The Indian Under 19 Cricket Team showed great character to beat Australia by 74 runs in the first quarter-finals of Super League stage played at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
Australian captain Mackenzie Harvey won the toss and decided to field first. Matthew Willans and Sully troubled the Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena. The left-handed Jaiswal played some lovely shots which put pressure on the Australian bowlers. Kelly struck for the Australian team dismissing Saxena for 14. At the end of 10 overs, India were 35 for 1.
After the power play overs, the off-spinner Todd Murphy produced a beauty to dismiss Tilak Verma which bounced and went into the hands of Harvey at slips. Priyam Garg hit a lovely boundary off Murphy bowling. Sully produced a beauty to get the wicket of Indian captain cheaply to leave India in trouble at 54 for 3. Dhruv Jurel faced troubles against the Australian bowlers and was not able to rotate the strike. Jaiswal looked in fine touch rotating the strike well and reached his fifty off 73 balls with a massive six off Tanveer Sangha bowling.
As things looked dangerous for Australia, Tanveer Sangha produced the breakthrough dismissing the inform Jaiswal for 62. Jaiswal and Jurel added 48 runs for the 4th wicket. Dhruv Jurel was struggling to rotate the strike and got out trying to hit a big shot off Murphy bowling. Atharva came to the crease and struggled initially against the Australian bowlers. After 2 boundaries off Kelly bowling, Veer tried to hit another boundary and was caught by Murphy at third man. India was in big trouble at 144 for 6 in the 38th over.
Ravi Bishnoi came to the crease and played with positive intent rotating the strike, hitting boundaries. Atharva also showed great composure and put on 61 runs for the 7th wicket which bought back India into the match. Bishnoi was run out for a brilliant 30 off 31 balls. Anokolekar was superb with the bat reaching his fifty off 51 balls with a six. India recovered from 144 for 6 and posted 233 for 9 in 50 overs.
Chasing 234 runs to win, it was not an ideal start for the Australian team as they lost the wicket of Jake Fraser McGurk off the very first ball via a mix-up. Kartik Tyagi produced magical deliveries to dismiss Harvey and Lalchan Hearne to leave Australia in tatters at 4 for 3. It was a brilliant display of bowling by the Indian bowlers who kept tight lines and lengths. Tyagi struck again to get the wicket of Oliver Davies to leave Australia in complete disarray at 17 for 4. Sam Fanning and Patrick Rowe steadied the innings. At the end of 10 overs, Australia were tottering at 37 for 4.
After the power play overs, Rowe and Fanning looked to score runs but the Indian bowling was too tight. Karthik Tyagi was bought into the attack and then got the wicket of Patrick Rowe to end the dangerous partnership of 51 runs stand for the 5th wicket. Liam Scott who was the concussion substitute for Kelly showed his composure and did the job well with Sam Fanning. The run rate kept climbing due to good pressure by the Indian bowlers. Fanning reached his fifty off 101 balls. Ravi Bishnoi was bought into the attack and dismissed Liam Scott for 35. Scott and Fanning added 81 runs for the 6th wicket. Akash Singh got rid of Sam Fanning with a leg-side tickle straight to keeper Dhruv.
Connor Sully was run out trying to steal the single from Jurel. Akash Singh dismissed Todd Murphy and then dismissed Willans to help India bowl out Australia for 159 in 43.3 overs.
India Under 19 233 for 9 in 50 overs (Yashavi Jaiswal 62, Atharva Anokolekar 55*, Todd Murphy 2/40, Connor Sully 2/44) beat Australia Under 159 in 43.3 overs ( Sam Fanning 75, Liam Scott 35, Karthik Tyagi 4/24, Akash Singh 3/30) by 74 runs.
For his 4 for 24 in 8 overs, Karthik Tyagi was awarded the player of the match. India will now face the winner of Pakistan and Afghanistan in semi-finals.
