Mount Maunganui: If the 100-run win against Australia was just the signal for bigger and better things to come for India, then their thumping 10-wicket win over Papua New Guinea on Monday is surely enough to convince one why the three-time champions are a serious contender to the U-19 World Cup title.
If it was the batting that took centre-stage when they collided against Australia in their first match, the bowling stood up against Papua New Guinea U-19 with left-arm spinner Anukul Roy (5/14) leading the way with a five-wicket haul.
Batting first, Papua New Guinea was never in control as they kept on losing wickets. From being 13/1, they were reduced to 64/9 in no time. Ovia Sam was the top-scorer for them with a 25-ball 15-run knock as it was a completely one-sided affair. Shivam Mavi continued to impress with his bowling skills as he bagged two wickets (2/15) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shiva Singh got a wicket apiece.
After skittling them out for just 64 runs, Prithvi Shaw blasted his way to a 39-ball 57 as India reached the target in just eight overs, without losing a wicket. Shaw’s who had produced a scintillating 94 against Australia in the first game made sure that he carried on with his momentum and Rahul Dravid would be mighty pleased with his boys, who are already favourites as the competition progresses.
In the other match of the day, the Pakistan U-19 team steamrolled Ireland U-19 to set up a massive nine-wicket win in Whangarei.
Shaheen Afridi was the star with the ball for Pakistan as his figures of 6/15 completely derailed the Ireland innings, which never really had any momentum.
Hasan Khan ended up with two wickets as Arshad Iqbal scalped one.
Batting first, Ireland could never really gather any momentum in the first innings as they lost wickets regularly. Afridi’s left-arm medium pace was too hot to handle for Ireland as they were bundled for just 94 runs with Joshua Little, top-scoring for them with 24 runs of 20 deliveries.
Pakistan, in reply knocked off the target in 8.5 overs with opener Muhammad Zaid powering his way to a 19-ball 43 with seven fours and one six. Ireland although enjoyed some success as Aaron Cawley dismissed Rohail Nazir for 18 runs but their joy was short-lived as skipper Hasan Khan played an unbeaten solid 27-run knock of 21 deliveries to hand his team a nine-wicket win.
Brief scores-
India 67/0 in 8 overs (Prithvi Shaw 57*, Manjot Kalra 9*; Leke Morea 0/11) beat Papua New Guinea U-19 64 all out in 21.5 overs (Ovia Sam 15, Simon Itai 13; Anukul Roy 5/14) by 10 wickets.
Whangarei: Pakistan U-19 98/1 in 8.5 overs (Muhammad Zaid 43*, Hasan Khan 27*; Aaron Cawley 1/27) beat Ireland U-19 94 all out in 28.5 overs (Joshua Little 24*, Sam Murphy 19; Shaheen Afridi 6/14) by nine wickets.