On This Day in 2018: India thrash Australia to win record 4th U19 World Cup
Exactly four years ago at the Bay Oval, India and Australia locked horns against each other in the final of the ICC U19 World Cup. Before that final, India and Australia were jointly the most successful teams in the history of the tournament, having won the U19 World Cup trophy thrice each. And by the time the final ended, India became the first team to win the title four times.
Led by Prithvi Shaw, the Boys in Blue were the most dominant outfit in the tournament. They did not lose a single game in the competition and won all of their games in dominating fashion. Australia, on the other hand, lost two games in the competition and both the defeats came against India. Both the teams started their respective campaign by taking on each other and India had emerged victorious by 100 runs on that occasion.
In the final, India beat the team from Down Under by eight wickets. Batting first in the final, Australia were all out for 216 with Jonathan Merlo’s 76-run knock being the best effort. At one stage, Australia were cruising at 183 for four in the 40th over and were looking set to post well above 250 before India’s left-arm spin duo of Shiva Singh and Anukul Roy turned things around.
Shiva opened the floodgates by dismissing Nathan McSweeney as the Aussies went on to lose their last six wickets for just 33 runs. Ishan Porel, Shiva Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Anukul Roy all took two wickets each.
Manjot Kalra’s century seals the deal:
In reply, India chased down the total with utmost ease inside 39 overs thanks to an unbeaten century from opener Manjot Kalra. Shaw and Kalra gave India a solid start by adding 71 runs before the former departed for 29 in the 12th over. The breakthrough, however, did not bring any respite for Australia as Kalra and Shubman Gill added 60 runs for the second wicket to further strengthen India’s grip on the game.
Kalra and Harvik Desai then shared an unbeaten stand of 89 runs to take India home. The left-handed opener remained unbeaten on 101 while Desai, who hit the winning boundary, remained unbeaten on 47. For Australia, Will Sutherland and Param Uppal picked one wicket each.
