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February 11, 2024
Australia secured a commanding 79-run victory over India in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 final held in Benoni. The victory demonstrated dominance across all aspects of the game, attributed to strategic decision-making and an impressive display of skill on the field.
In a riveting display of strategic prowess, Australia’s skipper Hugh Weibgen boldly decided to bat first after winning the toss at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 final in Benoni. The Australian squad saw a last-minute lineup change as Charlie Anderson stepped in for Tom Campbell. Meanwhile, India maintained faith in the unchanged team that had brought them this far.
The Australian batters rose to the occasion, amassing an impressive 253/7 at the end of the first innings – setting a new record for the highest-ever score in a U19 World Cup final. Harjas Singh led the charge with a defiant 55 runs. At the same time, Weibgen, Harry Dixon, and Ollie Peak bolstered the scoreboard with crucial 40s. India’s Raj Limbani emerged as a standout performer, capturing 3 wickets for 38 runs.
India’s chase stumbled from the outset with a daunting target as the team lost four critical batters within the first 20 overs. The Australian bowlers dismantled the formidable trio of Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan, and Sachin Dhas – India’s top run-getters throughout the tournament. The pressure continued to mount as Australia claimed four more wickets between overs 21 and 32. Despite a spirited fightback from Abhishek Murugan, victory was assured for Australia, who wrapped up the match in the 44th over. In recognition of his stifling 3/15 bowling spell, Mahli Beardman was deservedly awarded Player of the Match.
India’s chase commenced with a shaky start as Arshin Kulkarni was dismissed early, nicking one behind the wicket. Adarsh Singh and Musheer Khan cautiously proceeded, scoring only two fours during the first Powerplay. Musheer began to adopt a more aggressive approach after the initial 10 overs. Still, his promising innings of 22 was cut short when he played on a delivery by Mahli Beardman.
The dismissal of India’s skipper Uday Saharan for a mere 8 runs came as another significant blow. Attempting to force the ball past the offside, Saharan was caught by his opposite number, Weibgen, at the backward point off Beardman’s bowling. The team’s hopes were further diminished when Sachin Dhas (8) was sent back to the pavilion after edging a Raf MacMillan delivery behind the stumps.
The dismissals of Priyanshu Moliya and Aravelly Avanish without contributing substantially to the total added to India’s woes. Despite Adarsh Singh’s resilient 47, his eventual dismissal by Beardman seemed to seal India’s fate. Abhishek Murugan displayed a valiant effort, scoring a defiant 42; however, the mounting pressure ultimately proved impossible as the team fell short of their target.
Australia’s opening batsman, Harry Dixon, started his innings with an aggressive mindset, scoring 15 runs off Naman Tiwari’s first over. In a display of exceptional swing bowling, Raj Limbani struck early for India by dismissing Sam Konstas in the third over. India’s decision to introduce spin bowlers helped slow the scoring rate during the first Powerplay, as the Australian batters cautiously negotiated the turning ball.
In the middle overs, Dixon and Weibgen adopted a more measured approach against the spinners, rotating strike while also managing to find occasional boundaries. The period between overs 11 and 20 saw Australia accumulate 42 runs, with the frequency of boundaries increasing towards the end of that phase. Tiwari’s reintroduction into the attack in the 21st overpaid dividends for India, as he claimed the crucial wicket of Weibgen for 48.
Tiwari continued his impressive spell by outfoxing Dixon with a slower delivery following over, leading to a catch by Abhishek Murugan. With two critical wickets lost, Harjas Singh and Ryan Hicks took on the responsibility of rebuilding Australia’s innings with a patient partnership.
Despite scoring just 49 runs in the tournament before this match, Harjas Singh began to assert himself against Priyanshu Moliya’s spin bowling, hitting a six and a four in the 28th over. This aggressive intent set the tone for a flurry of boundaries that followed as the duo looked to capitalize on their growing partnership and set a competitive total for India to chase.
Despite the dismissal of Ryan Hicks, who was trapped leg before wicket by Limbani for 20, Australia continued to progress at a healthy run rate. Harjas Singh’s resilience was rewarded with a milestone achievement in the 37th over when he punched a Tiwari full toss down the ground to secure his maiden fifty of the U19 World Cup.
India’s Saumy Pandey retaliated swiftly by securing the vital wicket of Australia’s Harjas. In an attempt to sweep Pandey towards the on-side, Harjas misjudged the delivery and was caught in a plumb leg before position.
Ollie Peake’s positive intent was vital in guiding Australia’s total past the 200-run mark, even as India’s bowlers continued to chip away at the batting lineup. In a solid finish to the innings, Australia added 66 runs off the last 10 overs, setting a competitive target for India to chase in the final of the U19 World Cup.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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