Image Credit- ICC
In the Under-19 World Cup on Sunday, India defeated
USA by 201 runs thanks to innings of 108 off 118 balls from Arshin Kulkarni, 76
off 73 from Musheer Khan, and 4 for 20 from the economical Naman Tiwari. They
maintained their perfect record heading into the tournament’s Super Six thanks
to their victory.
Kulkarni and Musheer scored the most of India’s 326
runs for 5 in their 50 overs. USA was restricted to 125 for 8 in Bloemfontein
as medium pacer Tiwari took 4 for 20 in nine overs in response.
Adarsh Singh hit three fours in the opening over after
India was put into bat, but the USA spinners held him and Kulkarni in check for
a while. After ten overs, India could manage only forty, which made Adarsh a
little frantic. Ateendra Subramanian, the medium pacer, was chipped to mid-off
by Adarsh when he was on 25.
But Musheer and Kulkarni stuck with it and together to
contribute 155 runs off 142 balls for the second wicket. Before opening up,
both batters took some time to settle in. Kulkarni made sure to cash in after a
fortunate escape after being dumped on 16 at mid-off. He took fast bowler Aarin
Nadkarni for six over deep midwicket and clobbered legspinner Rishi Ramesh all
over the pitch before reaching his half-century off 70 balls.
Musheer carried on with his performance against
Ireland. He began by taking Nadkarni deep for a cover drive before hitting
Utkarsh Srivastava for six. With both batsmen now established, they were able
to get the boundaries away more frequently. It took him 56 balls to complete
his half-century.
Musheer was dismissed by Ramesh, but Kulkarni made it
to three figures from 110 balls with a four past fine leg. Captain Uday Saharan
maintained the momentum with a 27-ball 35, but the USA tried to rally and both
he and Kulkarni fell within six balls. However, at that point, India was 259
for 4 in the 44th over, with Priyanshu Moliya (27* off 19 balls), Sachin Dhas
(20 off 16) and Aravelly Avanish (12* off seven) played important cameos to
take India past the 325-run mark.
The USA was never truly in the hunt. In the first two
overs, they lost openers Prannav Chettipalayam and Bhavya Mehta. After 7.5
overs, Tiwari removed Ramesh for 8 runs, bringing the USA to 12 for 3. For a
while, Siddarth Kappa and Srivastava held firm, amassing 43 runs off 93 balls
for the fourth wicket. However, offspinner Moliya entered the picture, bowling
Kappa back for just 18.
By adding 31 off 78 balls for the eighth wicket, Amogh
Arepally (27* off 71) and Nadkarni (20 off 44) postponed the inevitable and
made sure India couldn’t bowl the opposition out.
India, who won their group going into the Super Sixes,
will play New Zealand on Tuesday.