India U19 team clashed with Australia U19 team in their first match of the ICC U19 World Cup 2018 in New Zealand.

India U19 captain Prithvi Shaw won the toss and decided to bat first. Prithvi Shaw led from the front and scored a brilliant 94 off 100 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. His opening partner Manjot Kalra too contributed with 86 off 99 balls with 12 fours. The opening duo added 180 in 30 overs.

After the fall of Shaw’s wicket, Shubman Gill continued the good work, scoring 63 in 54 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. Australian bowlers were able to bring the match back in their control, but the middle and lower middle order made contributions to take India U19 to 328/7 in 50 overs.

Jack Edwards was the pick of Australia U19 bowling attack with figures of 4/65. The Australian U19 team had a tough task of chasing 328 on a wicket that was assisting quick bowling.

Their chase was made more difficult by Indian fast bowlers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi, both of whom clicked over 145 kmph regularly during their spells. Both Nagarkoti (3/29 inn 7 overs) and Mavi (3/45 in 8.5 overs) were the main wicket takers for India.

Ishan Porel impressed enough in his 4 overs, before he hobbled out of the field with an ankle injury. The spinners Shiva Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Anukul Roy bowled tight line and did the job for their captain.

Jack Edwards was the man with the bat for Australia U19 as well, scoring 73 in 90 balls. J Merio scored 38 and BJ Holt made 39, but the rising run rate put the game out of their reach.

India U19 finally completed the win by a margin of 100 runs and registered their first points on the points table.

BRIEF SCORES:

INDIA U19 328/7 (P SHAW 94, M KALRA 86; J EDWARDS 4/65) defeated AUS U19 228 (J EDWARDS 73; S MAVI 3/45, K NAGARKOTI 3/29) by 100 runs