the Aussie bowlers right from the outset. Meanwhile, he also gave Australia a couple of chances.

However, to his relief, he got reprieves on both occasions. He played some delightful strokes to start his knock, but edged Will Sutherland’s first delivery of the over to wicket-keeper Baxter Holt when he was on 25 runs. Nevertheless, replays showed that Sutherland’s foot breached the bowling crease.

Later on, he top-edged a delivery off Jack Edwards, but the ball ended up in noman’s land. After reaching his half-century, Shaw’s innings gained momentum as he creamed the bowlers and looked set to notch a century. However, he nicked Sutherland’s delivery in the 30th and fell short of the ton.

#2 India’s highest U19 opening stand

The pitch at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui was an absolute belter and both the openers laid into the bowling attack. During Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra’s stint at the wicket, the Aussie bowlers haplessly tried to get under the skins of Shaw and Kalra, but all in vain.

Both complimented each other well and compiled useful knocks for their sides. Along with Shaw, Manjot Kalra ripped apart the bowlers through some exquisite shots. Meanwhile, the stand of 180 runs between Shaw and Kalra registered India’s highest opening stand in Under-19 World Cups.

They broke Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan’s stand of 175 runs against Scotland in 2004. The partnership ended with Shaw’s dismissal. Manjot Kalra also perished to an outstanding catch by Jason Sangha for 86 runs off 99 balls. However, they had set a platform for an onslaught in the final overs.

#3 Australia’s catching woes

Catches win matches- As per the saying, holding on to catches are paramount in order for a team to emerge victorious, especially on tracks where wickets are hard to come by. However, Australia dropped three of them during their opening encounter against India at the Bay Oval.

Leg-break bowler Lloyd Pope had a tough day in the as he faltered frantically in the field. With the ball, he was entrusted with only three overs in which he conceded 22 runs. To add insult to injury, he also dropped a couple of catches in the outfield.

He first dropped Himanshu Rana at mid-off when the right-hander attempted to go downtown. Pope gave him another lifeline when he grassed Rana’s catch, this time at the deep fine-leg region. Shubman Gill’s catch was also spilt after he reached his magnificently compiled half-century.

#4 Fast bowlers shining for India

Australia have a strong batting lineup and the target of 328 was daunting but wasn’t insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination. However, the Indian bowlers, especially the fast-bowlers strangled the Aussie batsmen by hitting immaculate channels.

The likes of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti bowled with venom and got under the skins of the Aussie batsmen. They speedometer clocked 140kmph on a consistent basis and both pacers displayed top-notch form. Nagarkoti recorded the fastest delivery of the game with a speed of nearly 140kmph.

Nagarkoti nipped out three wickets in the form of Max Bryant, Austin Waugh and Will Sutherland and also bowled 23 dot-balls in his quota. Mavi was equally impressive as he picked up three wickets to show for his efforts, including the wicket of an ominous-looking Jonathan Merlo.

#5 Jack Edwards’ lone hand

Australia struggled throughout their run chase and were never in contention to chase down India’s mammoth target. The required-rate kept climbing and Australia slumped further as their innings progressed. However, opener Jack Edwards was their lone ranger who put his hand up.

With a knock of 73 runs off 90 balls, Edwards tried his heart out and expertly staved off India’s bowlers. However, he received minimal support from the other hand, which allowed the run-rate to leapfrog alarmingly.

Edwards eventually fell prey to an arm-ball by Anukul Roy in the 35th over. He went for a cut-shot, missed it altogether and the ball cannoned into the timber. Australia’s hoped of making a comeback was severely jolted with the departure of Edwards and they slumped to a heavy defeat.