U19 World Cup 2024: Defending champion India kickstart campaign with comprehensive 84-run win over Bangladesh
ICC Men’s U19 World Cup defending champions India hammered Asian champions Bangladesh by 84 runs to kick-start their title defence.
On an emphatic note in the fifteenth edition of the tournament in Bloemfontein on Saturday. After posting 251 for 7 on a challenging pitch at Mangaung Oval, India bowled Bangladesh for 167 to register a comprehensive win.
Chasing 252, Bangladesh made a promising start, scoring 33 runs off the first 6 overs. The breakthrough moment came when Murugan Abhishek executed a brilliant catch, initiating a sequence where Saumy Pandey claimed two wickets in consecutive overs, reducing Bangladesh to 41 for 3 within the first powerplay. The situation worsened as Arshin Kulkarni trapped Ahrar Amin in the front of the stumps in the 15th over, leaving Bangladesh at 50 for 4.
However, a resilient partnership between Mohammad Shihab James (54) and Ariful Islam saw them stitch together a commendable 77-run stand. Despite their efforts, the mounting asking rate began to exert pressure on the Bangladeshi batsmen. Musheer Khan then stepped in to remove both well-set batters, and the lower order struggled to mount any significant resistance. Saumy Pandey concluded the innings with an impressive four-wicket haul, as Bangladesh faced a challenging defeat.
Earlier, Opener Adarsh Singh and skipper Uday Saharan scored gritty fifties to help India to set a competitive total of 251/7 against a spirited Bangladesh team in the Under-19 World Cup match at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Bangladesh left-arm seamer Maruf Mridha made a lasting impact, claiming 5 wickets for 43 runs. His precise bowling at the beginning and during the slog overs consistently hit the right areas. However, a miscalculation by his captain deprived him of completing his full quota of 10 overs, potentially leaving him disappointed.
Despite Maruf’s impressive performance, the Indian batsmen found it challenging to score boundaries. The target of 251, the third-highest at the venue, may prove competitive considering the average score of 201 in Youth ODIs at the ground. The highest successful chase at the venue is 243.
Maruf, with a skiddy action reminiscent of Mustafizur Rahman, utilized varied lengths and incorporated cutters and wide yorkers, creating challenges for the Indian batsmen. The innings’ foundation was laid by Adarsh (76 off 96 balls) and skipper Saharan (64 off 94 balls), who forged a crucial 116-run partnership for the third wicket in almost 24 overs. Despite facing difficulties against the Bangladesh spinners, they managed to steady the innings.
Spinners Sheikh Paevez Jibon (0/39 in 10 overs) and Mahfuzur Rahaman Rabby (1/41 in 10 overs), also the captain of the Bangladesh side, kept a check on the Indian batters. The set batsmen, Adarsh and Saharan, found it challenging to score freely, with only 14 boundaries and two sixes recorded in the entire 50 overs.
In the death overs, Sachin Dhas, the designated finisher, displayed admirable technique and composure, contributing an unbeaten cameo of 26 off 20 balls that helped India cross the 250-run mark. His six off seamer Rohanat Doullah Borson was particularly delightful.