A magnificent 180 runs opening wicket stand between captain Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra was the cornerstone of India’s thumping 100 runs victory over Australia in a battle of former champions on the second day of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 at the Bay Oval, Tauranga, in New Zealand.
In front of broadcast cameras, Shaw scored a fine 94 and Kalra contributed 86 as India rattled up an imposing 328 for seven in 50 overs. Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi then equally shared six wickets between them as Australia were bowled out for 228 in 42.5 overs with Jack Edwards following up his four for 65 with a gutsy 73.
Elsewhere, South Africa’s Raynard van Tonder hit a punishing 121-ball 143 to bat his side to an easy 189 runs victory over Kenya, while a brilliant century by Dhananjaya Lakshan (101 not out) and an impressive all-round performance by Kamindu Mendis (three for 35 and 74 not out) guided Sri Lanka to a convincing seven wickets victory over Ireland.
Australia v India
Electing to bat first in a Group B match, India posted a huge 328 for seven after Shaw (94) and Kalra (86) were associated in a record 180-run opening partnership in just under 30 overs. Then, Shubman Gill came up with a 54-ball 63 (54b, 4×6, 1×6) to put India in a dominating position.
Shaw struck eight fours and two sixes off 100 balls and Kalra slammed 12 fours and one six as the two bettered a 14-year-old record for India. The previous highest partnership for any wicket by an India pair was in the U-19 World Cup 2004 when Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa put on 175 runs against Scotland.
For Australia, Jack Edwards was the pick of the bowlers and ended up with impressive figures of 9-0-65-4.
In their turn at the wicket, Australia lost wickets at regular intervals to be dismissed for 228. Kamlesh Nagarkoti picked up three for 29, while Mavi finished with three for 45.
Edwards was his side’s most impressive player. He followed up his four for 65 with a 90-ball 73 that also included six fours and a six. He put on 57 runs for the first wicket with Max Bryant (29) and 60 runs for the third wicket with Jonathan Merlo (38).
India captain Prithvi Shaw said he was happy with the emphatic win early on.
“I think it was a good start for us and a positive one for us in the tournament. Our mind was clear – just wait for the loose balls. Really disappointed (at losing a chance to get a century), for Manjot as well, we have learnt something from this innings and will better in the next innings,” he said.
Ireland v Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka coasted to a convincing seven-wicket win over Ireland in a Group D match with opener Lakshan slamming a fine unbeaten 101 from 120 deliveries with the help of eight fours and one six.
Sri Lanka, chasing 208 for victory, had lost two early wickets after a double-strike from Aaron Cowley and were 51 for three at one stage, before Lakshan’s unbroken 157-run partnership with captain Mendis (74 not out) took the team through.
Earlier in the day, Mendis grabbed three for 35 with his spin bowling to restrict Ireland to 206 for eight in the 48-over match after openers Jamie Grassi (75) and Mark Donegan (36) had provided their side a 73-run start.
Lakshan later said he had not been bothered by the fall of early wickets and praised his captain.
“I’m very happy that I got a hundred today. I got a lot of support from our captain. When he walked in, our first target was to make sure we got close to the opposition total. We set small targets and achieved it.”
Kenya v South Africa
South Africa scored a massive 341 for seven after electing to bat in the Group A match. This was South Africa’s second highest total in the U-19 World Cup after their 359 for six against Namibia in 2012.
Captain Raynard van Tonder slammed a stroke-filled 143 off 121 balls, smashing 14 fours and five sixes, and was associated in a 125-run second-wicket stand with left-handed opener Jiveshan Pillay (62 off 67 balls with seven fours and s six) as the team virtually batted the opposition out of the contest.
Kenya were never in the chase and eventually finished at 172 for seven in 50 overs after being reduced to 50 for four in the 19th over and then 98 for six in the 34th over.
Jasraj Kundi (41) and Ankit Hirani (35 not out) were the main run-getters for Kenya as the two put on 57 runs for the seventh wicket. For South Africa, Akhona Mnyaka finished with figures of 4-1-9-2 and Kenan Smith returned figures of 10-1-36-2.
Scores in brief:
Group A
South Africa beat Kenya by 189 runs, Lincoln No. 3, Christchurch
South Africa 341-7 in 50 Overs (Raynard van Tonder 143, Jiveshan Pillay 62, Gerald Coetzee 36 not out; Jasraj Kundi 2-49, Jayant Mepani 2-60)
Kenya 172-7 in 50 Overs (Jasraj Kundi 41, Ankit Hirani 35 not out; Akhona Mnyaka 2-9, Kenan Smith 2-36)
Player of the Match: Raynard van Tonder (South Africa)
Group B
India beat Australia by 100 runs, Bay Oval, Tauranga
India 328-7 in 50 overs (Prithvi Shaw 94, Manjot Kalra 86, Shubman Gill 63, Abhishek Sharma 23; Jack Edwards 4-65)
Australia 228 all out in 42.5 overs (Jack Edwards 73, Baxtor Holt 39, Jonathan Merlo 38; Kamlesh Nagarkoti 3-29, Shivam Mavi 3-45)
Player of the match: Prithvi Shaw (India)
Group D
Sri Lanka beat Ireland by seven wickets, Cobham Oval, Whangarei (48 overs per side)
Ireland 207-8 in 48 overs (Jamie Grassi 75, Mark Donegan 36, Joshua Little 25; Kamindu Mendis 3-35)
Sri Lanka 208-3, 37.3 overs (Dhananjaya Lakshan 101 not out, Kamindu Mendis 74 not out; Aaron Cawley 2-26)
Player of the Match: Dhananjaya Lakshan (Sri Lanka)
